After a Mother's Day Weekend hiatus, the blog is back up and running. Here is an interview I did with kicker Olindo Mare last week. It is interesting because there is some kicking esoterica in there that I think most people don't realize and/or think about:

On Competition against Brandon Coutu: There is no reason for me to be a jerk to him off the field or even on the field. I am going to let what I do on the field speak for itself. I am not going to change anything.

Oh Josh Brown: He had a great career here. It is tough. No matter where you go it is the same. It was the same when I went to Miami and it was the same with Karney when I went to New Orleans. Karney was always a guy who I looked up to. Obviously not in his prime. It was hard for me to go there. But unfortunately I got hurt. I am not going to come in here and say it is my goal to come in here and be better than Josh Brown was or to reminisce on what he did or what I did five years ago. His time was over, my time was over there, it is time for me to make name for myself here.

[More:]

On Seattle weather: Honestly you don’t really think about it. I went to Syracuse so I practiced in the snow. Miami is nice weather but is a windy place. Every place has its elements. They have great field turf here so footing shouldn’t be an problem. If it snowy it is snowy for the other team as well. You don’t really go out there and say it is windy because it is windy for the other team as well.

On Coutu trying to impress in that competition during mini-camp: You would think that being younger you would want to impress. He is obviously good enough to be drafted. From what I have seen he is a good kicker. A lot of people enjoy having the veteran guy do it, especially when you are talking about playoffs and stuff. He is a young kid. I remember when I was young going against a guy named Daluiso. Brad Daluiso. I was always considered the strongest kickoff guy when I was in college. I remember kicking off and whatever I did he outkicked me. If I would kick it to the goalline he would kick it five deep. If I would kick it five deep he would kick it 10 deep. But for me it was good because we were identical and I got to learn a lot from him. I think if you can do it once it is great because then you have it in you, you have to do it again. I think a lot of guys in the league can kick field goals. The big difference is kicking off. Kick under pressure, being able to kick off, onside kicks. It will happen. I am sure he is excited. He has had a lot happen in the last couple weeks. But it is not going to get any easier.

On competing against himself rather than Coutu: Yeah, you have to try to beat the course. Honestly, I feel when I am healthy that I am as good as anybody else. If I feel differently, than I probably have the wrong job. I am sure a lot of guys feel that way. When guys are on they are on. If every kicker in the league kicked in the same field, and they were on, you probably wouldn’t see a difference that day. Last year I didn’t kick off five games and I think I still finished second or third in touchbacks. Since I turned 30 I have developed a new workout routine, new diet, and it has helped me get stronger. All I have to do is continue to get healthy. The goal now is not to go out and hit a 60-yard field goal. If I can hit one from 40 and it goes over, I know it is good from 60.

On Coutu trying to kick 60 yarders: The biggest test for him is not ability. His biggest thing is timing, and the new ball rule. Brand new balls. They are not the pumpkins we are kicking out here. That’s not what they want. When we go on the field for a kickoff, people aren’t paying 80 dollars to watch me kick it through the end zone. They want me to kick to the 1 and have a guy run it back. By putting the crappy ball in there, a great punt at 4.5 and 45 or 50 yards, they can return it. I have been lucky enough to play for a bunch of head coaches who are into special teams and field position. That is going to affect the game. That doesn’t count the ones they are running out. If you can get them to where you can kick them 3 deep, and have the guy take a look at the line, and have him make a bad decision, that is what you want. It is a whole different deal.

On his health: I am fine. I feel great. I have not been able to do anything that I was able to do last year when I was not hurt. Obviously the rehab helped. I am doing the same workout routine, and the same thing I have done the last five years.