Georgia's Kickoff Coverage

Kevin Butler, former Georgia Bulldog and Chicago Bear kicker, was co-hosting the 5th quarter show after the Oklahoma State game, and he was asked about our kickoff coverage.

Butler explained that kickoff coverage (assuming you don't or can't kick it out of the back of the end zone) basically boils down to finding 10 guys who can make the first blocker miss them as they pursue the ball carrier.

He felt that we gave up that huge return on the second kickoff vs. the Cowboys because hardly anyone made a man miss. After getting an earful about it, they did better.

Oklahoma State started their drives at the following locations

OSU 34
UGA 46 (worst tackling of the day compounded the problem)
OSU 23
OSU 25
OSU 15 (returned to the 10. Penalty moved it to 15)
OSU 45 (returned to the 30. Penalty moved it to 45)

Adjusted for life without defensive penalties, our coverage held them to an average starting field position of the 30 yard line. If you include penalties the Cowboys average starting spot was the 34.3 yard line, which is totally unacceptable. However, if you pull out penalties and the one really bad return, they averaged starting on the 24.4 yard line.

Conclusion: More consistency and fewer penalties would give us a top flight kickoff coverage unit. The ability is there, and it wasn't as bad as I remembered once I looked at all the returns. They just need/must improve execution. We can't make it easy for Spurrier with field position.

See Also:
-- Special teams not so special for Gamecocks - GoUpstate.com

PWD

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