The Canadian game is usually described as being fast paced. However, for Ticats’ kicker Brett Maher, he prefers to separate himself from that speed and focus on visualizing when he sets up for his kicking duties.
It’s no question that it’s been working for him as he has kicked 85% of his field goal attempts so far this season.
Maher entered the league back in 2014 when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed him. He spent the preseason on the team’s roster before being released. The former Nebraska Cornhusker would then find himself being picked up by the inaugural Ottawa Redblacks. Maher had a rough experience in 2014 when he ranked with a league low kicking percentage (67.6%).
Punting has always been a strong part of Maher’s abilities as he tied for second in the league for punt average with 45.4 yards.
Maher was brought in for Hamilton’s mini-camp a month before training camp was set to open, along with three other kicking prospects. That number was then brought down to two candidates when training camp got underway before Maher eventually won the job.
Since then, Maher has been nothing but consistent. He’s made 17 of his 20 field goal attempts and ranks second in the league in punting average with 48.5 yards per punt.
Interesting enough, the only missed field goal attempts Maher has to his name in 2016 came against the BC Lions in Week 2. The infamous swirling wind that Tim Horton’s Field presents to kickers resulted in both Maher and BC’s Richie Leone combining for 37.5% on field goals. Coincidentally, Maher has kicked a perfect 100% in every other game.
Maher has not only drastically improved his field goal performance since entering the league, but he has also had two of his best games in 2016. In the season opener, the Kearney, Nebraska native went perfect on all his kicking attempts, scoring 17 points against the Argos as the Ticats spoiled their party at BMO Field.
Three weeks later, he would top his opening performance. Maher would not only have another perfect outing, but he would also kick his career longest 56-yard field goal right before the half against the Alouettes in Montreal.
