[NU Sports] one down, one up

[John Labbe]

I've actually thought the special teams this year have, overall, been 
much improved.

They didn't really help us much last night, but I didn't think they 
cost us the game, either.

We've had touchbacks on most kickoffs this year, which is a huge 
relief.  Last night, we had touchbacks on 3 of 4 kickoffs, and on the 
fourth one, Nevada returned it to the 30, which isn't terrible.  Under 
Walker, we were often spotting the ball on the 35 after every kickoff, 
or worse.  Frankly, I think this one difference alone has gone a long 
way to helping our defense.

Punting has admittedly been a mixed bag, but I don't recall anything 
last night in the punting game that really cost us.

Returns are a different issue.  For some reason, Cole seems to be under 
instructions to hardly ever field punts.  I suppose I prefer that to a 
muff, but we really ought to be able to field those for a few yards or 
to prevent the ball from bouncing back an extra 10-20 yards.

Kickoff returns have been total confusion, with two lost muffs so far 
on the season.  Last night's muffed kickoff was a big mistake, as the 
front guy shouldn't have been trying to field it.  But at that point, 
the game was all but over.

Back on the positive side, we've had two blocked punts and a blocked 
extra point so far this season.

As far as field-goal kicking goes, it doesn't look like it's going to 
win us any games, but it seems to be somewhat improved.  The two misses 
last night were 39 and 32 yard attempts.  In 95/96 we would have hit 
those 90% of the time with Valenzizi and Gowens.  If we could hit 
attempts over 30 yards at least 50% of the time, that would be a big 
improvement.  But at least this season we have yet to miss any easy 
ones or any extra points.  Had we made one of the two FGs last night, 
we would have been tied at the end (barring the final interception).

But in light of the offense's four turnovers, it's hard to see how the 
special teams cost us the game last night.  Had we made both FGs, 
special teams could have won the game for us, but I don't think you can 
assume 100% accuracy on field goals of 39 and 32 yards.


On Sep 23, 2006, at 3:37 AM, Brad Wilson wrote:

>
> 3) We win the game if special teams f*ckups don't
> happen. This is one element of the Walker/Fitz era
> that I am tired of and needs to be changed
> immediately. Please explain to me how Virginia Tech
> (just to name one example) can have ace special
> teamers year in and year out and NU has special teams
> high schoolers would be ashamed of? Touchbacks are few
> and far between, the punting is ordinary at best, and
> the placekicking is appalling. Even during the Dark
> Ages, kicking was an NU strength. Why not now? Our Big
> Ten championships would never have happen with this
> shoddy ST work. This is intolerable; it was, to me,
> Walker's greatest weakness and I don't want to see it
> continue. The returns, to be fair, were better Friday.
>