HuskerfaninOkieland
Heisman Trophy Winner
NE Statepaper
Special teams is undoubtedly a crucial phase of football. It is also the one most left up to chance. To luck – both good and bad.
How many times had Adi Kunalic booted a perfect kickoff deep into the end zone this year? And yet, on the biggest kickoff the season, after Nebraska had taken a 12-10 lead over Texas in the Big 12 Championship game, Kunalic hooked the ball slightly left, it took an awful bounce, and it hopped out of bounds. Excellent field position for UT quarterback Colt McCoy, whose brain was so fried by the night's events, as it turned out, than he nearly blew the game anyway.
It probably seems unfair to be negative, at the outset, toward a unit – and a player - that performed so well for NU during the year. But that's the thing with special teams: You expect them to go smoothly - you certainly want them to, at the very least – until something goes wrong.
Outside of that moment, and a few others, the Huskers had a stellar year in the “third phase.” The punt and kickoff (13th nationally) coverage units were infused with young, aggressive talent – like freshman linebacker Eric Martin. Kunalic was third nationally in touchbacks.
Alex Henery made 20 of 24 field goal attempts, kept NU in the Virginia Tech and Texas games with his right leg, and developed a penchant for downing punts inside the 10-yard line despite changing his style early in the season.
Niles Paul not only became a dependable punt and kickoff returner – he became a pretty good one. NU was a respectable 34th national in both return categories, thanks mostly to Paul making solid, individual plays.
Freshman punter Brett Maher doubled as a very good holder. And after a wobbly start, and a tongue lashing from head coach Bo Pelini in the Missouri game, freshman long snapper P.J. Mangieri rounded into shape. Mangieri and Maher ought to make a fine tandem over the next several seasons.
Nebraska uses a team approach to coach these guys. John Papuchis oversees some elements. Ron Brown works with returners. Barney Cotton watches the extra point and field goal attempts intently. Some teams prefer to give the jobs to one guys. NU seems to be getting it done in the more traditional, all-hands-on-deck fashion that many college teams use.
Here's the highlights and lowlights of 2009:
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kicker/Punter Alex Henery. No finer dual man in the nation. Proved his worth as a kicker in the Texas game, hitting one bomb after another. As a punter, Henery tended to “spray” punts sometimes, but he never allowed big returns.
NEWCOMER and FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Eric Martin. Now this is how you use freshmen on special teams. A spark plug in every sense of the world, Martin brought energy, emotion and tenacity to his job. The kid loves football. And special teams needs a guy like that.
BEST GAME: Colorado. Between Henery's excellent punting, Nebraska's terrific kickoff coverage and Paul's punt return for a touchdown special teams was the difference in a 28-20 win.
WORST GAME: Missouri. P.J. Mangieri had a poor night long snapping, which led to a safety for the Tigers, while Paul and Rex Burkhead struggled to catch punts in the pouring rain.
BEST SINGLE PERFORMANCE: Martin's blocked punt – followed by Justin Blatchford's return of that punt for a touchdown – in the Baylor game. Two guys – one great play.
BIGGEST PLUS IN 2010: Henery and Paul both return.
BIGGEST QUESTION MARK: Does Kunalic redshirt in 2010 to give himself a chance at kicking field goals in 2011. Would Nebraska allow him to redshirt?
Special teams is undoubtedly a crucial phase of football. It is also the one most left up to chance. To luck – both good and bad.
How many times had Adi Kunalic booted a perfect kickoff deep into the end zone this year? And yet, on the biggest kickoff the season, after Nebraska had taken a 12-10 lead over Texas in the Big 12 Championship game, Kunalic hooked the ball slightly left, it took an awful bounce, and it hopped out of bounds. Excellent field position for UT quarterback Colt McCoy, whose brain was so fried by the night's events, as it turned out, than he nearly blew the game anyway.
It probably seems unfair to be negative, at the outset, toward a unit – and a player - that performed so well for NU during the year. But that's the thing with special teams: You expect them to go smoothly - you certainly want them to, at the very least – until something goes wrong.
Outside of that moment, and a few others, the Huskers had a stellar year in the “third phase.” The punt and kickoff (13th nationally) coverage units were infused with young, aggressive talent – like freshman linebacker Eric Martin. Kunalic was third nationally in touchbacks.
Alex Henery made 20 of 24 field goal attempts, kept NU in the Virginia Tech and Texas games with his right leg, and developed a penchant for downing punts inside the 10-yard line despite changing his style early in the season.
Niles Paul not only became a dependable punt and kickoff returner – he became a pretty good one. NU was a respectable 34th national in both return categories, thanks mostly to Paul making solid, individual plays.
Freshman punter Brett Maher doubled as a very good holder. And after a wobbly start, and a tongue lashing from head coach Bo Pelini in the Missouri game, freshman long snapper P.J. Mangieri rounded into shape. Mangieri and Maher ought to make a fine tandem over the next several seasons.
Nebraska uses a team approach to coach these guys. John Papuchis oversees some elements. Ron Brown works with returners. Barney Cotton watches the extra point and field goal attempts intently. Some teams prefer to give the jobs to one guys. NU seems to be getting it done in the more traditional, all-hands-on-deck fashion that many college teams use.
Here's the highlights and lowlights of 2009:
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kicker/Punter Alex Henery. No finer dual man in the nation. Proved his worth as a kicker in the Texas game, hitting one bomb after another. As a punter, Henery tended to “spray” punts sometimes, but he never allowed big returns.
NEWCOMER and FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Eric Martin. Now this is how you use freshmen on special teams. A spark plug in every sense of the world, Martin brought energy, emotion and tenacity to his job. The kid loves football. And special teams needs a guy like that.
BEST GAME: Colorado. Between Henery's excellent punting, Nebraska's terrific kickoff coverage and Paul's punt return for a touchdown special teams was the difference in a 28-20 win.
WORST GAME: Missouri. P.J. Mangieri had a poor night long snapping, which led to a safety for the Tigers, while Paul and Rex Burkhead struggled to catch punts in the pouring rain.
BEST SINGLE PERFORMANCE: Martin's blocked punt – followed by Justin Blatchford's return of that punt for a touchdown – in the Baylor game. Two guys – one great play.
BIGGEST PLUS IN 2010: Henery and Paul both return.
BIGGEST QUESTION MARK: Does Kunalic redshirt in 2010 to give himself a chance at kicking field goals in 2011. Would Nebraska allow him to redshirt?
