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The Colonel Offline
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Special teams
It seems like many Broncos are very concerned about how our special teams have performed up to this point. The special teams coach, in particular, has been heavily criticized at times. I question how much of that criticism is justified.

Without question, there were too many special teams errors in the Va Tech game. Three, in particular, stand out:

- The fumble on the opening kickoff
- The snap over the punter's head after our opening three-and-out
- The shanked 30-yard FG in the third quarter

I find it hard to blame the special teams coach for any of these particular errors (for the fumble, maybe...but Phillips, not Celiscar, would normally be the one returning kicks).

I do have special teams concerns. My personal pet peeve is the pooch kickoffs. I hate them - they never, ever seem to get the job done. Those may be P.J.'s call, though, and not the special team coach's call. Either way, we seem to have gotten away from pooch kickoffs the past couple of games, which is definitely a good thing.

Some may hate the rugby punts, but I don't mind them. They seem to have been pretty effective most of the time. We've done a pretty good job of covering punts, especially post-Purdue.

How concerned are other Stampede members about our special teams play heading into MAC play?
09-30-2014 02:34 PM
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floridabronco Offline
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RE: Special teams
(09-30-2014 02:34 PM)The Colonel Wrote:  It seems like many Broncos are very concerned about how our special teams have performed up to this point. The special teams coach, in particular, has been heavily criticized at times. I question how much of that criticism is justified.

Without question, there were too many special teams errors in the Va Tech game. Three, in particular, stand out:

- The fumble on the opening kickoff
- The snap over the punter's head after our opening three-and-out
- The shanked 30-yard FG in the third quarter

I find it hard to blame the special teams coach for any of these particular errors (for the fumble, maybe...but Phillips, not Celiscar, would normally be the one returning kicks).

I do have special teams concerns. My personal pet peeve is the pooch kickoffs. I hate them - they never, ever seem to get the job done. Those may be P.J.'s call, though, and not the special team coach's call. Either way, we seem to have gotten away from pooch kickoffs the past couple of games, which is definitely a good thing.

Some may hate the rugby punts, but I don't mind them. They seem to have been pretty effective most of the time. We've done a pretty good job of covering punts, especially post-Purdue.

How concerned are other Stampede members about our special teams play heading into MAC play?

Special teams play is a concern in most programs. Our's isn't any different. However, When several posters began complaining about the special teams coach in relation to the kickoff fumble and bad snap, it flipped my switch. These kids know that ball security is a priority. They've heard this since middle school. Once they're on the field, in the heat of the game, mistakes do occur. Coaches can preach all they want but these kids are human.
09-30-2014 03:38 PM
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Stampede your face!! Offline
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RE: Special teams
Special teams is a concern, but I feel like they are actually better than last year. The coverage on the kicks seems to have gotten better from week 1. And like you mentioned, it's hard to blame a coach for a kicker missing a chip shot. If you want to blame someone, blame the head coach for having a scholarship kicker that can't get the job done. But Haldeman in general has been fine.

It's definitely not the coaches' fault that Celiscar fumbled. And it's definitely not his fault our center has snapped it over the punters head twice either. The kid doing that is a true freshmen.

Anyway, a lot of special teams is about personnel. That's where I wonder if they have made the right decisions. Do we have the right guys covering punts and kickoffs, or the right guys in the return game? I don't know the answer to that, but the mistakes appear to be physical ones as opposed to mental errors.
09-30-2014 03:39 PM
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toddjnsn Offline
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RE: Special teams
Well, we had another special teams mishap snap against Idaho in week 2. And last year -- we were not great on Special Teams. Remember that Iowa game? They returned it all over us.

I think redundant mishaps DO fall on the shoulders of a special-teams coach. A coach is responsible, in the end, for discipline and making execution of fundamental playing as natural as breathing... along with the schemes he sets up.

If you're head coaching a team where your kicker is missing chip-shots but has the leg to hit 50+ and has done it several times before -- yet still struggles with 24 yard FGs off the right or left hash -- but then after a bye week and a lot of attention from Special Teams coach -- are you going to say "Yeah, it has nothing to do with our special teams coach. He's just, like, there."? :)
09-30-2014 05:28 PM
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Hoekjeness Offline
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RE: Special teams
I didn't see anything on special teams against Virginia Tech that made me think "poor coaching"
09-30-2014 05:34 PM
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Stampede your face!! Offline
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RE: Special teams
(09-30-2014 05:28 PM)toddjnsn Wrote:  Well, we had another special teams mishap snap against Idaho in week 2. And last year -- we were not great on Special Teams. Remember that Iowa game? They returned it all over us.

I think redundant mishaps DO fall on the shoulders of a special-teams coach. A coach is responsible, in the end, for discipline and making execution of fundamental playing as natural as breathing... along with the schemes he sets up.

If you're head coaching a team where your kicker is missing chip-shots but has the leg to hit 50+ and has done it several times before -- yet still struggles with 24 yard FGs off the right or left hash -- but then after a bye week and a lot of attention from Special Teams coach -- are you going to say "Yeah, it has nothing to do with our special teams coach. He's just, like, there."? :)

I'm not completely absolving him, but running special teams is a job that most guys just kind of fall into. He is learning on the job unfortunately, and I have no doubt they are working to get better. I feel like they have gotten better in some aspects already, especially coverage.

Yes, our special teams is frustrating at times, but he isn't getting fired. Guy recruits well and Fleck is going to give him time. MAC schools can't really go out and hire special teams coordinators from other programs, they just don't have the money to do that.
09-30-2014 06:20 PM
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flushtheherd Offline
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RE: Special teams
Remember also... our long snapper is a true freshman...(and a highly touted one at that). The snap at Idaho was a short snap due to field position (QB was probably about 3yds closer to the center than normal)... The one at VT was likely just nerves getting the better of a wide eyed freshman early in a game.. Those things can easily be cleaned up with practice and maturity.
10-01-2014 08:24 AM
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broncofan1 Offline
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RE: Special teams
Our ST coach is learning the ropes, too. He was a GA forced into action last year when Gibboney left unexpectedly. This is his first full year as an actual position coach. Watching practices, it is clear to see that he is working his tail off. I hope that translates to the learning curve as well.

In the arena of young coaches, I must say that I have been extremely impressed with GA Nick Hennessey. He is very young, but I've watched him coaching linemen in practice and he has a much different approach than the other older/louder/intense coaches. Not that he isn't intense, but the players seem to respond to his approach. I hope for big things in his future.
10-01-2014 09:53 AM
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Hiller4Hyz09 Offline
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RE: Special teams
(10-01-2014 09:53 AM)broncofan1 Wrote:  Our ST coach is learning the ropes, too. He was a GA forced into action last year when Gibboney left unexpectedly. This is his first full year as an actual position coach. Watching practices, it is clear to see that he is working his tail off. I hope that translates to the learning curve as well.

In the arena of young coaches, I must say that I have been extremely impressed with GA Nick Hennessey. He is very young, but I've watched him coaching linemen in practice and he has a much different approach than the other older/louder/intense coaches. Not that he isn't intense, but the players seem to respond to his approach. I hope for big things in his future.

Thank you for that insight! Sounds promising!
10-01-2014 10:36 AM
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toddjnsn Offline
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RE: Special teams
Quote:In the arena of young coaches, I must say that I have been extremely impressed with GA Nick Hennessey

Isn't that a hard liquor? No WONDER there's bad snaps, pooch kicks, and that Bad FG against VT! 03-wink
10-01-2014 01:35 PM
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The Colonel Offline
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RE: Special teams
(10-01-2014 01:35 PM)toddjnsn Wrote:  
Quote:In the arena of young coaches, I must say that I have been extremely impressed with GA Nick Hennessey

Isn't that a hard liquor? No WONDER there's bad snaps, pooch kicks, and that Bad FG against VT! 03-wink

"I drink up all the Hennessey you got on your shelf, so just let me introduce myself..."

Digital Underground confirms that you are indeed correct, Todd 04-cheers
10-01-2014 01:57 PM
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