When are the special teams going to get better

[The PonyGrad]

OK those of you who begged for a dedicated special teams coach. When are we going to see results.

Frankly I buy into the great press of Gantz and what we will do but here are our stats (not good yet:)

While punting is (TM is #3) and net punting is 12
KOR is 100
KOR defense is 86
punt return is 118 (but we only have one of -1 yards)
pr defense is 70

I was expecting better but hope it will improve.

[J.T.supporta]

and we actually have a Special Teams coach. we were never this bad when there was no coach years ago.

it'll get better. it starts with the D. and tackling.

[JasonB]

and we actually have a Special Teams coach. we were never this bad when there was no coach years ago.

it'll get better. it starts with the D. and tackling.

Do people not have any memories around here? How long has it been since we were three games into a season and didn't have a blocked punt or blocked kick?

We give up yards because we lack depth on the team and overall speed. But the technique is there, which is why we haven't given up super long returns and nobody has threatened to break one.

[The XtC]

[quote="J.T.supporta"]we were never this bad when there was no coach years ago. [/quote]

Yes we were. Your join date says 2006, do you remember losing to UNT that year after they took the lead on a blocked punt? Do you remember the season before, when we had at least 1 blocked kick (punt, field goal or EP) in our first 6 games? Some of those game it was multiple blocks. Do you recall 2003, when we wouldnt even attempt a field goal if it was longer than 30 yards?

Special teams are no great shakes this year, but it's light years ahead of the abysmal performance of just a few years ago. We've been spoiled by Morestead the last 2 years, I'm a little bit worried about what will happen next year after he (and our deep snapper, holder, and Jesse Henderson) graduate.

Last year was a decent year special teams-wise. What we havent had this year is much excitement on kick and punt returns. Henderson did have one long return against Tech, but I think he's behind his career average, still. He's shown he can take it all the way, in years past. And I think we miss Blake Warren on punt returns, he was a breakaway threat we dont seem to have now.

[The PonyGrad]

While punting is (TM is #3) and net punting is 12
KOR is 100
KOR defense is 86
punt return is 118 (but we only have one of -1 yards)
pr defense is 70

Since I spoke of improvement and since XtC mentioned past performance I thought I would compare last season. Some surprises:
Punting, TM #8
Net Punting #4 (better than punting rank!)
Punt returns (E Sanders #51) team #68
KOR #111 (OK we have improved this year)
PR Defense #39
KOR Defense #24

We are so-not-better than last year, so far. XtC rightly points out that we have not had blocks or kicks/punts returned against us in a significant way (though we have had fumbles and ints returned for TDs.) And we have blocked and returned an extra point. I was happy to see that we defended int returns better at Tech. FWIW. (yes, I know that is not special teams.)