Special Teams

cajunjacket

cajunjacket

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Dec 5, 2007
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HD just ranked our special teams unit as 6th in the ACC. I am a more recent follower of GT (started in 2002). Over this period I have always thought our special teams to be mediocre at best. How would you rate our special teams now compared to in the past? Were we ever known for having great special teams?

This past season, with those few muffed punts, I would always be gasping on every punt return because it appeared like our guys were slightly under-prepared at special teams during certain games. I am hoping for a more solid year at special teams this coming year because that can be a game winner/loser for us.
 
cajunjacket said:
HD just ranked our special teams unit as 6th in the ACC. I am a more recent follower of GT (started in 2002). Over this period I have always thought our special teams to be mediocre at best. How would you rate our special teams now compared to in the past? Were we ever known for having great special teams?

This past season, with those few muffed punts, I would always be gasping on every punt return because it appeared like our guys were slightly under-prepared at special teams during certain games. I am hoping for a more solid year at special teams this coming year because that can be a game winner/loser for us.
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As far as muffed punts...since you started in 2k2, you don't remember the Marvious Hester-UNC game or the Peach bowl in 2k1 with Rhino. Muffed punts seem to hit us all at once.
We've never had "great" ST's but we've had some good returners...mainly Rhino, Fred Smith, and Dez White.
 
Rhino was the man. If only we could have cloned him every season for punt returns.
 
cajunjacket said:
HD just ranked our special teams unit as 6th in the ACC. I am a more recent follower of GT (started in 2002). Over this period I have always thought our special teams to be mediocre at best.
Click to expand...

hmm, 6th of 12 ..... mediocre... hmmm

seems like there is a correlation there
 
Allen Koholic said:
Rhino was the man. If only we could have cloned him every season for punt returns.
Click to expand...

The main think I remember about Rhino is that he didn't know how to fair catch. He was fearless and he didn't muff the catches. You could count on him for some solid yards, but he wasn't likely to break a big one.
 
GT to AZ said:
The main think I remember about Rhino is that he didn't know how to fair catch. He was fearless and he didn't muff the catches. You could count on him for some solid yards, but he wasn't likely to break a big one.
Click to expand...
Exactly.

Kelly Rhino was the most dependable punt returner ever. The guy was a tank.
 
We really have had trouble fielding a ST unit that is a real threat to run back punts/kicks. If I recall correctly, we had a hellacious dry spell through the 2000's where years went by without a TD from the return of a punt or kickoff. Maybe a few guys around 98-00, Rogers comes to mind
 
J Smith ran a punt back against UNC in 03.

THAT'S IT

Rhino caught the ball, made the first 17 tacklers miss, then gained 8 yards. He was never a threat to house one though.

Maybe the Godhigh kid or Tarrant will be the real deal at returns. It takes a different mindset to return kicks. There has to be a rare blend of acceleration, agility, vision, and BALLS to be a difference maker.
Rhino lacked the acceleration part of the equation.
 
Last year,

Punting was good
Punt return was average
Punt faking didn't work
PAT kicking was above average
PAT defense was above average
Kickoff was poor
Kickoff return was average
FG unit was average inside 35 yards
FG unit was poor outside of 35 yards

I think we only used one kicker. He had decent place kicking accuracy with a weak leg. That's why our KO coverage blew. He made a fine punter.

On returns, we alternated between guys who wanted to play it safe and guys who didn't concentrate on protecting the ball. I think the latter was due to inexperience on the return team.

We should be better this year. Last year we were installing a completely new O and a new defensive scheme. Special teams practice took a backseat to getting the other two units up to speed. I think this year well see a big improvement in ST due to more practice time and comfort in their primary rolls.
 
GT to AZ said:
The main think I remember about Rhino is that he didn't know how to fair catch. He was fearless and he didn't muff the catches. You could count on him for some solid yards, but he wasn't likely to break a big one.
Click to expand...

He never had to fair catch, since they had the halo rule when he was returning punts. He knew he couldn't get hit too hard.
 
I remember a game against UNC where Rhino almost took it to the house...only to get chased down from behind by a linebacker (who may have been the long snapper, lol). Also, since I can remember, we've had excellent kickers/punters. Rodney Williams, Luke Manget, Durant Brooks, Travis Bell (once he got over one long dry spell). Also, I think it was the year we went to the ACCCG, we had a good kickoff return game. One think I did like about Gailey was that he wasn't afraid to do different kickoffs. In my opinion, if you can kick it high to the 27 yard line and make the guy call a fair catch, that's a good kickoff. If a touchback is great, the other team starting on the 27 yard line with no chance of a return has to be good.
 
WracerX said:
Last year,

Punting was good
Punt return was average
Punt faking didn't work
PAT kicking was above average
PAT defense was above average
Kickoff was poor
Kickoff return was average
FG unit was average inside 35 yards
FG unit was poor outside of 35 yards

I think we only used one kicker. He had decent place kicking accuracy with a weak leg. That's why our KO coverage blew. He made a fine punter.

On returns, we alternated between guys who wanted to play it safe and guys who didn't concentrate on protecting the ball. I think the latter was due to inexperience on the return team.

We should be better this year. Last year we were installing a completely new O and a new defensive scheme. Special teams practice took a backseat to getting the other two units up to speed. I think this year well see a big improvement in ST due to more practice time and comfort in their primary rolls.
Click to expand...
Uh, we were 12-13 on FGs inside the 40. I'd say that's better than average.
 
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