Special teams overlooked in ND-UM game?
I hate to make another UM-ND thread, but here's something that seems to be overlooked a lot in this game: outside of Darryl Stonum (who was emphatically awesome) our special teams were IME pathetic. No one has really talked much about this, but it seems as if we could've easily had the game in hand with a little better special teams play. A few things that may (or may not) have been overlooked during the general bally-hoo of the victory:
1) Zoltan didn't punt well at all. (!!?)
2) Our kickoff return coverage was suboptimal. Two returns almost went for a touchdown, and IIRC one was only stopped by the kick returner jumping over a blocker, who then proceeded to get off the ground and knock the kick returner down.
3) Jason Olesnavage played less than efficiently by missing what amounted to an extra-point attempt that was worth three points. This was a huge momentum killer, as we had just ridden Minor's back all the way down the field for what should've been at least three points.
I was also wondering if Brian has ever thought about doing a special teams UFR? Probably not much there, but it would be interesting to see what went wrong in coverages, or who played badly.
Thoughts?
September 17th, 2009 at 3:27 PM ^
Fortunately, ND's STs were no better. They gave up a TD on a kickoff return, missed a chipshot FG themselves, punted poorly, and committed a mental error on the final kickoff that burned two seconds. After their much-discussed possession with the two passes, they punted only 28 yards. Had they punted 40+, we may well have had to settle for a FG attempt at the end.
September 17th, 2009 at 3:31 PM ^
Yes, I think that's exactly what kept us in the game. I just wished that we would play better, because I think the special teams are such an underrated part of a well-executed game. If we continue to play like this, it could be the special teams that ultimately loses us a close game against PSU, OSU, or some other sure to be close game.
September 17th, 2009 at 3:58 PM ^
for a second. IIRC, they took a delay of game penalty to move it back 5 yards. Notre Dame then took a 5 yard penalty to move it back to the original spot. At least he knew beforehand what he could hit and from what angle, and was smart enough to try to get there.
Just sayin.'
September 17th, 2009 at 5:35 PM ^
ND did not take a penalty to move it closer.
September 17th, 2009 at 6:05 PM ^
You are correct
September 17th, 2009 at 5:57 PM ^
This was the biggest surprise to me, because it was not just one bad punt it was pretty much all of them.
September 17th, 2009 at 6:09 PM ^
Based on the coverage during the WMU game I was really hoping for some big returns and for the most part was happy with what ND did. Of course the 6 they gave away was awful.
#2 is what made me the saddest (when we had the ball) just didn't have much bounce our way that day.