JimBob
12-25-2007, 12:49 PM
Special teams struggles
By MATT DOYLE World Sports Writer
12/25/2007
OSU's season set back by injuries and lack of leadership.
It was not exactly a harbinger of things to come, but one of the first special teams plays of the season set the tone for the struggles Oklahoma State would endure in 2007.
Zach Allen's snap sailed over the head of punter Matt Fodge less than one minute into the opener at Georgia. The Bulldogs scored a touchdown on the next play.
The bad snap was just the start of a few head-scratching moments for OSU's special teams.
Special teams coordinator Joe DeForest often says special teams is the only portion of football where there are no "do-overs."
The Cowboys can't change what transpired in the kicking game this year.
One year after emerging as a dynamic kickoff and punt return threat, sophomore Perrish Cox was primarily neutralized.
Junior kicker Jason Ricks struggled on field goals, particularly those beyond 30 yards. He was replaced by freshman walk-on Dan Bailey with three games left.
Fodge's punting average dropped by 2 yards from his 44.9-yard average in 2006.
"We were inconsistent in all areas of special teams this year," DeForest said. "I didn't do a good enough job this year. That falls on me."
DeForest anticipated the Cowboys would shine in kicking, returning and coverage. Cox and Fodge were viewed as all-conference caliber performers. Ricks was entering his third year as OSU's kicker and was coming off a season in which he made 10-of-12 field goals. The coverage and return units had several veterans.
So, what happened?
Injuries are never an excuse, but bumps and bruises not only forced depth chart adjustments on offense and defense, it also changed the personnel DeForest had available for special teams.
"That does not always get noticed," DeForest said. "You do not get a lot of practice repetitions with your backups in special teams. Say you get an injury to your left guard on KOR (kickoff return), you may throw a guy in there who only has had three reps all week. That guy could have a busted assignment and make the whole picture look bad."
DeForest revealed that a leg injury hindered Ricks this year. The junior kicker missed a go-ahead 32-yard field goal with 1:13 left against Texas. It was his last act of the season.
Before this year, Ricks had made 17 consecutive field goals from inside 40 yards. This year, he made only 8-of-11 inside 40 yards and was just 1-of-6 on kicks beyond 30 yards.
"Here's a guy who never missed inside of 40. One week he makes a short field goal to beat Kansas State, and the next week he misses a similar kick against Texas," DeForest asked. "How do you explain that? His confidence wasn't the same this year. He got hurt and couldn't fight through it."
Fodge, though, pointed out that special teams was missing leadership.
The OSU punter said former teammates such as Chase Holland, Jamar Ransom, and Grant Jones always took pride playing on various kicking-game units since it was their main outlet for playing time.
"Those guys always went all-out," Fodge said. "We didn't have a lot of that this year."
DeForest was not surprised. He noticed the lack of leadership as well and vowed to change it for 2008.
"It's hard to create that. But you only get one chance on special teams, and we emphasize that," DeForest said. "We have to find some leaders in those units. Guys that would take charge and say, 'This is how you do it, and this is what it takes to do it.' "
OSU’S SPECIAL TEAMS
After experiencing a successful 2006 season in special teams, Oklahoma State struggled in different special teams categories in 2007.
2006
Net punting 34.27 yards per kick (ranked 70th nationally, 11th in Big 12)
Punt return 11.88 yards per return (ranked 27th nationally, 4th in Big 12)
Kickoff return 24.62 yards per return (ranked 8th nationally, 3rd in Big 12)
Average starting field position Own 28-yard line
2007
Net punting 34.947 yards per kick (ranked 64th nationally, 7th in Big 12)
Punt return 8.26 yards per return (ranked 69th nationally, 6th in Big 12)
Kickoff return 21.27 yards per return (ranked 67th nationally, 9th in Big 12)
Average starting field position Own 26-yard line
By MATT DOYLE World Sports Writer
12/25/2007
OSU's season set back by injuries and lack of leadership.
It was not exactly a harbinger of things to come, but one of the first special teams plays of the season set the tone for the struggles Oklahoma State would endure in 2007.
Zach Allen's snap sailed over the head of punter Matt Fodge less than one minute into the opener at Georgia. The Bulldogs scored a touchdown on the next play.
The bad snap was just the start of a few head-scratching moments for OSU's special teams.
Special teams coordinator Joe DeForest often says special teams is the only portion of football where there are no "do-overs."
The Cowboys can't change what transpired in the kicking game this year.
One year after emerging as a dynamic kickoff and punt return threat, sophomore Perrish Cox was primarily neutralized.
Junior kicker Jason Ricks struggled on field goals, particularly those beyond 30 yards. He was replaced by freshman walk-on Dan Bailey with three games left.
Fodge's punting average dropped by 2 yards from his 44.9-yard average in 2006.
"We were inconsistent in all areas of special teams this year," DeForest said. "I didn't do a good enough job this year. That falls on me."
DeForest anticipated the Cowboys would shine in kicking, returning and coverage. Cox and Fodge were viewed as all-conference caliber performers. Ricks was entering his third year as OSU's kicker and was coming off a season in which he made 10-of-12 field goals. The coverage and return units had several veterans.
So, what happened?
Injuries are never an excuse, but bumps and bruises not only forced depth chart adjustments on offense and defense, it also changed the personnel DeForest had available for special teams.
"That does not always get noticed," DeForest said. "You do not get a lot of practice repetitions with your backups in special teams. Say you get an injury to your left guard on KOR (kickoff return), you may throw a guy in there who only has had three reps all week. That guy could have a busted assignment and make the whole picture look bad."
DeForest revealed that a leg injury hindered Ricks this year. The junior kicker missed a go-ahead 32-yard field goal with 1:13 left against Texas. It was his last act of the season.
Before this year, Ricks had made 17 consecutive field goals from inside 40 yards. This year, he made only 8-of-11 inside 40 yards and was just 1-of-6 on kicks beyond 30 yards.
"Here's a guy who never missed inside of 40. One week he makes a short field goal to beat Kansas State, and the next week he misses a similar kick against Texas," DeForest asked. "How do you explain that? His confidence wasn't the same this year. He got hurt and couldn't fight through it."
Fodge, though, pointed out that special teams was missing leadership.
The OSU punter said former teammates such as Chase Holland, Jamar Ransom, and Grant Jones always took pride playing on various kicking-game units since it was their main outlet for playing time.
"Those guys always went all-out," Fodge said. "We didn't have a lot of that this year."
DeForest was not surprised. He noticed the lack of leadership as well and vowed to change it for 2008.
"It's hard to create that. But you only get one chance on special teams, and we emphasize that," DeForest said. "We have to find some leaders in those units. Guys that would take charge and say, 'This is how you do it, and this is what it takes to do it.' "
OSU’S SPECIAL TEAMS
After experiencing a successful 2006 season in special teams, Oklahoma State struggled in different special teams categories in 2007.
2006
Net punting 34.27 yards per kick (ranked 70th nationally, 11th in Big 12)
Punt return 11.88 yards per return (ranked 27th nationally, 4th in Big 12)
Kickoff return 24.62 yards per return (ranked 8th nationally, 3rd in Big 12)
Average starting field position Own 28-yard line
2007
Net punting 34.947 yards per kick (ranked 64th nationally, 7th in Big 12)
Punt return 8.26 yards per return (ranked 69th nationally, 6th in Big 12)
Kickoff return 21.27 yards per return (ranked 67th nationally, 9th in Big 12)
Average starting field position Own 26-yard line