[NU Sports] Get a special teams coach now

[Jonathan Hodges]

All of this talk about getting a special teams coach is really upsetting me
because it's no magic bullet.

For one thing, multiple coaches on NU's staff have had plenty of experience
coaching portions of special teams.  Fitz's primary role is likely to call
the plays on special teams, not to coach all aspects of it.  He utilizes
most assistants to help coach ST, like Hankwitz who has been a DC longer
than Fitz has been involved in organized football, so he has plenty of
experience coaching coverage units.

And on the kicking side, Demos has the skills and has gotten off some
booming kicks/punts before and has shown the ability.  Hiring a ST coach
won't keep his leg from wearing down from handling all kicking duties or to
pick out the most competent kicker/punter.

Yes, the return game hasn't been that strong this year, but NU has had a few
decent returns (like Brewer's following the safety) and has been close to
breaking some others.  A ST coach may help, but then again it's not like NU
has a lack of other coaches who have designed return plays.

Plus, a special teams coach can scheme all they want, but if the guys on the
field don't execute (stay in their lanes, make tackles, get off blocks, make
good kicks, etc.), then it won't do a bit of good.

Jonathan

On Sat, Oct 24, 2009 at 4:26 PM, Roy Lamberton <rstetson at capps-assoc.com>wrote:

> Fitz inherited the job as Head Coach AND Special Teams coach from RW. He
> said as much in his
> first press conference - he "had a book on special teams" that he was going
> to use.
>
> RW apparently played special teams and studied their play at other schools,
> he did the job the
> whole time at NU and maybe even Miami (altho I don't know that for sure).
>
> In any case, Fitz needs to spend less time with the LB's and more with the
> special teams, and
> please contract with a kicking coach in the off season, or better find a
> volunteer kicker from
> the alumni who live in Chicago.
>
> rsl
>
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate & Unix Guru.
> Computer Applications & Support Associates
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>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On
> Behalf Of Mike Nolan
> Sent: Saturday, October 24, 2009 2:38 PM
> To: nwu-sports at romaine.tssi.com
> Subject: [NU Sports] Get a special teams coach now
>
> > As in right now.
>
> Um, I think we already have the full complement of coaches permitted by
> the NCAA.  I cannot think of any college teams that have a coach who ONLY
> does special teams.
>
> That means that you either have to have the head coach take on special
> teams (like Frank Beamer at VT) or have one of the assistants do
> double duty.
>
> It is not immediately obvious from the NU website who handles special
> teams coaching duties.
> --
> Mike Nolan
>
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