Green26
September 16th, 2008, 10:43 AM
Since there has been some discussion about Montana special teams' performance this year, I thought I'd provide some information. Special teams are coached by head coach Bobby Hauck. The Hauck Haters seem to like to criticize special teams play.
Last season UM had an all-american kicker, Dan Carpenter, and a very good punter. Carpenter is kicking for the Miami Dolphins this year.
There has been considerable drop off in the kicking game, especially the place-kicking. However, the overall is performance of the special teams has otherwise been relatively good.
Two punts have been blocked by UM in the first two games. Several other UM punt rushes have caused bad punts. UM punt coverage has been good.
Opponent punting is averaging only 28.1 yards, and opponent net punting is only 19.8. So. Utah came into the game with its punter averaging about 49 yards, I believe, but he had a bad performance. The So. Utah is still 6th in nation. UM is averaging 14.1 per punt return (23rd in nation).
UM punting is averaging 43.4 yards (8th in nation). UM net punting is 38.1 (7th in nation). UM has given up one return of 22 yards, but otherwise has given up only 6 yards per return (4).
UM kickoff returns have consistently been good, averaging 20.9 per return. A couple penalties (or at least one) have occurred on kickoff returns, which hurt the average. UM has fumbled 2 kickoff returns, but recovered both. This also hurt the average return. One was a miscommunication and one was by a true frosh.
UM kickoffs have been okay but much shorter than last year. The first kick of the season went out of bounds. Coverage has generally been good, but the So. Utah returner was very good and had some good returns.
Field goals are 2-4, but have been consistently short, and looked weak. The long snapping has been inconsistent. I think there may have been two snappers, but I'm not sure of that. Extra points are only 8-10. A backup kicker, a senior receiver and captain, kicked a FG and extra point in the last game. UM is struggling in this aspect of the game. The good news is that UM is going for it on 4th down in part of the field where they had kicked FG's in prior years--and having some success.
Last season UM had an all-american kicker, Dan Carpenter, and a very good punter. Carpenter is kicking for the Miami Dolphins this year.
There has been considerable drop off in the kicking game, especially the place-kicking. However, the overall is performance of the special teams has otherwise been relatively good.
Two punts have been blocked by UM in the first two games. Several other UM punt rushes have caused bad punts. UM punt coverage has been good.
Opponent punting is averaging only 28.1 yards, and opponent net punting is only 19.8. So. Utah came into the game with its punter averaging about 49 yards, I believe, but he had a bad performance. The So. Utah is still 6th in nation. UM is averaging 14.1 per punt return (23rd in nation).
UM punting is averaging 43.4 yards (8th in nation). UM net punting is 38.1 (7th in nation). UM has given up one return of 22 yards, but otherwise has given up only 6 yards per return (4).
UM kickoff returns have consistently been good, averaging 20.9 per return. A couple penalties (or at least one) have occurred on kickoff returns, which hurt the average. UM has fumbled 2 kickoff returns, but recovered both. This also hurt the average return. One was a miscommunication and one was by a true frosh.
UM kickoffs have been okay but much shorter than last year. The first kick of the season went out of bounds. Coverage has generally been good, but the So. Utah returner was very good and had some good returns.
Field goals are 2-4, but have been consistently short, and looked weak. The long snapping has been inconsistent. I think there may have been two snappers, but I'm not sure of that. Extra points are only 8-10. A backup kicker, a senior receiver and captain, kicked a FG and extra point in the last game. UM is struggling in this aspect of the game. The good news is that UM is going for it on 4th down in part of the field where they had kicked FG's in prior years--and having some success.