Kicker could be hidden gem for Tigers’ offense
With Memphis players set to report for training camp Aug. 2, we will take a look at the 10 players who will define the Tigers’ 2018 football season. At No. 10, we start with sophomore kicker Riley Patterson.
Depending on how you look at the numbers, Riley Patterson’s freshman year at Memphis could be looked at as a success or a bitter finish.
Patterson tied Jake Elliott’s singleseason record with 63 points-after and set a program record with 64 point-after attempts. While he converted 11 of 16 field goals, he struggled down the stretch in the Tigers’ final two games, including two misses in the AAC championship game and a missed attempt in the Liberty Bowl against Iowa State.
Thanks to this year’s Super Bowl, Memphis’ reputation for developing kickers took center stage with the Philadelphia Eagles’ Elliott dueling the
New England Patriots’ Stephen Gostkowski. So Patterson’s growth this season will be key not just because of the Tigers’ legacy, but also because Memphis’ offense is in a state of transition.
Why Riley Patterson is important
With an offense that will adjust to a new quarterback and an inexperienced receiving corps, Patterson’s leg will be a critical weapon to put up points. The good news is during the spring, Patterson showed signs he’s ready for the challenge.
As Memphis struggled to reach the end zone consistently, Patterson was on target. During the Tigers’ first open scrimmage in Nashville, he made four of five attempts, including a 42-yarder.
In the spring game, he added a 50yarder. That’s an encouraging sign because Patterson was 2-for-6 on field goals 40 yards or longer last year.
Patterson also will be counted on to provide leadership to a young kicking core that includes newcomers Aidan Daily and Adam Williams still vying to be the team’s punter. The Tigers also will have freshman Trey Neal at long snapper. He accepted a scholarship in May after Connor Choate transferred to Texas A&M.
Good news
Patterson has tradition behind him to make a leap this year. Both Elliott and Gostkowski converted more field goals as sophomores than freshmen.
Gostkowski was 19-of-29 in 2003, a slight improvement percentage wise (65.5 percent) over his freshman year (64.3 percent). Elliott went from converting 16 field goals as a freshman to 21 as a sophomore but took a dive in accuracy, going from 88.9 percent to 65.6 percent.
Cause for concern
Besides Patterson’s struggles at the end of last season, he also needs to prove himself away from the Liberty Bowl. He was 7-of-9 at home but only 4of-7 on the road.
Although Memphis has seven home games, two of its first three road games will be in hostile environments. Sept. 8 at Navy, the Midshipmen’s home opener, and Oct. 20 at Missouri, the Tigers’ homecoming, are games where points can’t be left on the table. Patterson will need to shake his road woes.
Final thoughts
There’s pressure on Patterson and special teams coordinator Joe Lorig to keep up Memphis’ reputation developing kickers. While the punting battle will be just as important in replacing Spencer Smith, Patterson’s growth will be help ease some worries about the offense. Fortunately, the spring was a positive sign in his favor.