Juanyeh Thomas

LongforDodd

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Our special teams suck which makes no sense to me because it seems you need very few OL for ST
Your special teams are an indicator of the overall depth of your team in terms of speed, size, and agility. Want better ST's? Get bigger, faster, more agile players on your roster.
 

GoGATech

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I specifically remember hearing CGC saying in a press conference (possibly UVA post game) that we utilize a gunner only punt team. Not sure if this is indicative of our need to keep more blockers in to get a good punt off, or if he thinks with Harvin's leg we should be able to cover with only gunners. But when your superstar punter doesn't get a great one off and you only have 2 gunners downfield to make the tackle, bad things happen.
 

Walton

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It's split between coaches - just like it was for the majority of CPJ era.

But ST eat first so it's completely different now.
I know you think you are being witty but it is a lot more than just that, even though that is an interesting tidbit that shows he emphasizes the importance of ST.

Many players have mentioned numerous times how much this staff cares and emphasizes ST. More than one as said basically: "I hated playing on ST before and it was only for the 2nd tier players but now you have to work at it if you want to play."

Also, overall I do think the ST have been better but with inconsistent play. We do make some plays that I didn't see in the recent past and until we allow 2 kickoff returns for a TD in the same game, I'll say it is improved. Also, GT has had very poor defense and poor special Teams for most of the last 10 years. It is like everyone forgets that. You don't improve that stuff over night and yes some of that is culture related.

I don't blame coaches for poor kicking during a season. Those guys are wired weird and there isn't much you can do when it goes wrong. Over time and in the off season is when you try to correct those things.
 

GoGATech

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It's split between coaches - just like it was for the majority of CPJ era.

But ST eat first so it's completely different now.
It's split because you have offensive and defensive special teams units. Why would you want a defensive coach drawing up blocking schemes for a punt return?
 

ElCidBUZZingFAN

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I know you think you are being witty but it is a lot more than just that, even though that is an interesting tidbit that shows he emphasizes the importance of ST.

Many players have mentioned numerous times how much this staff cares and emphasizes ST. More than one as said basically: "I hated playing on ST before and it was only for the 2nd tier players but now you have to work at it if you want to play."

Also, overall I do think the ST have been better but with inconsistent play. We do make some plays that I didn't see in the recent past and until we allow 2 kickoff returns for a TD in the same game, I'll say it is improved. Also, GT has had very poor defense and poor special Teams for most of the last 10 years. It is like everyone forgets that. You don't improve that stuff over night and yes some of that is culture related.

I don't blame coaches for poor kicking during a season. Those guys are wired weird and there isn't much you can do when it goes wrong. Over time and in the off season is when you try to correct those things.
Your eyes are deceiving you and/or the marketing bullshit has got you hoodwinked.

2019 SFEI Special Teams Ratings (through Week 10)
#99

2018 SFEI Special Teams Ratings (final)
#65
 

ElCidBUZZingFAN

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It's split because you have offensive and defensive special teams units. Why would you want a defensive coach drawing up blocking schemes for a punt return?
I'm not making such an argument. I'm stating ST has sucked before and continues to suck and the current messaging around it is slowly approaching "missed blocking assignment" territory week after week.
 

Walton

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Your eyes are deceiving you and/or the marketing bullshit has got you hoodwinked.

2019 SFEI Special Teams Ratings (through Week 10)
#99

2018 SFEI Special Teams Ratings (final)
#65
I said it was inconsistent so we have had some very bad plays. Think what you wish but you are 100% wrong that ST was coached well in the past or better than currently.
 

ElCidBUZZingFAN

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I said it was inconsistent so we have had some very bad plays. Think what you wish but you are 100% wrong that ST was coached well in the past or better than currently.
I never said such. You inferred that.

The extent I've brought up past coaching was only to refute the misnomer that we have more dedicated staff now than we've previously had. It's not true. It was a group coaching effort before and it's one now, but with the limitations on college staff numbers, it's something that has to be done.
 

Walton

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I never said such. You inferred that.

The extent I've brought up past coaching was only to refute the misnomer that we have more dedicated staff now than we've previously had. It's not true. It was a group coaching effort before and it's one now, but with the limitations on college staff numbers, it's something that has to be done.
I see you didn't comment on the direct comments from players.

It was split between more coaches under Johnson and you could tell. The USF game last year showed that Special Teams was not a priority and no one was really accountable. They coached it at a minimal level and players ran through the motions.
 

ElCidBUZZingFAN

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I see you didn't comment on the direct comments from players.

It was split between more coaches under Johnson and you could tell. The USF game last year showed that Special Teams was not a priority and no one was really accountable. They coached it at a minimal level and players ran through the motions.
It's mindless drivel and anecdotes without on the field data and results backing it up.

The fact is our numbers on ST are equally ööööty when compared year-to-year. I really don't give a öööö how or what exact methods the previous staff did coaching ST. Special teams sucked under Paul Johnson. I do not wish for Special Teams to continue to suck under Geoff Collins.
 

The M-Train

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Also, overall I do think the ST have been better but with inconsistent play.
Which is it, are they better or inconsistent?

We lost the last game because of 10 points given up due to poor ST play (kickoff return at the end of the first half and missed chip shot FG). In no way did the ST look like it had improved at all.

Other than our thicc punter, we suck. Kickers have both regressed to the point that we are squibbing it constantly and missing XP length FGs, returners are calling fair catch on the 1 yard line, etc. Just boneheaded play after boneheaded play, and we aren't good enough to win games when we do stuff like that.

It's mindless drivel and anecdotes without on the field data and results backing it up.

The fact is our numbers on ST are equally ööööty when compared year-to-year. I really don't give a öööö how or what exact methods the previous staff did coaching ST. Special teams sucked under Paul Johnson. I do not wish for Special Teams to continue to suck under Geoff Collins.
Special teams under CPJ were good when we were good (Clemson first game 2009, UGA game 2014, etc), and pretty damn bad when we weren't good.
 

BigDanT

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It might be because if the offense and defense are performing well you have more time to practice special teams.
 

ElCidBUZZingFAN

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It might be because if the offense and defense are performing well you have more time to practice special teams.
That's plausible.

I recall CGC saying during spring ball he wouldn't shy away from playing starters on ST. It seems to be true, as I've noticed more starters out there, but I don't know if that's just confirmation bias on my part.

Anyone know the raw numbers whether we're actually playing more starters on ST compared to years past?

It could be, too, just more drinking from a fire hose as what is going on with D and O. And that's where I'm really big crying here - the "they eat first" stuff is dumb - just tell us what's going on.
 
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BigDanT

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That's plausible.

I recall CGC saying during spring ball he wouldn't shy away from playing starters on ST. It seems to be true, as I've noticed more starters out there, but I don't know if that's just confirmation bias on my part.

Anyone know the raw numbers whether we're actually playing more starters on ST compared to years past?

It could be, too, just more drinking from a fire hose as what is going on with D and O. And that's where I'm really big crying here - the "they eat first" stuff is dumb - just tell us what's going on.
It’s the punt team that eats first. Seams like covering returns are either terrible or great
 

aeromech

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Jan 14, 2007
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Speaking of special teams, any of you old fogies remember Carol White:

Carol White has traveled a road full of improbabilities to the Georgia Tech football program, where she just completed her third season as a kicking coach. Specializing in both placekicking and punting, White has carved a niche in a rough, virtually males-only sport. She is the only woman coaching varsity football at the collegiate level in the country.
https://www.csmonitor.com/1987/1130/pkick.html

Georgia Tech currently has one of the better college kickers - senior David Bell, who hit on 21 of 26 field goals and 45 of 46 extra points the past two seasons.

This is Bell's second season of working under White's direction and while he admits the idea of having a woman coach was a bit hard getting used to, 'there's no problem now.'

'She really knows what she's talking about,' said Bell. 'She's real detailed about it. She doesn't actually work that much with me, more with the younger kickers, but when she spots something I need to work on, I'm more than happy to accept her advice.'
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/0...rgia-Tech-Has-Woman-Kick-Coach/2605526968000/

We could certainly use someone like her about now.
 

joeye

Varsity Connoisseur
Joined
Jan 19, 2011
Messages
451
Kicking.....I get that we're rebuilding but what I don't understand is our lack of touchbacks....
that's not a mental thing....isn't that a "wind it up and kick the damn ball into the sun" thing.
You're telling me neither of our kickers have the strength this far into the program?
 
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