Special Teams

[DL65]

Coach Kill has placed great emphasis on the third phase of football . . . special teams. Punting has been inconsistent, lately; however, Kill in his comments on the Sports Huddle seems confident it will get better and will become more consistent. In short, he appears to have confidence in Orseske, IMO.

When was the last time that a Minnesota team returned two kick-offs for touchdowns in the same season? Could have been three, except for a holding penalty in the Michigan game. And, of course, the blocked punt against Miami of Ohio by Duane Bennett and subsequent touchdown by Bennett was a first in a long, long time.

Hopefully the third phase will continue to show improvement. It would be nice if the kick-offs, more often than not, would carry to the end zone with fewer returns. That said, the coverage on the kick-offs has been good. Tackling the returners has been much better than in years past, too, IMO.

Go Gophers!!

 

[John Galt]

Agree DL. I do remember us blocking a punt against Purdue in 2009 and Big Play Traye running it back for 6.

Wettstein did a nice job of breaking the tackle on the fake field goal and has been consistent except for the missed XP yesterday. I do think Hawthorne clearly has the stronger leg, and Wettstein put us in difficult positions a few times with some really short kick-offs.

 

[Gophers09]

Agree with everything DL - aside from the inconsistent punting everything has been good. I really think most fans (and some coaches) severely underestimate the importance of special teams. Not to nit-pick JG but BPT's td vs Purdue was on a fg...the Gophs did also block a punt for a td vs Illinois that year.

 

[matt]

Agree DL. I do remember us blocking a punt against Purdue in 2009 and Big Play Traye running it back for 6.

Wettstein did a nice job of breaking the tackle on the fake field goal and has been consistent except for the missed XP yesterday. I do think Hawthorne clearly has the stronger leg, and Wettstein put us in difficult positions a few times with some really short kick-offs.

Was Hawthorne still injured on Saturday or did Kill choose to go with Wettstein? I don't remember seeing Hawthorne on the injury report.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

I have to think he was still injured. I could see Wettstein taking over on FGs, I suppose that's possible. However, he really struggles with kicking off and I'd have to think that if Hawthorne could kick, he'd be doing the kickoffs (at a minimum).

 

[GoAUpher]

Agree DL. I do remember us blocking a punt against Purdue in 2009 and Big Play Traye running it back for 6.

Wettstein did a nice job of breaking the tackle on the fake field goal and has been consistent except for the missed XP yesterday. I do think Hawthorne clearly has the stronger leg, and Wettstein put us in difficult positions a few times with some really short kick-offs.

We blocked a FG versus Purdue. The punt block that season was part of the failed comeback attempt at home versus Illinois.

 

[GoAUpher]

I have to think he was still injured. I could see Wettstein taking over on FGs, I suppose that's possible. However, he really struggles with kicking off and I'd have to think that if Hawthorne could kick, he'd be doing the kickoffs (at a minimum).

While he definitely struggles with distance, Kill has made some comments about how he likes the hangtime on his kicks. He does seem to do a nice job of booting it high.

 

[maxmom]

Yes, Wettstein has longer hangtimes than Hawthorne, plus he has never kicked one out of bounds, as Hawthorne has already done more than once this season.....with that being said, I think Wettstein is already proving his versatility & ability to be a play maker. Gophers should have called a time out after the fake FG TD to give Wettstein a chance to catch his breath & collect his thoughts. You know he would have made it then.
Have to also give Dan O. support, that punt was a fluke. Again, this is a team game, not just one player makes or breaks it.

 

[John Galt]

Thanks for the correction, it was a FG against Purdue and not a punt.

 

[STPGopher]

Yes, Wettstein has longer hangtimes than Hawthorne, plus he has never kicked one out of bounds, as Hawthorne has already done more than once this season.....with that being said, I think Wettstein is already proving his versatility & ability to be a play maker. Gophers should have called a time out after the fake FG TD to give Wettstein a chance to catch his breath & collect his thoughts. You know he would have made it then. Have to also give Dan O. support, that punt was a fluke. Again, this is a team game, not just one player makes or breaks it.

This! and, it appeared to me that we could have blocked one of UW's punts in the second half. I looked like two Gophers backed off or were not aware that if they laid out in front of the foot instead of running past the punter to avoid a ruffing the kicker penalty they may have blocked it.

 

[GoAUpher]

This! and, it appeared to me that we could have blocked one of UW's punts in the second half. I looked like two Gophers backed off or were not aware that if they laid out in front of the foot instead of running past the punter to avoid a ruffing the kicker penalty they may have blocked it.

They did what they were taught. Remember the MSU game when we picked up the drive extending penalty? That happened when the player (forget which one) dove instead of running past. Running past is how they are taught. Seeing that is a GOOD thing.

 

[STPGopher]

They did what they were taught. Remember the MSU game when we picked up the drive extending penalty? That happened when the player (forget which one) dove instead of running past. Running past is how they are taught. Seeing that is a GOOD thing.

Okay, I get that, but they were well ahead of the kick. I think the players intentionally let the UW punter kick it for a possible return.

Anyway, a very good effort.