[NU Sports] Kicking game

[bwdolphin146 at yahoo.com]

I would note that Auburn averaged over 10 yards better a punt than NU did. That helped the Tigers' field position immensely. 

I think, outside of Jonathan, we have reached a consensus that the coaching staff needs to pay much more attention to special teams. Whether that means hiring a special teams coach or not (I say yes) more special teams work is definitely necessary. Hideous kick coverage would almost certainly have cost NU the Outback in regulation were it not for the forced fumble.

Just like Roy I have seen what kicking gurus/coaches can do at other levels and there's no reason NU cannot benefit from such an approach. 

I do concur with Jonathan that Demos was overworked. I strongly feel NU needs to seperate the kicking and punting duties. If that means one less scholarship for a backup elsewhere so be it. Remember Markshausen was a walk-on. 

I hate to sound so repetitive on this stuff but it's so obvious to me that improvement on special teams could add wins to the total faster than any other single factor, and watching missed extra points, dorked punts and appalling coverage week in and week out drives me nuts. 

I felt the same way watching some of the greatest offenses in college football struggle to win games thanks to the Jerry Brown/Greg Colby era's dreadful defenses. That problem area was fixed and look what resulted. Now NU needs to fix the new trouble spot and win the Big Ten and bowls. 

Brad Wilson 




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