Martin Identifies Problem Areas
From the Record Courier:
Martin locates problem areas KSU coach says team needs help at punter, OL, DB
David Carducci
Kent State football coach Doug Martin has identified the key areas his team must improve during the offseason to turn his program back into a contender after a disappointing 2007 season.
The most critical include the play of the secondary, pass protection and punting.
Martin's thoughts on each area:
1. Secondary playing the ball -- "We are really young back there, and if you watch, we have guys in position to make a play on the ball, but then a lot of times they are waiting for the ball to be caught and then make a tackle instead of attacking the football."
2. Pass protection -- "We have some of the most mobile quarterbacks in the conference, but we are near the bottom in the conference in giving up sacks. And we throw the ball the least of any team in the conference, so that should not be. And then we are such a good running team. All of those things point to we should be able to throw the ball really effectively. That's not happening."
3. Punting -- "Jake (Kilroy) has not had a good year, and that is something we have to address in the offseason. We have to be able to punt the ball better than we have this year. We worked with Jake a lot in the spring, just like we did with (place kicker) Nate Reed. Nate took the coaching and has changed his (mechanics), and he did a great job. Jake just has not responded the way he needed to."
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MORE ON ACCEPTING COACHING -- The idea of players "accepting coaching" has come up over and over this year during Martin's press conferences.
It's another problem area that needs to improve if football at Kent State is going to turn the corner.
"It is trusting the coaches and that what they are doing is best for them, even if it is uncomfortable for a while," said Martin. "I know when we worked with Nate Reed, what we changed with Nate was really uncomfortable for him, but he fought through it, stayed with it and he is reaping the rewards."
After a frustrating freshman season, Reed has converted 17-of-22 field-goal attempts as a sophomore. Kilroy, meanwhile, is at the bottom of the Mid-American Conference statistically in his sophomore season, averaging just 37.1 yards per punt.
Coaches have tried all season long to get Kilroy to extend his arm when he drops the ball to punt, but he has not changed his mechanics.
"We are going to sign a punter in this class," said Martin. "We are going to try to get a mid-year if we can, and if we can't, we will get one for the fall."
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Martin Identifies Problem Areas
