Special Teams?

[irisheyes]

I seriously have to ask if the special team even practices?

Punt Return:
I mean seriously these punt returns are pathetic. They dont go for the block, but then they dont block either. Im scared everytime they punt to neal. Not to mention if hes not going to catch the ball and no one is going to pick up blocks for him why dont they actually attempt to block the punt. Maybe not an all out block but a little more effort than they are doing now.

Kickoff:
Hasn't been a big deal all year, but today i couldnt understand why they continually kicked to Devin Street. Im not sure what his stats were but he had great returns.

Field Goal Unit:
Pretty much speaks for itself, Im sure its a mental issue for Brindza. But you have to make the easy ones. Yes the team shouldn't put him in these spots, but kickers are there to get points on the board when the offense cant. Maybe i just got too use to Ruffer.


Sorry about the rant, i just wonder if anyone else has these thoughts.

Go Irish!

 

[In Lou I Trust]

I was going to make a thread about this as well but am lazy. Thank you for doing so. I agree. We do our already weak offense a huge disservice by giving them such ****** field position all game. Things need to change.

 

[Irish YJ]

Special Teams?
SUCK
/end thread.
J/K... I'm with you. I love everything about this team except ST. I predict vast improvement though in the next 2 years. We're just so damn thin on ST quality/quantity/experience due to our DB situation. We're headed in the right direction though I think. Depth will improve and the numbers will allow more studs to play on ST. The only thing I do worry about is FG/PAT over the next few years.

 

[irisheyes]

I was going to make a thread about this as well but am lazy. Thank you for doing so. I agree. We do our already weak offense a huge disservice by giving them such ****** field position all game. Things need to change.

No problem, i dont want to come off as a total downer or a monday morning quarterback. But it just seems we could really be doing much much better in this department and it would be extremely beneficial to our team. Ive never sweated regular punt returns or easy field goals this much in my entire life.

 

[West Coast Domer]

Is Elston our coach for special teams???

 

[irisheyes]

Is Elston our coach for special teams???

und website says Scott Booker is. elston is d line

 

[GBdomer]

We have the worst special teams in the country.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

We have the worst special teams in the country.

I'll drink to that.

 

[phork]

Special teams almost bit us. It will bite us eventually, there is no cutting out 1/3rd of your game.

 

[BGIF]

We have the worst special teams in the country.

Hmm, not the worst but close. Last week Football Outsider's had us #84. Surprisingly OSU, NEB, and LOU among Top 25 teams are even worse. No solace for us but it shows you don't have to be among the ST Stat leaders to be a contender.

Punt returns are a puzzlement.

 

[EifertPower]

I agree with this post for the most part, but some things to add.

The loss of Collingsworth and Lo Wood and Slaughter hurt our special teams coverage more than people realize. These guys were probably our best special teams coverage players.

I'm against punt blocks because it's too dangerous to get a personal foul on roughing the kicker but i agree that if we arent rushing, why cant we block better?

Also, i wanted to point out that last year Ruffer was 10-for-16 on field goals and missed two field goals from inside 30 yards and 4 field goals from inside 40 yards. Even during his dream 2010 season, he missed 3 extra points. Brindza--who was our backup kicker to enter the season--is 17-of-23 on fgs and 17-of-18 on extra points...and perfect when the game is on the line.

 

[IrishLax]

The worst thing about yesterday was that Neal actually had really good blocking for 2 returns... one he didn't field and let roll for another 17 yards... the other one he muffed. Both of those plays he had tons of green grass in front of him with the gunners pushed out wide.

 

[Irishman77]

We don't have enough capable bodies yet on the roster. We have 3 walk on's playing special teams for crying out loud.

Many of The bodies that are capable was moving half speed with the flu.

 

[BGIF]

The worst thing about yesterday was that Neal actually had really good blocking for 2 returns... one he didn't field and let roll for another 17 yards... the other one he muffed. Both of those plays he had tons of green grass in front of him with the gunners pushed out wide.

You're one of the few that recognized that. There was a plan but not execution by the returner when the other guys did their job.

Progress?

Hopefully the next two weeks the return game comes together.

Eifert Power also has a solid point about the loss of key ST players, Collinsworth, Woods, and Slaughter.

 

[BGIF]

We don't have enough capable bodies yet on the roster. We have 3 walk ones playing special teams for crying out loud.

Many of The bodies that are capable was moving half speed with the flu.

The flu was a valid factor for last Night but not the first 8 weeks. The early injuries continue to hurt.

Neal's inexperience or perhaps the shock at seeing green in front of him and no gunners in his face wasted two opportunities last night. If I recall correctly after an unfielded punt downed at the two, Kelly demonstrated to Neal on the sideline how to give the Fair Catch signal. Freshmen.

 

[irisheyes]

maybe im wrong but why cant we put a receiver back there? That way we can atleast field the punts and not let them roll another 15 yards

 

[ThePiombino]

maybe im wrong but why cant we put a receiver back there? That way we can atleast field the punts and not let them roll another 15 yards

Are you under the impression that Neal is NOT a receiver?

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Ruffer definitely spoiled me.
The butterflies I feel on gimme FG attempts are unhealthy.
That being said, I think we have a future All-american here with Brindza.
He's got a wicked slice, or should I say hook, off the tee.
He needs to take a page out of my golf book of slices and play far enough out to bring it back into the fairway.


The return blocking was set-up a couple times, as someone else mentioned, but overall is so bad that I fear they're wasting a year of Neil's eligibility.

 

[ThePiombino]

Ruffer definitely spoiled me.
The butterflies I feel on gimme FG attempts are unhealthy.
That being said, I think we have a future All-american here with Brindza.
He's got a wicked slice, or should I say hook, off the tee.
He needs to take a page out of my golf book of slices and play far enough out to bring it back into the fairway.


The return blocking was set-up a couple times, as someone else mentioned, but overall is so bad that I fear they're wasting a year of Neal's eligibility.

FIFY

It would be a waste if Neal planned on sticking around for a 5th year. There is no way he will be here for a 5th year, and (if he is nearly as good as people think) likely not a 4th. So, no- no eligibility has been wasted here.

 

[princesspea]

Thank you to the supporters of Kyle Brindza and to those who don't support him, it's unfortunate. Here is what I say as a family member as I speak from all of the Brindza's - To anyone who wants to judge or criticize any of the ND players after they play their hearts out every weekend, we challenge you to come to the campus and say it in person. But beware, behind every one of those players is a very BIG and very strong ND family who supports and loves them through the good and bad. We are ND, we are family, we are STILL and undefeated TEAM.

 

[BGIF]

Ruffer definitely spoiled me.
...

Ruffer was more accurate on FGs than XPs. Things that drive coaches crazy.

Tausch set ND consecutive FG record which Ruffer broke after Tausch's first injury. Tausch was the Starting kicker this fall until he was injured again and Brindza became next man in. Tausch also missed an XP this year against Navy.

Few kickers have a perfect XP record.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Let me clarify-

I meant Ruffer spoiled me in the way that I didn't feel nervous when he was kicking.
I'm usually a bundle of nerves regardless of the distance and time of game.
He was human just like every other kicker, it just didn't affect me then way other's do even when he started missing his second season.

I stand by my future All-American prediction with Brindza.
He's getting battle tested early and will only make him stronger in the future!

 

[JoeyGetherall]

I seriously have to ask if the special team even practices?

Punt Return:
I mean seriously these punt returns are pathetic. They dont go for the block, but then they dont block either. Im scared everytime they punt to neal. Not to mention if hes not going to catch the ball and no one is going to pick up blocks for him why dont they actually attempt to block the punt. Maybe not an all out block but a little more effort than they are doing now.

Kickoff:
Hasn't been a big deal all year, but today i couldnt understand why they continually kicked to Devin Street. Im not sure what his stats were but he had great returns.

Field Goal Unit:
Pretty much speaks for itself, Im sure its a mental issue for Brindza. But you have to make the easy ones. Yes the team shouldn't put him in these spots, but kickers are there to get points on the board when the offense cant. Maybe i just got too use to Ruffer.


Sorry about the rant, i just wonder if anyone else has these thoughts.

Go Irish!

Punt... Look around the country. Punt returns are down everywhere. This new style of punting is forcing this. Athletic depth is an issue here too IMO.

Kickoff... Hasn't been an issue bc Brindza usually kicks it deep so either it was the weather or he wasn't at his best physically yesterday. I highly doubt it was on purpose.

FG... I don't think it's mental. Kicking a ball that is spun back through a guys legs and then caught, spun again, and held at a slight angle to be kicked 40+ yds all with movements happening simultaneously and all happening within seconds isn't as easy as it sounds. Oh yeah 11 guys are rushing at you too. Try it sometime haha.

 

[irisheyes]

Are you under the impression that Neal is NOT a receiver?

I was more thinking one of the top recievers, such as tj jones, or even ga 3 (not a receiver but)

 

[Rocky2820]

I asked this question yesterday during the game. I thought I read from BK that they were going to make a couple personnel changes to the kickoff coverage team. Anyone know if they did, and if they did what the changes were?

 

[IrishLion]

The worst thing about yesterday was that Neal actually had really good blocking for 2 returns... one he didn't field and let roll for another 17 yards... the other one he muffed. Both of those plays he had tons of green grass in front of him with the gunners pushed out wide.

Thank God someone else noticed. I pointed this out to a friend I was watching with, and made a comment that Neal would probably muff it since it appeared we were actually blocking the coverage team for once. Then... he did. I'll take the blame.

And what hurt the most about it was that I think it was after ND had tied the game and forced a Pitt punt late. If Neal has a good return there, ND potentially gets in field goal range and wins the game without OT (but this is not to mention Golic stepping on Golson's foot, costing ND precious time and yardage. But it can also be argued that Golson didn't drop back fast enough).

 

[anarin]

I was more thinking one of the top recievers, such as tj jones, or even ga 3 (not a receiver but)

Im glad you dont coach

 

[irisheyes]

Im glad you dont coach

If you're going to insult me at least give an explanation. Ga3 does kick returns and has great speed.

sent from my calculator...........60065

 

[Riddickulous]

"Special" should be in quotation marks, like so.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

How about that for an improvement!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NotreDame&src=hash">#NotreDame</a> kickoff coverage...119th in the nation. Purdue averaged 34.0 yard a return last Saturday.</p>— Darin Pritchett (@Sportsbeat960) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsbeat960/statuses/379634582208802816">September 16, 2013</a></blockquote>
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