2022 Fall Camp Notes - Special Teams

Mavric said:
We are #78 in average yards per kickoff return, which is better than #121 last year but not great.  We've only returned two kickoffs on the year.

We don't even show up on the punt return stats because I don't believe we're returned one yet.
Click to expand...
what bothers me the most is they leave the long snapper un blocked so he can just run free down the middle.  so stupid.  If the returners see a guy coming right at them full speed they will most likely fair catch.  I know snappers are protected but thats only at the LOS.  Once he leaves he's fair game.  They also don't even look like they set up for a return once the ball is kicked.  

 
SP+ has us at #129 (out of 131) for special teams so far.  I'm chalking that up small sample sizes (and maybe weighting from last year).

According to this metric we finished #127 last year.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
MyBloodIsRed16 said:
what bothers me the most is they leave the long snapper un blocked so he can just run free down the middle.  so stupid.  If the returners see a guy coming right at them full speed they will most likely fair catch.  I know snappers are protected but thats only at the LOS.  Once he leaves he's fair game.  They also don't even look like they set up for a return once the ball is kicked.  
Click to expand...
Again I'm not coach but I haven't understood our punt return either.  That punt block by Wright last week is the first time in a while that I can even remember us going after a punt in quite a while yet we don't really seem to set up for a return either.  It seems like we're in a "safe punt return" 95 % of the time. 

 
Farms said:
Again I'm not coach but I haven't understood our punt return either.  That punt block by Wright last week is the first time in a while that I can even remember us going after a punt in quite a while yet we don't really seem to set up for a return either.  It seems like we're in a "safe punt return" 95 % of the time. 
Click to expand...
another thing that I don't get is how the punt team is basically sacrificing 4 players that aren't going to run down the field with how they line up.  Teams these days have the 3 punt protectors and the punter in the back field.  Just send on or two guys that might slip bye and just block everyone at the line as long as you can then peel off to set up a sideline return to either side (whichever one is called before hand).  I just always see half the punt team running down the field unmolested 

 
BigRedBuster said:
If you're never going to return punts, it's pretty easy for the other team to keep blockers back so you don't block the punt either.
Click to expand...


This is true.

But most of the problem this year (and probably last year) is the defense doesn't get off the field fast enough.  When they are punting from mid-field they can lob a punt with extra hang time to force fair catches.

 
Mavric said:
This is true.

But most of the problem this year (and probably last year) is the defense doesn't get off the field fast enough.  When they are punting from mid-field they can lob a punt with extra hang time to force fair catches.
Click to expand...
That is a very good point.  Average punt for ND was 27 yards.  If you have a punter that's good at hang time, it doesn't give the returner a chance to return it.

 
And returns from deep in your own territory are more risky (turnovers).  And punting from mid field is risky to block the kick and risky to retreat for a return due to having to defend against a possible fake punt.  
 

It’s complicated by our failure to get 3 & outs inside the opponents’ 35.  And once the field position gets against NU, our punters in years past have not managed to switch that with a big kick and sometimes punt would go awry and make it worse.  Field position. Time of possession, place kicking. Turnovers.  Lack of a control of line of scrimmage.  Dependence on passing - sacks, incompletions.  
 

All of these and more have gone against Neb the past four or more years.  Result:  losses piling up.  All of these are basic football fundamentals.  Poor blocks. Poor tackling.  Add in some ify game management.  Too many recruiting misses.    3-9 records should be expected frankly.  Stats can show the games are ‘close’ but tell tale indicators of core team wide issues.  They explain most of the losses and wins too.  Nebraska has not played winning football against most teams.  

 
Special teams is no longer losing games. That could change, of course, but STs is ‘fixed’ generally speaking, based on two early games.  FG kicking is still suspect but the rest of STs is improved.   You should not count on STs to win games but perhaps two or three games a year it can be a difference maker.  
 

Prior years, STs could be expected to be a net negative via critical errors, field position negatives, etc.  Preseason thinking was our STs had to be better and hope was that it would be ‘average’, not a hindrance.   So far, this has come true.  
 

Early season STs grade = B-   Passing and winnable contribution, imo.   

 
Back
Top