When it comes to the Iron Bowl against the Auburn Tigers, Alabama football will be relying on punter JK Scott to control the field position the entire game.
Great Scott!
That’s what every Alabama football fan wants to hear out of every Auburn fan’s mouth, this Saturday in the Iron Bowl. Field position will be a key to victory, and punter JK Scott will need the game of his life to ensure it.
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This season, Scott has not had to punt very often; however, when he is called upon, he unleashes a beast of a leg. The six-foot-six, 202-pounder from Denver, Colorado has punted 38 times, earning 1 638 total yards. That’s an average of 43.1 yards a kick, according to Sports-Reference.com.
Scott’s longest punt in 2017 was 59 yards, but he has kicked over 73 yards in 2014. His leg is one of the most potent weapons on Alabama’s special teams, pinning teams back deep in their own end for the majority of the game.
Auburn’s punting game has not been quite as effective. Between Aidan Marshall and Ian Shannon, the Tigers punters have both averaged 39.8 yards per kick for 1 631 total yards.
Those numbers are still good, but the potential residing in Scott’s leg makes the difference. It is especially dangerous when one considers that Alabama’s offense is often in the opposing end when Scott has had to kick. His numbers could average even longer if he had to frequently let his leg fly.
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Auburn’s punt return game makes Scott even more significant. Tigers returner Stephen Roberts has returned 14 punts for an average of 7.9 yards. If Scott’s punts don’t reach the stratosphere, as they often do, it may prove difficult for the Crimson Tide’s coverage team to keep Auburn from having decent field position.
Alabama’s return game, on the other hand, has been Russian Roulette. Whether it be Henry Ruggs III, Trevon Diggs, or Xavian Marks, a potential fumble on a punt return is always hanging in the air like the sword of Damocles. Each of their average yards is near Roberts’ totals; however, the idea of putting sure-handed Minkah Fitzpatrick or Damien Harris on the field to return punts continues to be discussed.
And, who really wants to see Fitzpatrick, who is still nursing a hamstring, or Harris back there receiving punts in injury-prone plays of the game?
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If Scott has his big kick working, Alabama should have a big day on their hands. Auburn will consistently have to start drives deep in their own end, limiting the opportunities that the Tigers have to score field goals, let alone touchdowns. If that happens, Auburn may need to ice their posteriors after the game, because Scott may just kick Tiger rumps right out of the Iron Bowl and college football playoff contention.