Versatility is a trait the Saskatchewan Roughriders coaching staff expects from all the players on the team, including the kicking specialists.
For punter Kaare Vedvik this means the ability to kick a field goal in a possible emergency situation.
During the fourth quarter of Saturday’s preseason contest against the BC Lions, the punter got some extra practice in, as he successfully connected with a field goal. However, the three points were wiped off the scoreboard after a penalty to the Lions. The Roughriders then proceeded to drive the ball down the field leading to Mitch Picton’s second touchdown of the game to give Saskatchewan a 30-27 win.
Vedvik feels being able to placekick provides insurance for the team.
“In the end for us we just want to go out and see that we can do it, we can execute when we need it.”
He added, “It’s good to have when needed for the team.”
The 29-year-old has been solely a punter during his time with the Roughriders, but he noted that placekicking is more natural for him.
“It’s like riding a bike for me.”
Vedvik continued, “I haven’t kicked a ball since last year sometime and last week was the first time I did it.”
Since joining the green and white in the late stages of the 2021 season, the former member of the Marshall Thundering Herd has held down the Roughriders punting position but is facing some stiff competition for the job after the team used their 2023 CFL Global Draft first-round selection on Australian Adam Korsak, who was the 2022 recipient of the Ray Guy Award for the top punter in American college football as a member of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
Even though the pair of punters have the same aspiration to be the Roughriders starter, Vedvik says he and Korsak are working together in camp.
“He(Korsak) has a different tool set than I have you know so I’m trying to learn from him. I hope that I can contribute something to him to improve his game.”
Both players saw action on Saturday, with Vedvik punting the ball twice for a 49-yard average. Korsak made three punts and recorded a 52-yard average.
Besides the distance of the punt, a key measurable to gauge a successful punt is the hang time. Vedvik believes a punt’s hang time should match the distance.
“If you hit a 70-yard bomb, yeah it’s cool, but you might outkick the coverage quite a little bit because guys can’t run that fast if you have a 3.8 second hangtime. ”
When things don’t go Vedvik’s way with a low hangtime, the punter has faith in the coverage team to back him up.
“You’re only good as your team that’s the thing, I’m only as good as my coverage team and they make me look good, so when I have lower hangtime.”
Friday will mark the final auditions for the players as the Roughriders in the preseason as they will head to Winnipeg for the preseason finale.
Coverage on 620 CKRM will begin at 3:30 with Countdown to Kickoff. Michael Ball and Luc Mullinder will have a call beginning at 6:30 from IG Field.
