Special teams is our weakest link. Outside of 2 good Buschini punts all other special teams plays weren't acceptable
Fire Foley.
- Thread starter huskerfan66
- Start date
I'd keep him around for the inspirational speeches alone....
Meh. Cu kicker is not good. His pregame was very suspect. I figured he was very vulnerable
It does seem like special teams is the weakest link once again. I’m not sure what to say about Alvano at this point, or what could be done to get him over the hump. But right now, it looks like it’s just not happening for the kid, and it’s eventually going to cost us a game if they don’t get things figured out.
If you’re paying somebody $500k a year, they should be aware that the opposing team is trying a 63 yard field goal and maybe should throw Jacory Barney back there to return it. Potential points just wasted cause nobody is paying attention
At least the punt return game is showing some improvement. Of course it was non-existent for so long that the bar is set pretty low.
But IGC is doing some good things there. On a short punt early in the game, he saved about 20 yards of field position by fielding the ball off the ground and managing a short return.
But IGC is doing some good things there. On a short punt early in the game, he saved about 20 yards of field position by fielding the ball off the ground and managing a short return.
Glad to see him fielding the ones that should be and attempting to get some yards as well.
I'd have barney returning all kicks, and alvano going to church alot more, he must not be living right because I guess he hit every kick at westside. in practice I'd have barney returning every kick in a green jersey
Sometimes these coaches think they can improve the kicker/punter by making them tweak something and they actually make it worse, you wonder if good ole Ed didn’t mess with Alvanos kicking and messed him up
We have some positive vibe with our team now and have entered the Top 25 for the first time in 8 years. So you're next step is to start firing coaches? Thanks for the hot take coach Prime.
Probably should have fired Rhule after game 2 last season because of Jeff Sims.
might look at using this next game as an open tryout and intentionally creating some field goal opps once we're up big.
Rhule called out the snapper, holder and kicker in his post-game presser. I mentioned in another thread that our snaps have been horrible. Yes, Alvano has things he needs to get better at but it's hard to place the ball in the correct spot if the snaps are a challenge. It's hard to kick accurately if the hold is not where Alvano's eyes are focused.
yeah, only 2 good punts
60 yards,
47 yards,
44 yards,
54 yards,
49 yards,
3 inside the 20,
3 returned for 14 yards total
There’s a big difference between snapping and kicking the ball in practice and then trying to do it in an atmosphere like we had Saturday night. Our kicking specialists aren’t exactly grizzled veterans yet and I would hope and expect they’ll get better at handling the game pressure with experience. My heart was thumping just sitting in my living room. I can only imagine what it was like trying to run on the field to execute the snap and kick.
Alvano really looks tentative. Like he's afraid to kick.
That makes sense. Finally get in the top 25 now let’s intentionally fail so we can attempt field goals. Excellent strategy!
I love you man but I hope you were 3 or 4 double tall gin and tonics in to the evening when you posted this. I thought our special teams play was better other than a 19 year old missing a field goal.in an incredible environment Yeah they had a big return by one of the most dynamic returners in the country. It happens. Barney is going to do the same this year at some point.
I think Foley is the weak link coach on the staff. It just seems that the Punter and kickers come in great and regress. I am glad good Buschini has returned, but our kick-off coverage is also a little concerning.
I think people are VASTLY underestimating the psychological pressure these young guys are under. Alvano has been limited this fall due to a hamstring but he's been money in practice this fall inside of 40. Buschini has been very good this fall. Maybe that's coaching. After hanging out with some of my daughter's college friends who were football and track athletes 3 years ago it struck me how damned young they were. I can only imagine being 19 years old and trying to kick in front of 90,000 fans and a national TV audience. That takes some serious gonads.
Other than the one long return, what is concerning about our KO coverage?
Even with that, sometimes you have to tip your hat to a their return team. He didn't house it at least and I thought that was a possibility going in to the game given their skill position talent. All in all we really contained their explosive players. I would have bet large sums that CU would have had some long scoring plays and they didn't.
IGC saved us lots of yards Saturday night. He did a great job.
IF you're going to try to return it you almost had to call a timeout to substitute. Did we really want to call a timeout and let them think about what they were going to do? Ideally you have a CB you could put deep in those situations. Maybe after having the nitwit Deion attempt a 60 yard field goal against us we'll have a plan going forward for stupid opposition coaches.
We've had a ball go out of bounds, the ball isn't getting kicked to the correct position on kick-off which is what will cause the return issues. Buschini seems to be the guy now. Maybe that will shore it up as he did well and has been good as a punter.
Come on Dingle.. This is what sports are all about and studs deal with the pressure. There are a ton of kickers all over who bang it through with ease under 45 yards and we are missing chip shots. This is coaching. Alvano had the "it" factor in HS and now it is gone and that has to be the coaching. A guy with his talent should not miss a 32 yarder with no wind. If he is missing longer ones, fine, I get it, but right now he is on the absolute struggle bus. At this point you might just try the other kid.
Buschini is back to being better which I gave him kudos for, but on Montana he was killing the ball. Something has gone on with our specialists and to me it is coaching as they were both very good until they got to NU.
So maybe we should have an older kicker out there? Then when Alvano is upper classman have him kick.
And that’s the simplest answer in my book also. They Brought in a juco kicker give him shot. You can’t miss a 32 ydr.
Ball out of bounds was his first kick of the season. Maybe a little adrenaline? Maybe a little nerves? Where is the ball supposed to be kicked - what is the correct position? How do you know where the kicker is told to kick it to? For those kicks that are returned, what's the average starting position (look at it both with and without that long return for perspective)? Sorry for all the questions.
Personal protector made a "look-out" block. Coaches put them in position to do their job. A mental lapse from 1 guy is all it takes. I don't believe he was back in that spot on the next punt - which is what you would expect the coaches to do.
Stop making excuses and I know this info because I know someone who watches practice. Our kickers are sucking in practice and it is translating to the field. All of the other groups are executing the process and the coaches are excelling. Special teams is the only group you can point to that is really struggling. Like I said, there are some bright spots and it is early, but when you have a presser like Foley had where he basically says he needs to get Special teams up to snuff and it is still lagging compared to the rest of the team you should be able to talk about it.
I'll reiterate, there are some good things we are doing. Punt returns is much better and I think it would probably be really really good if it wasn't IGC returning kicks. He's serviceable but his acceleration isn't top end and there have been some lanes. Buschini has been very good compared to last year. Blocking kicks is good, but that has more to do with defenders being huge and strong then Foley.
Foley needs to coach his unit up.
More excuses. If that player had a mental lapse, he needs to be out of the rotation and earn it back. All other groups are governing their players, Special Teams should be no different.
He was pulled out of the rotation. I guess you didn't read all of what I wrote.
I agree with all this - yet kickers do it every week. IA State nailed a 54 yarder for the win basically with no time left. Alvano missed a chip shot in the first quarter.
I’m sure it’s in his head more than anything but he needs to figure it out because we need to find someone who has the confidence to go out and win a game with a kick.
Wow! You're pretty sensitive. I made an observation about the first kick of the season (and the first kick of the kid's career in a D1 game in front of 87k+ people) and speculated that could be a reason (notice I used the word 'maybe'). He didn't kick the others OB so maybe I was close to correct. You never answered my questions but instead deflected.
I'm not saying that Foley shouldn't be held accountable for issues with the ST. What I'm saying is other than placekicking (right now), it isn't as bad as everyone is saying. That's my observation and opinion. Just like you, I'm entitled to that. I asked you to support yours with facts - thus my questions. My questions were all about the kickoffs, nothing about placekicking or punting, and you mentioned nothing about the kickoffs. You chose to not answer those questions which tells me all I need to know about the information you provide. Have a great day!
