Our special teams sucks

When did having 3 guys line up in front of the punter become such a big thing?  I've never liked it. I think it limits you to what you can do creatively in the fake game.  also if you have 3 guys standing there that means you have 3 free guys that can basically take a 10 yard sprint right at a guy standing still.  For the most part if you can just stop a guys momentum at the line of scrimmage for 2 sec that should keep him from getting close enough to block a punt.  Thats assuming a good snap and the punter doesn't take forever to kick.  I do have some faith that this will get straightened out and we don't see another blocked punt all year.  

 
I played in an era where long snappers were found among players on the roster and opponents could tee off on their neck.  So, I do find it disconcerting this has been an issue this season.  

 
I am I said:
We will have a KO returned for a TD against us this season. Maybe 2. 
At the CU game earlier this year I commented to my dad, before he stated the obvious that I was going to say…

“we have gapping holes in our return unit and if they get one more block or missed tackle, it’s to the house.”  
 

normally teams don’t want their starters on special teams, but if the guys wanting to prove themselves can’t get it done, put the main guys out there.  It’s a big issue.  
 

i sincerely hope, all in, that during the bye week we find players and get the scheme right (coaching), that will fix these gigantic and glaring issues on special teams. 
 

missing FGs is one thing. Two blocked punts, giving up the 40yd line and shifting momentum on special teams is an entirely different subject.  It’s been bad on several fronts.  BAD 
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Honestly I wonder if some of the issue is the opposite, starters focusing on too many things. We do have a lot of starters on special teams, and it makes sense - they have experience and are the better athletes. But Gifford said he's the one who blocked the wrong guy on the first block, and you do have to wonder about taking time away from focusing on defense to also remember a bunch of blocking rules that teams like Rutgers are good at complicating.

That's only 1 of the 5 blocks (Jeudy was responsible for the 2nd one, but he's a rotational guy and knew who to block but just didn't do it), and I really don't know who to blame on the returns. But as much as a lot of coaches harp on starters playing special teams, there are costs with the in-game physical toll and additional mental load. I see the appeal of starters on special teams, and if you've got a guy like Kenny Bell who just has a gift for flying down the field and making open field tackles. But I am partial to the days when special teams was a chance for the young guys to use their raw athleticism to make it onto the field. Don't take a ton of your starters out of their positions to learn special teams, young guys should be chomping at the bit to get on the field and can spend the time to hone in on the techniques. Love me some of this stuff:





At the end of the day I think either starter-heavy or specific special teamers can work, and failures of different kinds across all of the units falls squarely on Foley.

 
I was watching the Chicago Bears play this weekend.  Their starting long snapper got injured.  Their backup?  The starting TE Cole Kmet. Didn't botch a snap

 
I think everyone, including radio heads are asking the same "how can Nebraska not find a reliable long snapper" question. As I've said many times, I'm a novice fan when it comes to actual discussions about strategy, defensive calls, offensive blocking schemes etc... Please correct me if I'm wrong but can defenses even line straight up against the long snapper. I know there's some protective rule, I just don't know the rule's requirements.

 
Loe Doesnt Know said:
I think everyone, including radio heads are asking the same "how can Nebraska not find a reliable long snapper" question. As I've said many times, I'm a novice fan when it comes to actual discussions about strategy, defensive calls, offensive blocking schemes etc... Please correct me if I'm wrong but can defenses even line straight up against the long snapper. I know there's some protective rule, I just don't know the rule's requirements.
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He can not be hit. Literally, the only thing he needs to think about is make that snap…..then get down field and cover the punt. But, they don’t need to be concerned at all with being hit at the line. 

 
BigRedBuster said:
He can not be hit. Literally, the only thing he needs to think about is make that snap…..then get down field and cover the punt. But, they don’t need to be concerned at all with being hit at the line. 
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This also drives me nuts that teams let the long snapper run down field unimpeded.  You are allowed to hit them once they leave the line of scrimmage.  In college I would stand off to the right or left around the hash and wait for the LS to take off then earhole him.  Not sure why everyone lets him run free.  

 
MyBloodIsRed16 said:
When did having 3 guys line up in front of the punter become such a big thing?  I've never liked it. I think it limits you to what you can do creatively in the fake game.  also if you have 3 guys standing there that means you have 3 free guys that can basically take a 10 yard sprint right at a guy standing still.  For the most part if you can just stop a guys momentum at the line of scrimmage for 2 sec that should keep him from getting close enough to block a punt.  Thats assuming a good snap and the punter doesn't take forever to kick.  I do have some faith that this will get straightened out and we don't see another blocked punt all year.  
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Maybe 15-20 years ago. It seems like there are less punts blocked now than when the punter was back there by himself. I don’t know if that’s actually true though. 

 
MyBloodIsRed16 said:
This also drives me nuts that teams let the long snapper run down field unimpeded.  You are allowed to hit them once they leave the line of scrimmage.  In college I would stand off to the right or left around the hash and wait for the LS to take off then earhole him.  Not sure why everyone lets him run free.  
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Getting ear holed should only happen once in one’s football career, if you don’t learn to keep your head on a swivel you may not enjoy football so much.

 
Savage Husker said:
Getting ear holed should only happen once in one’s football career, if you don’t learn to keep your head on a swivel you may not enjoy football so much.
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If you can get them the first time all the other times they have to look around to find you not running full speed.  Either way they weren't running down field untouched to the returner.  They should be accounted for.  

 
MyBloodIsRed16 said:
This also drives me nuts that teams let the long snapper run down field unimpeded.  You are allowed to hit them once they leave the line of scrimmage.  In college I would stand off to the right or left around the hash and wait for the LS to take off then earhole him.  Not sure why everyone lets him run free.  
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Honestly I can't remember the last time I saw a long snapper make a tackle. It's such a specialized position now that there's really no need to block them, these guys aren't linebackers moonlighting as snappers anymore. Devote your blockers to the guys who are actually a threat to the returner, and let him run around the LS and Punter.

 
Husker in WI said:
Honestly I can't remember the last time I saw a long snapper make a tackle. It's such a specialized position now that there's really no need to block them, these guys aren't linebackers moonlighting as snappers anymore. Devote your blockers to the guys who are actually a threat to the returner, and let him run around the LS and Punter.
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They may not make a tackle but they definitely make the returner make his decisions a lot faster.  Most times causing a fair catch or making the returner make a move right away.  More time the returner has the better.  They are D1 athletes and should be treated as such

 
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