Alexis Serna and Nick Setta have been at opposite ends of the kicking spectrum despite being side by side alphabetically.
On page 158 of the Canadian Football League's 2009 Facts, Figures & Records book, Alexis Serna and Nick Setta are listed one after the other.
The book lists the players in alphabetical order, but this is an interesting coincidence. After last season, who would have guessed that either of the two would still be in the CFL, albeit for entirely different reasons?
Serna failed miserably as a rookie punter/kicker. He nailed only 34 of 51 field goals, which was supposed to be his forte, and incurred the wrath of his coach Doug Berry, who was relieved of his job after the season, and the rabid Bombers fans. That the Bombers decided to bring him back surprised some.
Meanwhile in Hamilton, Setta, who was named the CFL's East Division rookie of the year, had a solid sophomore season. He did well enough to receive CFL all-star honours as the top punter. While he didn't repeat as the East's all-star kicker, he did nonetheless have good stats, nailing 28 of 36 field-goal tries, only a seven percent drop-off from his rookie season in which he earned the East all-star award as the top place-kicker. Setta arguably had been the Ticats' best player last year.
There existed a great fear among Ticat supporters and the team that Setta would pursue a possible opportunity with the National Football League, but he liked Hamilton and decided to stay put. The Ticats considered this paramount in their building blocks for the future.
But more than two-thirds of the way through this season, Serna has been the steadier of the two.
By far.
Serna has converted 27 of 31 attempts, the best percentage-wise among the full-time CFL kickers. Serna missed 47-yarder against Edmonton on the final play of the opening game, which ended in a 19-17 loss and had Winnipeg fans and quite likely the team wondering if it would be a repeat of the kicker's first-year follies. He had been forced to re-kick after a successful try because the Eskimos called time out just before he put the boot to the ball to ice him.
Whether it had been the reason he missed the do-over, it certainly provided a topic for discussion. But Serna has been a model of consistency this season, which has been a year of ups and downs for the Bombers.
The fact he has only had to concentrate on kicking while rookie Mike Renaud has handled punting has allowed Serna to concentrate on his strength.
Setta has made only 28 of 40 attempts and has the worst percentage in the league. His ineffectiveness is believed to be related to a lingering injury. He fractured three vertebrae in a pre-season game against Toronto, but admits he is physically fine. But kicking being such an essential element of the CFL, the Ticats have signed a kicker, Jeremy Ito, to the practice roster.
Maybe the competition will inspire Setta to improve. The reality is the Ticats can't afford to wait. They may need to replace him, potentially putting him on the injured list and activating Ito. If Setta plays on Monday, when the Ticats play host to Winnipeg, he will be watched and scrutinized.
The Bombers sit third in the East, only two points back of the Ticats, who are narrowly clinging to second place. Hamilton has lost its last two games, but if it beats Winnipeg it wins the season series and creates a four-point separation in the standings. A loss means the series will be decided in the final game of the season when the two teams clash in Winnipeg.
In the truest sense of the expression, Monday is a four-point game for Hamilton. The Ticats appeared solidly entrenched in second a few weeks ago. Now it is not so sure. If the Tiger-Cats don't improve they are in danger of surrendering home-field advantage for the playoffs. They might not even qualify for the post-season.
The Ticats need to improve and they need their kicker to display the consistency he has the last two seasons. There is a direct correlation between the success of the Ticats and the play of Setta.
Who would have ever thought that at this point of his career, Nick Setta would be battling for his job, while Serna would be secure? If the CFL had a comeback award, Serna would definitely be a candidate.
Such is the life of a kicker. It is considered the loneliest job in football. Serna experienced that isolated feeling all too often last year, while this year it's Setta's turn.
