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Kickoff Coverage ...we are doing something wrong!

  • I posted last week about all of our horrible kickoff coverage statistics. #122 in touchback percentage, #104 in opponent kickoff return average, #105 in average opponent starting field position from kickoffs. I noticed a huge difference between us and USF, and now I'm noticing that the rest of the country does what USF does. The "run-up" window has been limited to 5 yard this year. Everyone else starts with their front foot on the 30 yard line, with their body closer to the 29. But we start completely inside of the 30 yard line, usually closer to the 31. Maybe that is our coaches' interpretation of the rule, but the rest of the country is getting away with what they're doing. We need to do it to. We effectively have about 4 yards to accelerate while the rest of the country has 6 yards. That might not sound like much, but you could gain 2-3 MPH in those two yards at kickoff, putting the coverage a few extra yards down the field when they meet the returner.

    This still doesn't help our bad kicking stats, but it might be a huge part of our bad coverage stats.

    uoflcard

  • It starts with a kicker that kicks a line drive to the ten. Punt coverage has been pretty good.

    Farmerdude ●

  • Yeah but we're also one of the worst in the country with opponents' average kick return distance. A kicker who kicks the ball short should actually help the coverage team limit the return yards (even though it will tend to result in better field position for the opponent). Take the extreme example...if our kicker only kicks the ball 15 yards, yes they will have great field position everytime, but we would probably lead the nation in covering kicks...most teams wouldn't return the ball more than 3 or 4 yards at that distance. Extrapolating that out...kicking it 60 yards instead of 65 should get the coverage unit to the ball that much quicker, limiting the return distance, even though it would typically end up with better position for the opposition.

    Yes, our kickers suck, but I don't see how you correct that mid-season. But giving our players and extra 2 yards to build up speed before the kick? That could be a 5 yard distance when you get to the returner, and that could be corrected immediately, quite easily!

    uoflcard

  • Our whole special teams' are a disaster. Time for a coaching responsibility change in that area.

    DaVille

  • I agree. I've been saying that since the FIU game. It is Kenny Carter right now. He's doing a great job with the running backs, but I don't even know if our special teams were this bad under Kragattack

    uoflcard

  • I think we should John L. back to coach special teams.... he's going to need a job after this season.

    signature image

    ...

    UofLCards81

  • Regarding special teams being complete disaster:

    Not true. Field goals are perfect, so you can't complain about that, and punting in general has been decent, despite one bad kick yesterday.

    Now, other areas due have some issues: kickoffs (need to adjust style of kick to limit returns, & coverage can improve), PATs (often kicked way too low)

    This post was edited by tville on 10/21/2012 at 9:31 AM

    signature image

    BCS win, Women's Final 4/National runner-up, Men's Final 4/National title, trip to College World Series. Excellence like no other before.

    tville

  • we are also terrible at returning kicks. We have like a 17 yard average. Which is awful.

    MATT3030

  • Special teams are a third of the game. They need a full-time assistant to coach them, not the running backs coach pulling double duty. Our special teams are horrible and they've never been great since Strong has been here. FG is good, but we've had two blocked punts that resulted in TD's, our kick coverage is horrendous and we never get any good KO returns. Charlie Strong needs to address this situation during the off-season and get a full-time guy in here to coach special teams.

    UofL1 ●

  • deja vu ......why is this not improving ?

    DaVille

  • DaVille said...

    deja vu ......why is this not improving ?

    What do you mean not improving?

    Syracuse starting field position after kickoffs was the 24 yard line (actually 24.167). The problem in the Syracuse game was NOT kickoff coverage.

    LexGreyBeard

  • DaVille said...

    deja vu ......why is this not improving ?

    You clearly have the mental capacity of a 5 year old. Kickoff coverage was one of the only bright spots yesterday.

    garciafor3

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