Todd Blackledge is a former quarterback. Knowing that it's not surprising that he doesn't have a deep and abiding love for kickers. However, it was surprising when he allowed his venom toward the position to seep out in the first quarter of the Notre Dame football game he was calling.
The Fighting Irish had just gone an unfortunate three-and-out when they called on erstwhile punter James Rendell to flip the field. Unfortunately, the kick went off the side of his foot and only traveled 28 yards. The flub started Blackledge on an admittedly hilarious rant, even if it was misaimed a bit when talking about Rendell.
Todd Blackledge bemoans Notre Dame's problems with the kicking game in a hilarous takedown
"Well, the kicking ... issues continue for Notre Dame a little bit," Blackledge started, before making it clear he believes that Irish Special Teams coach Marty Biagi is very capable.
"I mean kickers, look, I mean, they can be mental midgets, let me put it that way," Blackledge continued as his broadcast partner, Noah Eagle, burst out laughing.
"When it comes to in terms of their confidence, in terms of getting shook up, what you gotta do to massage that, Marcus [Freeman] and Marty are trying to figure that out in terms of their kickers."
While Blackledge isn't entirely wrong, it's worth pointing out that Rendell has not really been part of the kicking problems in South Bend. He entered the game averaging 45.4 yards per punt with a long of 55 and placing 10 of his 18 kicks inside the 20.
The kicking problems Blackledge was referring to belong to their place kickers, who have missed numerous extra points and field goals. Notre Dame, in fact, switched starting placekickers for the game against Navy.
Unfortunately, Rendell seemed to underline Blackledge's comments, as the Notre Dame punter's back kick allowed Navy to get the ball near midfield and promptly drove in for a touchdown that tied the game, at the time.