Special Teams

#1
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Vol65

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#1
Ok, Monday Night we saw 2 UT Football Teams:

1st half looked like "just filling squares" or no one is sure what the QB was going to do and had to keep an eye on him before they acted. A second or two as a play develops can kill the success of the play.

2nd half it looked like everyone was on the same page and had a goal to win the game. QB knew what he was doing, players knew what the QB was doing and executed without hesitation.

Special Teams, well (and I hate to name him) Johnny Majors always put an emphasis on his special teams and the kicking game.

Good kickers are great, but without downfield coverage, it's a crap shoot. The coverage seems to run past the receiver as if the goal was to race to the other end of the field and not tackle the receiver.

On the returns, I see some blockers sorta get into position then the receiver tries to get around them into the arms of the defenders. I can't remember the last blocked kick or the last TD scored on a kickoff against an SEC opponent.

It would be nice to see some SPECIAL team play that didn't look like a last minute decision on both ends of the ball.

Is it just me? Or do other fans feel similar?
 
#2
#2
Originally posted by Vol65@Sep 28, 2005 11:03 AM
Ok, Monday Night we saw 2 UT Football Teams:

1st half looked like "just filling squares" or no one is sure what the QB was going to do and had to keep an eye on him before they acted. A second or two as a play develops can kill the success of the play.

2nd half it looked like everyone was on the same page and had a goal to win the game. QB knew what he was doing, players knew what the QB was doing and executed without hesitation.

Special Teams, well (and I hate to name him) Johnny Majors always put an emphasis on his special teams and the kicking game.

Good kickers are great, but without downfield coverage, it's a crap shoot. The coverage seems to run past the receiver as if the goal was to race to the other end of the field and not tackle the receiver.

On the returns, I see some blockers sorta get into position then the receiver tries to get around them into the arms of the defenders. I can't remember the last blocked kick or the last TD scored on a kickoff against an SEC opponent.

It would be nice to see some SPECIAL team play that didn't look like a last minute decision on both ends of the ball.

Is it just me? Or do other fans feel similar?
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Put Trooper Taylor in charge of the special teams!
 
#4
#4
Originally posted by TBALLVOL@Sep 28, 2005 11:25 AM
Isn't Trooper taylor already in charge of special teams?
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No they say Caldwell is but you coulda fooled me! Trooper is the runningbacks coach
 
#5
#5
caldwell is a great coach and a great person at that. its definately not his coaching because he has those d ends in shape and he is the best recruiter we have!
 
#6
#6
Originally posted by crimedawg12@Sep 28, 2005 11:27 AM
No they say Caldwell is but you coulda fooled me! Trooper is the runningbacks coach
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Trooper helps out with special teams too. From what I read after the UF game, everyone was helping out with special teams. Didn't do a lick of good though, we didn't turn the ball over on ST, but we sure tried to.
 
#7
#7
Originally posted by Orangewhiteblood@Sep 28, 2005 12:20 PM
Trooper helps out with special teams too.  From what I read after the UF game, everyone was helping out with special teams.  Didn't do a lick of good though, we didn't turn the ball over on ST, but we sure tried to.
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Why don't we have a coach just for special teams, like the pros?
 
#8
#8
Originally posted by crimedawg12@Sep 28, 2005 12:23 PM
Why don't we have a coach just for special teams, like the pros?
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I think that someone said a while back that we already have the maximum number of coaches and can't hire one just for special teams. Someone needs to hop in their car, drive to Blacksburg and pick Beamer's mind about special teams.
 
#9
#9
Originally posted by Orangewhiteblood@Sep 28, 2005 12:27 PM
I think that someone said a while back that we already have the maximum number of coaches and can't hire one just for special teams.  Someone needs to hop in their car, drive to Blacksburg and pick Beamer's mind about special teams.
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Wasn't his son on staff last year or before?
 
#10
#10
Originally posted by Vol65@Sep 28, 2005 10:03 AM
Ok, Monday Night we saw 2 UT Football Teams:

1st half looked like "just filling squares" or no one is sure what the QB was going to do and had to keep an eye on him before they acted. A second or two as a play develops can kill the success of the play.

2nd half it looked like everyone was on the same page and had a goal to win the game. QB knew what he was doing, players knew what the QB was doing and executed without hesitation.

Special Teams, well (and I hate to name him) Johnny Majors always put an emphasis on his special teams and the kicking game.

Good kickers are great, but without downfield coverage, it's a crap shoot. The coverage seems to run past the receiver as if the goal was to race to the other end of the field and not tackle the receiver.

On the returns, I see some blockers sorta get into position then the receiver tries to get around them into the arms of the defenders. I can't remember the last blocked kick or the last TD scored on a kickoff against an SEC opponent.

It would be nice to see some SPECIAL team play that didn't look like a last minute decision on both ends of the ball.

Is it just me? Or do other fans feel similar?
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No, it's not just you. We gave up too much return yardage on punt and kickoff returns. I didn't get to see the Florida game but OWB said the special teams weren't up to par in that one either.
I understand Va. Tech has a super special teams program. Wonder if their ST coach would be interested in re-locating in a southerly direction?
 
#11
#11
Originally posted by crimedawg12@Sep 28, 2005 12:30 PM
Wasn't his son on staff last year or before?
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Yeah, I believe he was.
 
#12
#12
Originally posted by wncvolfan@Sep 28, 2005 12:35 PM
. 
I understand Va. Tech has a super special teams program.  Wonder if their ST coach would be interested in re-locating in a southerly direction?
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I doubt it since Va Tech's special teams coach is Beamer himself. That would be a good steal though. :D
 
#13
#13
our special teams are very un-special and will cost another game if they don't fix it
 
#14
#14
Trooper is in charge of the kick return team. That's the one we need help with. Our coverage seems to be better on kick-off and punts (thanks to some illegal block penalties).
 
#15
#15
Please keep in mind that Wilhoit is part of the special teams and did a great job at LSU. The majority of the kickoffs were not returned and he nailed the tying field goal. He had a great game.
 
#16
#16
Originally posted by obxvol@Sep 28, 2005 5:50 PM
Please keep in mind that Wilhoit is part of the special teams and did a great job at LSU. The majority of the kickoffs were not returned and he nailed the tying field goal. He had a great game.
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I don't have any problems with the kickers. I don't expect perfection.

I just don't understand how, year after year, the opponents receivers can get past our coverage, and we can't seem to get past theirs.

Is it because of what I wrote above, that we are practicing against players that can't challenge the other side. What I am trying to say is, if we can't do it against an opponent, then our practices are against inferior "competition" and we don't get better at it.

 
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