ESPN: Best B1G Special Teams

Mavric

Mavric

Yoda
Staff member
Best of the best: Maryland and Nebraska


Maryland has an elite kicker and a great returner. Nebraska has an elite returner and a great punter. So, anyway you look at it, these units are pretty solid. The Terps boast the nation's top kicker in Brad Craddock, the reigning Lou Groza Award winner who went 18-of-19 on field goals last season. And the Huskers have De'Mornay Pierson-El, a preseason first-team All-American who had three return TDs and 596 punt return yards last season, nearly 200 yards more than anyone else.

Nebraska needs to see more out of kicker Drew Brown, who struggled beyond 40 yards last season. And Maryland needs more consistency out of the punter, whoever that winds up being (last year's starter, Nathan Renfro, transferred to Tennessee). Regardless, though, the fact is both of these teams have several impact players that put them at the top despite a question mark or two. Maryland's Will Likely averaged 31 yards a kick return and had two return TDs (one punt, one kickoff), Nebraska's Sam Foltz averaged 42.2 yards a punt and saw more than 40 percent of his punts land inside the 20.
Click to expand...
Link

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Can't say that I know anything about Maryland but can't argue with his assessment of Nebraska.

If we can get a little more consistency out of Brown, we should really have one of the best set of special teams in the country.

 
NU's punt and return games project to be a major advantage. It'll be interesting to see what the coaches do to leverage it.

 
Listened to the HOL podcast this morning during my workout. In 2014, we had the #1 average starting field position, vs one of the worst in 2013. They mention how the one the big reasons for the jump from 2013-2014 in ST (besides DPE) was taking Els off of ST duty. Apparently, Jeff Jamrog (who ran ST under Solich) did alot of the re-scheming of coverages and blocking, and Bo did alot of the actual ST coaching. They credited this for the huge increase in blocked kicks last year, and overall coverage. Kieron Williams had 3 blocks himself as a true frosh.

Hopefully having a full time ST coach, one who's supposed to be an expert, will pay dividends.

 
Thanks_Tom RR said:
Assessing Nebraska's ST without mentioning Foltz is a crime. smh
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure that's who they were referring to when they said we had a "great punter."
default_thumbsup.gif


 
JJkinz said:
Mavric said:
Thanks_Tom RR said:
Assessing Nebraska's ST without mentioning Foltz is a crime. smh
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure that's who they were referring to when they said we had a "great punter."
default_thumbsup.gif
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure that's who they were referring to when they said "Nebraska's Sam Foltz averaged 42.2 yards a punt and saw more than 40 percent of his punts land inside the 20."
Click to expand...
Give the man a break, he probably didn't click the link and read the rest
default_laugh2.gif


 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top