ND Special Teams

[BGIF]

Irish Seek Special Teams Boost

By Lou Somoygi BGI
9/21



I didn't see this posted in any of the other threads. Posters have demanded different players punting and receiving punts. Change for change sake.

Somoygi runs down the likely suspects and Mike Elston comments on why others haven't been viable.

Brindza for Turk

“He’s primarily a kicker,” said Elston of Brindza. “His technique and operation time, it would be tough for him to get in there right now and run with the first group based on his operation time. We’d be compromising our protection and ability to get the ball off. He’s more inconsistent at this point than Ben.

“Ben demonstrates in practice that he can get it done; Kyle hasn’t demonstrated in practice that he can do it yet.”

Operation time translates to he takes too much time to get the kick off. I think I commented last winter that he seems to take a long time with steps. That would make him a candidate for blocks. Turk has been lauded for avoiding blocks especially when he has to field errant snaps like a 3rd baseman.


Returnmen - Fumbles and Lack of Returns

The Irish have often called for no returns this season, but what has particularly frustrated Elston is when the alignment and call is set up for a return, there has been no production.

Did you catch the underlined part, "The Irish have often called for no returns this season"

Opponents have punted 18 times, ND has fumbled 3 and tried to return 7.

“When you’re in a punt return situation, the minimum you want to get when you’re going to return the ball is 10 yards,” Elston said. “We’ve been averaging going backwards … we’re not only not catching the ball consistently, we’re making poor decisions on when we’re going to return the ball. We need to be more conscious of making good decisions.”

Riddick fumbled twice and was replaced by Goodman who fumbled.

“Robby Toma hasn’t done it since high school,” Elston noted. “He’s a work in progress back there but he’s back there and he’s doing a good job, so we’ll see.”

Freshman running backs Atkinson, Cam McDaniel and rookie wideout DaVaris Daniels also are getting more auditions, but all had their struggles in that area of the game in August.

 

[Old Man Mike]

All these remarks are exactly what I thought were going on. Makes sense of all we've been seeing on the field. The sub-par performances that we see are not due to bad coaching nor the coaches not trying to correct things by substitutions, but by not having the proper skills in the back-up players and the front line players having brain seizures occasionally in the heat of action. Sometimes you have to admit that with your current roster you just don't have the player you need to excel in a certain area.

I still believe that Turk will come around. I still believe that Goodman will catch the ball. But if anyone else emerges as a punt returner of competence, we need to admit that Kelly/Elston ARE TAKING A GAMBLE putting him out there the first time. I doubt that, given our abilities on offense and defense, we want to be dice-rolling on special teams, if we can just get the ball safely and have average field position to start what we ARE good at.

 

[irish1958]

OOM I agree with your assessment, and feel that our best bet is to let Goodman fair catch the ball, and let our offense do their job.
What I have noted on the punts is that the opposing gunners are neither blocked nor even slowed down, followed by a wave of unblocked linemen closely behind. Rocket or Hester couldn't return a punt under these circumstances.
The problem isn't with whomever catches the punt but with the supporting cast.
You don't see this well on TV, but it is oblivious at the games.

 

[IrishLax]

We need to give Riddick another shot.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

We need to give Riddick another shot.

I'm not sure if my heart can handle him back there.

 

[Rhode Irish]

I'd like to see Theo get worked back in, but in a low-pressure situation. If we have a two score lead and he will be fielding the punt nearer to midfield than the goalline, that would be a good spot to get him re-acclimated.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I think they should have me fielding punts.

 

[Meacon Irish]

I'm not sure if my heart can handle him back there.

I hear you there. I never thought I'd see the day where I hold my breath more on a punt return than any other part of the game.

 

[tko]

I'd like to see Theo get worked back in, but in a low-pressure situation. If we have a two score lead and he will be fielding the punt nearer to midfield than the goalline, that would be a good spot to get him re-acclimated.

that doesn't exist at Notre Dame! i want a low pressure game so i don't have to pace!

I so want Theo involved, though. The kid is just a little bit off right now and we all know how big confidence can be. Wouldn't it be nice for him to get back involved and take one to the house.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I believe that it is possible that punt returning is adding to Riddick's burden mentally and impoverishing his regular receivership play. Kelly said at the recent press conference that he has had difficulty getting Robbie Toma on the field, because they are trying to get Theo straightened out by lots of in-game reps. That really sounds to me like Theo doesn't need more on his plate. I'd MUCH rather see a Marty Gilyard-imitating Riddick at slot receiver than some hoped-for upgrade at punt returner, especially when we can't even block for him.

 

[Rhode Irish]

that doesn't exist at Notre Dame! i want a low pressure game so i don't have to pace!

I so want Theo involved, though. The kid is just a little bit off right now and we all know how big confidence can be. Wouldn't it be nice for him to get back involved and take one to the house.

I would compare it to a good shooter in basketball going through a slump. Usually you don't bust out of it from 25 feet away. If you can get a layup in transition or something that can sometimes get a guy tracked. Same thing with a slumping hitter in baseball; sometimes a guy will dribble one up the third base line or bloop one over the second baseman's head for a cheap hit and that will ease some of the stress of the slump. I'd just like to see Theo eased back in with an easy one so he can remember what it feels like to field one cleanly and restore some of his confidence.

 

[gkautz10]

OOM I agree with your assessment, and feel that our best bet is to let Goodman fair catch the ball, and let our offense do their yob.
What I have noted on the punts is that the opposing gunners are neither blocked nor even slowed down, followed by a wave of unblocked linemen closely behind. Rocket or Hester couldn't return a punt under these circumstances.
The problem isn't with whomever catches the punt but with the supporting cast.
You don't see this well on TV, but it is oblivious at the games.

This has been my complaint all along also. The head hunters or whatever you want to call them run right by our guys who are supposed to man up and block them.

 

[Aerosmith777]

Is there any reason Turk can't keep using those rugby-style kicks? I have a feeling they won't let him, but I wonder why? Can't do any worse than he has from the pocket.

 

[Anchorman]

Surely we can find a walk-on to fair catch...


As said, the issue is not only the huge number of fumbles, but the one return I can think of was Goodman's, and it went back about eleven yards.

 

[bert2834]

Is there any reason Turk can't keep using those rugby-style kicks? I have a feeling they won't let him, but I wonder why? Can't do any worse than he has from the pocket.

I read that there is a higher probability of him kicking it fat while rugby kicking.

I imagine that means he will punt it about 5 yards instead of 30.

 

[IrishLax]

Ben Turk is going to get his crap together this game. They need to throw Riddick back out there. He probably would've housed a punt or two against Michigan. Like someone said earlier the way to do it is when he's in a low pressure situation. Not the whole world going to hell around him against USF.

 

[irishtrain]

I've been so concerned with the developement of attitude that I havent said much about this aspect=but -----team(notice I left out special) hasnt been good. When Atkinson brought it to the house last week that was gigantic. It breaks the back of the opponent at the precise time they are climbing back in the game. It would be nice to get the special teams special. Other than that this team has greatness in them. A punt returner is first a formost a daredevil in cleats-AKA Zibby/Rocket/Getheral-find that and you strike some serious fear into the other guy.

 

[IrishLax]

Did anyone just see the play by the UCF punt returner? At least we're not the only ones that make serious boneheaded plays...

 

[NDPhilly]

Did anyone just see the play by the UCF punt returner? At least we're not the only ones that make serious boneheaded plays...

Just saw that too. Really dumb should have just let it bounce and now there down 7 with the backup QB In.

 

[meowmix]

Goody had a brain fart. That's it. He'll do fine as he has typically been excellent at fielding punts. I don't know if any of you guys ever returned punts. It is possibly the most nerve-wracking non-qb/db position. Punts are hard to catch, and even harder to do so when you're surrounded by members of the other team, who yell at you and even (true story) spit at you. I don't think I have seen a punt return yet where there was even adequate blocking. I really don't understand it. Sure Riddick has more escapability than Goodman, but the point is moot because they never have blockers. It doesn't matter how shifty you are, you can't return a punt without at least one good block giving you a crease.

 

[NDPhilly]

This UCF team starting to look a lot like a certain team that also wears gold hmmmmm.....

 

[Irish Houstonian]

UCF is the second-largest institution by enrollment in the country...I get the O'Leary thing but it's far from an open-and-shut case.

 

[Rhode Irish]

UCF is the second-largest institution by enrollment in the country...I get the O'Leary thing but it's far from an open-and-shut case.

I think he just meant the sloppy play, but I could be wrong.

 

[NDPhilly]

I think he just meant the sloppy play, but I could be wrong.

Your right. UCF trying to give the game away.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

Ok, my mistake ND Philly. I'm wrong a lot, so my bad...Just don't tell my wife I was willing to admit I was wrong.

 

[NDPhilly]

Ok, my mistake ND Philly. I'm wrong a lot, so my bad...Just don't tell my wife I was willing to admit I was wrong.

No worrys man

Btw another UCF turnover