There’s no denying Iowa
took positive steps in special teams last season. This coming season,
the special teams is the only thing that looks good. Senior Jordan Cotton returns to the Hawkeyes
after taking “1” (really 2) kick offs to the house. He is really strong.
More often than not, special teams have helped as much as
they’ve hurt. You arguably could pin a few losses on flubbed onside kick
recovery attempts (Minnesota in 2010-11 and Central Michigan last season), but
for the most part, Iowa’s special teams have been perfect segues to the ensuing
commercial break.
For example, the Hawkeyes finished 24th nationally in kick
return defense last season. In kick returns, it was No. 50. Iowa was great at
covering punts (No. 13 at 4.41 yards per return), but not so great at returning
them (No. 80 with 7.44 per). We aren’t
allowing big plays or making them. With
the addition of our new special teams coordinator, Chris White, I think things
might change. We will still keep big
plays from happening but we might make a few big plays for the sports center
top 10.
New assistant coach Chris White spent the last four seasons
as special teams assistant with the Minnesota Vikings. He did have Percy Harvin to work with, but he
is still very good. He knows how to
stop big plays (something Iowa is usually really good at) and he is also really
good at making big special teams plays.
One thing the Hawkeye fans should look for is a blocked punt/field
goal. Coach White has made it one of his
marquee plays. Big kick returns from
Jordan Cotton is also possible.
One thing Iowa really has to work on is the onside
kick. Kirk Ferentz said in an interview
that some players are assigned to block and some are assigned to receive. He went on to say that neither assignment was
done well. We shouldn’t have lost to
Central Michigan because that personal foul at the end was bull shit. We shouldn’t have given up the onside kick!
It was ridiculous! The Hawks look like
confused school girls. Just because
there are two kickers doesn’t mean you lose focus. It means you have one less person coming
after the ball. I think the Hawkeyes
have to completely change their strategy of the onside kick. They need to have a couple less blockers but
make them offensive line men. Then put
your back-up receivers in behind to secure the loose ball. Back-up receivers aren’t practicing with the
first team so they will have more time to practice the onside kick. I do not want to give up one onside kick this
year. It has attributed to 3 loses in
the last 3 seasons and it is totally unacceptable. That is one reason Ferentz hired Coach
White.
My prediction for the special teams is that they Hawkeyes
will have an incredible year. They will
block one kicking attempt and score 3 TDs off of kick offs. They will even get a muffed punt. Big aspirations, but that’s what comes when
you hire someone to focus on special teams.
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