Special Teams

BTChamp

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What happened from last year to this year? Not just losing players, something has changed. Without looking at stats, last year I was supremely confident in coverage and returns. Field goals was above average. This year seems to be a focus of concern. Rob Wenger had an all world special teams last year at least by my untrained eye, but this year not so much. 2 punt returns for the year so far? I hope they can learn how to not kick out of bounds, and also kick to the end zone deep. Hamler is electric and if the U cannot cover well, it may be a game changer (maybe kicking out of bounds is the better option).
 
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I think a ton of it is just losing Carpenter. Lantz is inconsistent beyond 30 yards and doesn't have the range to justify going for a 40+ yard kick in most situations. He has done fairly well on extra points. From what I remember he's only missed one normal one and one that was 15 yards back so into that 30+ yard range where he is iffy.

On kickoffs I think he just can't kick the ball far and high enough to stop a return or give the coverage enough time to get there. I hope he can kick it into the endzone today but I doubt it from what I've seen.

This could be a low scoring game so giving them an extra 10 yards on kickoffs would be bad. It might still be the best option but that's a very bad sign if it is. If we're not trying to play even on special teams the offense and defense will need to outplay Penn State.
 

I think a ton of it is just losing Carpenter. Lantz is inconsistent beyond 30 yards and doesn't have the range to justify going for a 40+ yard kick in most situations. He has done fairly well on extra points. From what I remember he's only missed one normal one and one that was 15 yards back so into that 30+ yard range where he is iffy.

On kickoffs I think he just can't kick the ball far and high enough to stop a return or give the coverage enough time to get there. I hope he can kick it into the endzone today but I doubt it from what I've seen.

This could be a low scoring game so giving them an extra 10 yards on kickoffs would be bad. It might still be the best option but that's a very bad sign if it is. If we're not trying to play even on special teams the offense and defense will need to outplay Penn State.

Please don't take this the wrong way. I'm the last guy that tries to criticize, but this is a concern. Last year if someone ran the ball out of the end zone, I would have bet $1,000 each time that they would not make the 25 and a lot of times not make the 20. After watching the Maryland kick returns this year has me worried. Although Maryland has good athletes, their returners are not Hamler. Of course maybe I'm thinking too much and Hamler is only human, but I do worry about this.
 

Camden Lewis was PJ Fleck's kicker commit until he got poached by Oregon.

It appears to me from an eye test that Special Teams is a serious concern. Kicking, kick off returns, coverages.

This facet of the Gophers game may be exposed and exploited by high caliber teams like PSU.

I'm curious to see what game planning adjustments the Gophers have in store. I expect PSU to focus on attacking this weakness.
 

Grant Ryerse has the leg to kick off out of the end zone, but is inconsistent. He was great in HS. I think if he works hard with a specialist trainer and a sports psychologist, he may be able to turn things around.

It became apparent to me that the Gophers knew in the off season that they had a kicking hole to fill after Carpenter graduated.
 


Please don't take this the wrong way. I'm the last guy that tries to criticize, but this is a concern. Last year if someone ran the ball out of the end zone, I would have bet $1,000 each time that they would not make the 25 and a lot of times not make the 20. After watching the Maryland kick returns this year has me worried. Although Maryland has good athletes, their returners are not Hamler. Of course maybe I'm thinking too much and Hamler is only human, but I do worry about this.

I can't find good stats to back it up but it feels like we were kicking the ball farther into the endzone last year and the ball was in the air longer. Neither by a significant amount but even a yard or a fraction of a second can be enough to give a good enough playmaker all of the room he needs to do something.
 

I can't find good stats to back it up but it feels like we were kicking the ball farther into the endzone last year and the ball was in the air longer. Neither by a significant amount but even a yard or a fraction of a second can be enough to give a good enough playmaker all of the room he needs to do something.

Exactly. I agree. Something was a lot better last year. And like you say a fraction of a second or a yard deeper in the end zone can make all the difference. Maybe it is just new players that need to develop same as a linebacker.
 

Maybe this is a time to throw in a surprise on Special Teams.

I don't know how Big ten ready Treyson Potts, Cam Wiley, or Jason Williamson are. This may be the time for one of them to shine on kick off and punt return - someone Penn State has never seen.

The Gophers are loaded at RB ya know.
 

Maybe this is a time to throw in a surprise on Special Teams.

I don't know how Big ten ready Treyson Potts, Cam Wiley, or Jason Williamson are. This may be the time for one of them to shine on kick off and punt return - someone Penn State has never seen.

The Gophers are loaded at RB ya know.

I bet Trey is ready. That would be fun to watch the better version of KJ Hamler.
 



I think a ton of it is just losing Carpenter. Lantz is inconsistent beyond 30 yards and doesn't have the range to justify going for a 40+ yard kick in most situations. He has done fairly well on extra points. From what I remember he's only missed one normal one and one that was 15 yards back so into that 30+ yard range where he is iffy.

On kickoffs I think he just can't kick the ball far and high enough to stop a return or give the coverage enough time to get there. I hope he can kick it into the endzone today but I doubt it from what I've seen.

This could be a low scoring game so giving them an extra 10 yards on kickoffs would be bad. It might still be the best option but that's a very bad sign if it is. If we're not trying to play even on special teams the offense and defense will need to outplay Penn State.

Lantz has not attempted a kickoff all season.

Minnesota has only 2 kicks OB out of 53.
 
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Maybe this is a time to throw in a surprise on Special Teams.

I don't know how Big ten ready Treyson Potts, Cam Wiley, or Jason Williamson are. This may be the time for one of them to shine on kick off and punt return - someone Penn State has never seen.

The Gophers are loaded at RB ya know.

Williamson is out for the season with a torn ACL, so he is not ready.

If they want a surprise punt returner it would be Antoine Winfield Jr.
 

Williamson is out for the season with a torn ACL, so he is not ready.

If they want a surprise punt returner it would be Antoine Winfield Jr.
Hea way to valuable right now but I agree I would love another Winfield for returns!!

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