Alabama Football: Three Keys Needed For Dominating Missouri
By Ronald Moody
2. Reichard needs to bring it
Losing true freshman Will Reichard five games into the season severely wounded the kicking game. He totaled 33 points on 4-of-7 field-goal attempts and 21-of-22 PATs.
Arriving on campus as the top field goal kicker in the nation, expectations were soaring for Reichard — especially in Tuscaloosa. The Tide missed six field goals on the season, three by Reichard and three by his replacement, redshirt junior kicker Joseph Bulovas.
Alabama opponents did not miss a single attempt (18/18).
Saban praised Reichard earlier in camp,
Will Reichard was 4 for 5 on field goals during Alabama's scrimmage today, per Nick Saban.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) September 12, 2020
Only miss was from around 55 yards.
Alabama cannot afford to leave points off the board, whether it is an easy 20 yarder or a 50 yarder. Extra points aren’t guaranteed, either. Saban mentioned it during his radio show in October,
"“I hate to say this, but our extra points haven’t been so automatic the last couple years. So, I mean, I’m standing there on the sideline shaking my leg every time we line up."
A consistent Reichard is required to dominate Missouri but provides the Tide an added edge during its run for the national title.