I'm either preaching at the choir or yelling into a hole, but here goes:
UGA cannot have a special teams coach without having another coach give up their duties. So if you believe we should dedicate a staff position to special teams, you are essentially saying 'I want us to do with out a _______ coach.'
We've added some folks who help out with special teams, and have two assistants dedicated to focusing on special teams, but in the end, the kickers are on their own with day to day technique and work.
Having said that, Eckler has to make sure his unit knows their jobs on punt safe (the edge guys have to make sure the ball is off before releasing/finding someone to block). Lilly has to make sure his guys know their jobs on the hands team if it isn't a short squib (several guys turned and ran like it was a return instead of blocking the Vandy defenders at the line). Give Vandy credit, they took what we gave them and made great plays out of what should have been simple UGA advantage plays. THOSE are the types of special teams play that the coaches can fix.
Morgan's kicking isn't, though I think he only had one bad kick. The other was just a shade pushed left from the right hash mark. His kickoffs showed more height and were plenty long.
All of this is to say the special teams thing is something worth watching, but I'm not particularly worried about Morgan's kicking or pooch/onsides kicks.
T
See also:
- Lilly: Pooch kick is on me. Bulldawg Illustrated
Showing posts with label Putting the special in special teams. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Putting the special in special teams. Show all posts
September 16, 2015
June 18, 2015
Fair Catch University is no more
Last year was salve to the soul....
But then you look at 2013 and 2012, and only one thing really stands out...
Isaiah McKenzie's talent changed what our punt return approach is. The number of returns don't stand out so much, because that ispretty consistent much more consistent than I would have dreamed, but the yards gained per return increase is stunning.
And that really stands out when you look at Reggie Davis' return yards in 2014 vs. 2013. I can't say with certainty, but you have to think we worked more on punt return in practice than in years past, knowing McKenzie is a threat to break one. That contributes to Davis getting a couple of more steps when he does get the chance to return a punt.
TD
*all stats are courtesey of CFBStats
2014 Georgia Bulldogs Punt Returns through 01/12/2015
| Name | Yr | Pos | G | Ret. | Yards | Avg. | TD | Ret./G | Yards/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah McKenzie | FR | WR | 12 | 19 | 230 | 12.11 | 2 | 1.6 | 19.2 |
| 2 | Reggie Davis | SO | WR | 13 | 12 | 95 | 7.92 | 0 | 0.9 | 7.3 |
| Total | 13 | 31 | 325 | 10.48 | 2 | 2.4 | 25.0 | |||
| Opponents | 13 | 10 | 47 | 4.70 | 0 | 0.8 | 3.6 |
But then you look at 2013 and 2012, and only one thing really stands out...
2013 Georgia Bulldogs Punt Returns through 01/06/2014
| Name | Yr | Pos | G | Ret. | Yards | Avg. | TD | Ret./G | Yards/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reggie Davis | FR | WR | 11 | 14 | 46 | 3.29 | 0 | 1.3 | 4.2 |
| 2 | Damian Swann | JR | DB | 13 | 9 | 28 | 3.11 | 0 | 0.7 | 2.2 |
| 3 | Sheldon Dawson | SO | DB | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| 4 | Shaq Wiggins | FR | DB | 12 | 1 | -1 | -1.00 | 0 | 0.1 | -0.1 |
| Total | 13 | 25 | 73 | 2.92 | 0 | 1.9 | 5.6 | |||
| Opponents | 13 | 10 | 43 | 4.30 | 2 | 0.8 | 3.3 |
2012 Georgia Bulldogs Punt Returns through 01/07/2013
| Name | Yr | Pos | G | Ret. | Yards | Avg. | TD | Ret./G | Yards/G | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhett McGowan | JR | WR | 14 | 9 | 75 | 8.33 | 0 | 0.6 | 5.4 |
| 2 | Malcolm Mitchell | SO | DB | 13 | 11 | 57 | 5.18 | 0 | 0.8 | 4.4 |
| 3 | Damian Swann | SO | DB | 14 | 5 | 37 | 7.40 | 0 | 0.4 | 2.6 |
| 4 | Shawn Williams | SR | DB | 14 | 1 | 25 | 25.00 | 0 | 0.1 | 1.8 |
| 5 | Chris Conley | SO | WR | 14 | 1 | 9 | 9.00 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| Total | 14 | 27 | 203 | 7.52 | 0 | 1.9 | 14.5 | |||
| Opponents | 14 | 14 | 156 | 11.14 | 1 | 1.0 | 11.1 |
Isaiah McKenzie's talent changed what our punt return approach is. The number of returns don't stand out so much, because that is
And that really stands out when you look at Reggie Davis' return yards in 2014 vs. 2013. I can't say with certainty, but you have to think we worked more on punt return in practice than in years past, knowing McKenzie is a threat to break one. That contributes to Davis getting a couple of more steps when he does get the chance to return a punt.
TD
*all stats are courtesey of CFBStats
August 13, 2014
Mark Richt has lost control of Georgia Tech's coaching staff
Wait, you can use a special teams coach for something other than special teams:
TD
Using special-teams coordinator Ray Rychleski to help out with the offensive line is working out well. A common way the line drills is for players to split up into groups of six or seven and rotate through drills led by offensive line coach Mike Sewak, graduate assistant Preston Pehrson and Rychleski. “We’ll just sort of do a rotation,” guard Trey Braun said. “That way, you don’t have 20 guys going through one drill. You’ve got about seven guys at each drill and it’s getting some pops, getting some snaps.”Whoa. If you allow that, next thing you know you are asking your kicker to line up on defense to serve as pass coverage in drills.
TD
April 19, 2014
Chris Klewe on kick coaching
Sound familiar?
TD
(h/t @sean_fagan_1)
Want to know why your team has a shitty kicker? Because your team has a shitty coach who doesn't know the first thing about the basic fundamentals of kicking and punting, but figures that a soccer castoff will do just fine so long as he gets screamed at loudly enough.His solution is simple (and one y'all have been trying to employ for some time):
If you want your team to stop trotting out Shanky McWideleft, then you need to get on the coaching staff's collective asses and force them to actually learn the fundamentals of kicking, and not just regard the special teams coordinator as the bottom rung on the ladder toward head coach.Or actually get a special teams coordinator.
TD
(h/t @sean_fagan_1)
February 12, 2014
Shorter Mark Bradley: I'm smarter than Mark Richt
Ok, big'un.
Look, we all want to see improved special teams play. Well, maybe not all, since some people need the story lines for page views. But this is really hard to stomach:
TD
Look, we all want to see improved special teams play. Well, maybe not all, since some people need the story lines for page views. But this is really hard to stomach:
I’ve never understand why, with all the lip service paid to the importance of special teams — they’re one-third of football; you can win and lose games faster there than anywhere else; blah blah blah — collegiate head coaches don’t do as NFL guys do and name a single special teams coordinator.He does give Richt props, but only after he gives him a back handed compliement. And the predictable 'this is how Paul Johnson is doing it better' comparison.
TD
February 6, 2014
Special Teams for the win
First, we sign a player specifically for returning the football on punts and kickoffs.
Isaiah McKenzie is a short, but shifty guy who reminds me of Billy 'White Shoes' Johnson when he gets the ball. We've had others like him sign and play, but not specifically to handle kick and punt returns:
Internationally Nationally known as short hand for the autofaircatch. McKenzie is also the kind of player that will be used at slot or even on some of those little quick sweeps from the pistol.
Second, we hire a coach who was a special teams standout and with specific experience coaching special teams.
If the signing class of 2011 was indicative of Richt's willingness to change his approach to recruiting and dedication to coaching the Georgia Bulldogs, we could look back at the class of 2014 as an indication that Richt is trying to shed his 'just don't screw up' approach to certain aspects of Georgia's game plan, especially on special teams.
TD
Isaiah McKenzie is a short, but shifty guy who reminds me of Billy 'White Shoes' Johnson when he gets the ball. We've had others like him sign and play, but not specifically to handle kick and punt returns:
"His No. 1 job is gonna try to be that punt returner, kick returner for us," offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said. "It could be the difference in one ballgame, and obviously help us on offense if we can sometimes just get 10 yards on the punt return. That's the first down for the offense.Don't I know it. We are the school of The Grayhound, which is
Second, we hire a coach who was a special teams standout and with specific experience coaching special teams.
If the signing class of 2011 was indicative of Richt's willingness to change his approach to recruiting and dedication to coaching the Georgia Bulldogs, we could look back at the class of 2014 as an indication that Richt is trying to shed his 'just don't screw up' approach to certain aspects of Georgia's game plan, especially on special teams.
TD
October 21, 2013
Maybe we want a special teams coach just so we can call for his firing
You know, I've really struggled with the special teams coach thing. I get Coach Richt's reasoning for not having one. I really do. And he is right about Lilly being the de facto special teams coach. He performs all the duties a Special Teams Coordinator would, namely handling meeting times and setting the practice order, ect.
On the other, it is clear UGA is and has been struggling on special teams for some time. In the last two seasons, I really bought the argument that having one coach would have significantly improved some things, especially as it relates to Blair Walsh and Marshall Morgan. This year, I'm not certain. I can make the argument that someone who is a special teams specialist could help speed up Barber's punting motion without giving up 10 yards or maybe be able to help Theus/Frix with their long snapping, but Seth Emerson fairly summarized why I'm not sold on the idea that a Special Teams Coordinator would solve anything
Still I can't help but to think we Georgia fans want a coordinator just so we can call for his firing. We have to have someone to blame, right?
TD
On the other, it is clear UGA is and has been struggling on special teams for some time. In the last two seasons, I really bought the argument that having one coach would have significantly improved some things, especially as it relates to Blair Walsh and Marshall Morgan. This year, I'm not certain. I can make the argument that someone who is a special teams specialist could help speed up Barber's punting motion without giving up 10 yards or maybe be able to help Theus/Frix with their long snapping, but Seth Emerson fairly summarized why I'm not sold on the idea that a Special Teams Coordinator would solve anything
Damian Swann muffing a punt is not a coaching issue. Trent Frix (in this game) and Nate Theus (in previous games) muffing punt snaps is not a coaching issue. These are performance issues. Those arguing for a special teams coordinator may have a case, but they need to point out how one man overseeing special teams will fix the specific problems that are occurring. Just making a blanket assertion that they need to hire a special teams coach is too simplistic.Clearly, I think Seth is right about that. What would having a Special Teams Coordinator fix about muffed punts? I can make the argument that we could do a better job in talent utilization with one, maybe. Perhaps having a coordinator put someone in the position of constantly thinking about fake field goals. Even so, it is on the players to execute. Would having accountability to one coach increase player's motivation to execute?
Still I can't help but to think we Georgia fans want a coordinator just so we can call for his firing. We have to have someone to blame, right?
TD
October 19, 2013
Who gets it?
The only thing I keep thinking about is which unit is the worst: Defense or Special Teams? I get that offense has its own special issues, but Special Teams are way worse that Defense, right?Muffed punt. Bad snaps on punts. Fake FG for TD allowed. And this isn't a new thing. Not even close. I'm not in the arena, but sometimes you don't have to be an expert to see how things are going to end. Or that you need to change your course and fast.
Just an abysmal showing. I'll get to all the other stuff, but damn.
TD
September 14, 2013
November 4, 2011
Is There A Way To Blame Martinez for the Special Teams Issues?
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| Who has two thumbs and coaches an under-performing special teams unit? (Image: Hipple) |
Oklahoma does spread out the special teams among assistants, and the Sooners are also having their special-teams struggles this season.It does make me wonder...
TD
