Sonny Dykes says there’s a ‘narrative’ about SMU’s special t

[AfricanMustang]

UNIVERSITY PARK — At times for SMU, and in certain areas, the special teams units have been solid. But at other times, and in other areas, it’s been a noticeable struggle.

The kicking unit has had issues with snapping, blocking and kicking. It’s resulted in seven missed extra points and three missed short-yardage field goals from inside 26 yards.

The kickoff unit, though typically good, cost SMU a game at Memphis. Seven of the eight SMU kickoffs resulted in Memphis starting at its own 41-yard-line or better, including a TD to start the second half.

The kickoffs all season have been consistently short.

SMU ranks No. 95 in the country in net punting, with a good punt return defense. It’s square in the middle of the pack in with its own punt returns.

Head coach Sonny Dykes is willing to acknowledge the areas of concern, and has done so all season. But he pushed back on the idea that SMU’s special teams, as a whole, aren’t good.

“I think there’s a narrative out there that’s not completely true,” Dykes said, “and not exactly right.”

The answer, which in totality was far longer, was the result of a question about whether or not Dykes would consider having a full-time special teams coordinator in the future.

His response was that “every special teams coach in the country pretty much coaches another position.” That’s the case with SMU tight ends/special teams coach Josh Martin. According to his SMU Athletics bio, this is Martin’s first year coaching special teams at any level.

While it is true that most special teams coordinators also assistant in another position, it’s not true that every special teams coach does so.

It’s not true at Memphis, which just beat SMU. It’s not true at Temple, where the special teams coordinator, Brett Diersen was an SMU assistant last season. It’s not true UCF, a program that is the two-time defending AAC champion.

Dykes is right that the entirety of special teams hasn’t been all bad. But the concept that special teams struggles are a narrative — a word Dykes used three times in one answer — isn’t exactly fair either.

As a whole this year, it could very reasonably be argued that the job the SMU coaching staff has done has been among the best in all of college football. But even among all the success, there are some of these glaring weaknesses.

Dykes came prepared to talk about the special teams on Monday, quickly able to cite factual information about where the Mustangs were ranked.

“Going into that game, we were sixth in the country in kickoff return yardage given up,” Dykes said. “So we were one of the top 10 teams in the country giving up kickoff returns. Even after having the bad day we had [Saturday], we’re 31 in the country right now. We’re Top 25 in the country in kickoff returns.”

And that’s the balance one needs to strike when evaluating special teams as a whole. There are so many factors to it, but one bad night or one bad unit can significantly bring down the overall productivity of the special teams.

Yes, C.J. Sanders has done a mostly good job in kickoff returns. Yes, Trevor Denbow might not always punt that far, but his kicks make returns very hard. And yes, SMU’s kickoff coverage was solid, up until Saturday.

But it’s also true that seven missed extra points isn’t a “narrative” about SMU’s special teams struggles. It’s a fact. It’s also a fact that SMU hasn’t even attempted a field goal longer than 38 yards this season. Opponents are 7-of-7 against SMU on field goals of 40 yards or longer.

It’s a fact that only 12 of SMU’s 66 kickoffs this year have gone for touchbacks. That would put SMU’s percentage among the lowest in college football. And obviously, that leaves SMU more susceptible to having many possessions start near midfield, as was the case on Saturday.

“You have to look at all the kicks that guys have to cover, then you’ve got to look at the impact that it has on that,” Dykes said. “… We’ve had some really good players that have been hurt covering kicks.

Judah Bell was our best kick coverer. Chevin Calloway has been banged up. Cam Jones has been banged up.

“… Nobody cares, it’s about getting the job done. But the narrative isn’t completely true.”

Dykes has also said repeatedly that the poor kicking could cost SMU a game this season. He called the kickoff coverage on Saturday “atrocious.” He said on Monday that the short kickoffs weren’t ideal either.

So while there is a belief of an untrue narrative about his special teams, there’s also acknowledgement that special teams needs to get better.

Quick hits

— SMU will redshirt WR Judah Bell, WR Calvin Wiggins and DB Eric Sutton. Bell and Sutton were both hurt four games into the season. Wiggins, a freshman, might still play this year, but won’t appear in more than four games. In addition, freshman WR Keke Burns is nearing a return to full practice after suffering a scary hit in the season-opener on Aug. 31.

— Senior WR Myron Gailliard missed almost all of the Memphis game after getting hurt on a kickoff coverage. He is expected to practice later in the week, and it’s unclear if he’ll be available for Saturday’s game.

— Dykes said of WR Reggie Roberson Jr.: “I would expect him back at some point. Just not quite sure when.” He exited SMU’s game vs. Houston in the first quarter with a foot injury, and did not play vs. Memphis.

— The two-point conversion play on Saturday to OL Jaylon Thomas was a rare sight, but a play that SMU had been practicing for two months this year. Thomas speculated that being one of the more athletic offensive linemen was the reason he was given the honor to make the play.

https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/smu-m ... s-it-fair/

[PonyPride]

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=87931

[The PonyGrad]

Yeah, the stat:

Going into that game, we were sixth in the country in kickoff return yardage given up

I thought was misleading since we so often intentionally short kick it to avoid a return. It was better explained in the article by saying our touchback rate is so low.


edit: of course two off-sides on the KO didn't help