Special Teams?

[NDhoosier]

Not worried about FGs anymore, though I am sure Brindza will miss one or two this year, but every kicker does. However, it is hard to be comfortable with our kick coverage, I just want Brindza to kick it out of the back every time.

 

[Emcee77]

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>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Terrrible.

Was the absence of Kendall Moore and Eilar Hardy a factor there, I wonder?

Not to make excuses ... that's unacceptable no matter what.

 

[BGIF]

Terrrible.

Was the absence of Kendall Moore and Eilar Hardy a factor there, I wonder?

Not to make excuses ... that's unacceptable no matter what.

PU's fake reverse gave them fits. ND had tape of PU running a K.O. Reverse for a TD. Like Play Action the fake reverse caused indecision.

 

[Emcee77]

PU's fake reverse gave them fits. ND had tape of PU running a K.O. Reverse for a TD. Like Play Action the fake reverse caused indecision.

Oh you are right ... I forgot about that. They mentioned a couple of times during the telecast that Purdue had run one back.

 

[T Town Tommy]

The latest FEI Special Team ratings for 2013 have the Irish ranked at 48th overall as compared to 90th in 2012. The biggest gains from 2012 thus far are in the punt return effeciency (35th as opposed to 103rd) and kickoff return effeciency (26th as opposed to 105th). The biggest decline is in kickoff coverage (73rd in 2013 as compared to 35th in 2012) and FG effeciency (74th in 2013 as compared to 67th in 2012).

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | 2013 FEI RATINGS, SPECIAL TEAMS

The rankings of Irish opponents in Special Teams thus far:

1. Stanford
36. BYU
48. Notre Dame
53. USC
60. Michigan State
61. Oklahoma
71. Air Force
80. Michigan
83. Arizona State
92. Navy
95. Temple
100. Purdue
113. Pitt

 

[blueNDgold44]

I love that w/ all the athletes we are finally getting good returns but you gotta think the kick coverage comes down to effort. I've seen guys dogging it on kick coverage and it ends up giving the opponent great field position. Look at OU where Onwualu made the big stop inside the 10 and we get a stop and then a score. Next kickoff we are dogging it and the returner makes 1 cutback and Brindza needs to save a TD. OU went on to score and shifted the momentum back in their favor. Frustrating to say the least.

 

[D-BOE34]

The latest FEI Special Team ratings for 2013 have the Irish ranked at 48th overall as compared to 90th in 2012. The biggest gains from 2012 thus far are in the punt return effeciency (35th as opposed to 103rd) and kickoff return effeciency (26th as opposed to 105th). The biggest decline is in kickoff coverage (73rd in 2013 as compared to 35th in 2012) and FG effeciency (74th in 2013 as compared to 67th in 2012).

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | 2013 FEI RATINGS, SPECIAL TEAMS

The rankings of Irish opponents in Special Teams thus far:

1. Stanford
36. BYU
48. Notre Dame
53. USC
60. Michigan State
61. Oklahoma
71. Air Force
80. Michigan
83. Arizona State
92. Navy
95. Temple
96. Army
113. Pitt

Still do not understand the point of you hanging around but I am very glad you did.

TJ seems to have made it a point to take a chance if he is given it. I will say, I don;t think we are any better in the punt return game BESIDES TJ as the man in the backend. Special teams just doesn't seem to be there. I would not be upset if BK made a hire for someone strong in that department this year.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Sorry. Should have had Purdue in there and not Army. Purdue ranks 100 overall. I went back and corrected my post to reflect that.

I think the kickoff coverage could be related more to the lack of depth due to injury. Some of the players may be getting in there that otherwise shouldn't be.

Also, I agree on TJ. He is the biggest difference thus far on punt returns. Still, the rules changes from a few years back on punt formations has really impacted the punt return game. I don't know for sure but am willing to bet that overall punt return average has decreased drastically since the new formation rule took affect.

 

[dublinirish]

OFD did a nice break down of ST play versus ASU there last week

 

[phork]

Still do not understand the point of you hanging around but I am very glad you did.

TJ seems to have made it a point to take a chance if he is given it. I will say, I don;t think we are any better in the punt return game BESIDES TJ as the man in the backend. Special teams just doesn't seem to be there. I would not be upset if BK made a hire for someone strong in that department this year.

Perspective is nice from a distance, don't you think?

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

So, who do we think is the punt return guy next year, now that TJ is gone?

 

[PANDFAN]

So, who do we think is the punt return guy next year, now that TJ is gone?

IF mac gets in...it's him....otherwise, possibly CJ

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

IF mac gets in...it's him....otherwise, possibly CJ

Definitely like both of those.

This is a stretch, but I really wouldn't mind if he would step up in the spring, for Carlisle to take this job. I just feel bad for the kid. Seeing as how he will likely be towards the bottom of the depth chart, I would love for him to step up in this role (but if he can't catch out of the backfield, can he catch a punt...).

 

[Emcee77]

So, who do we think is the punt return guy next year, now that TJ is gone?

IF mac gets in...it's him....otherwise, possibly CJ

The staff has also promised the job to Quick if he picks ND. If we get both Quick and McKenzie by some chance, my guess would be that they would both get a shot at the job. If we get neither, then I'd guess that Prosise and Amir, among others, will get a look.

 

[PANDFAN]

The staff has also promised the job to Quick if he picks ND. If we get both Quick and McKenzie by some chance, my guess would be that they would both get a shot at the job. If we get neither, then I'd guess that Prosise and Amir, among others, will get a look.

yes i agree w/ Quick but since he is tweeting boomer sooner w/ some fan today IF mac is accepted it would be him...IF quick comes to ND ....then HELL YES QUICK....he is fast.shifty and dynamic

 

[GoIrish41]

what about folston to return punts? Fast, shifty, sure handed, and big enough to take a shot.

 

[anarin]

For some reason, im thinking onwualu could be good if given a shot

 

[MNIrishman]

Greg Bryant ftw

 

[Emcee77]

Greg Bryant ftw

Definitely will be in the mix.

I wish I could remember who were the guys who auditioned for the gig in the fall. I wanna say it was Bryant, Carlisle, Prosise and T.J. Not sure if I've got that quite right.

 

[Valpodoc85]

https://www.reddit.com/r/CFB/commen...in_plus_territory_an/?st=J6CS9NPQ&sh=2909c26a

Great post on punting inside the 50 from reddit

 

[johnnycando]

https://www.reddit.com/r/CFB/commen...in_plus_territory_an/?st=J6CS9NPQ&sh=2909c26a

Great post on punting inside the 50 from reddit

That was epic and an Irish fan nonetheless.

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

Something I've been thinking about: now that we have a guy in Polian whose only responsibility is special teams, I wonder if he will have some extra time before games to really be our ace recruiter for guys who are visiting while the other coaches worry about last minute stuff