Fixing our issues on special teams

[AppGrad78]

Some suggestions:

When we're punting:

• -- Deep six the rugby punts. We tried to fix a problem that wasn't there.
  -- Instruct Critcher to dial back his punts a bit. We'd be better off with a 35- to 40-yard punt with great hang time than one that goes 45 to 55 yards on a line drive.

When we're kicking off:

• -- We need more pooch kicks.Those slow dudes up front on the other teams aren't great runners and we're usually tackling them around the 30- or 35-yard line. Given our track record, that's acceptable.

When we're receiving:

• -- No more returning kickoffs after the ball has gone into end zone. We're barely getting the ball to the 20. We're better off taking a knee and starting from the 25.
  -- On punts, Beathard isn't Devin Hester but he doesn't get us in trouble, either. Take the fair catch and let our offense go to work.
  -- On obvious on-side kick situations, we need more than five players up front. As one blogger cleverly deadpanned: stAte's kicker fixed himself a martini while waiting for the ball to go 10 yards. Meanwhile, no Mountaineers were in sight. That's gotta be fixed because given the way we're playing lately we're going to see more.

Other ideas?

[WVAPPeer]

Some suggestions:

When we're punting:

• -- Deep six the rugby punts. We tried to fix a problem that wasn't there.
  -- Instruct Critcher to dial back his punts a bit. We'd be better off with a 35- to 40-yard punt with great hang time than one that goes 45 to 55 yards on a line drive.

When we're kicking off:

• -- We need more pooch kicks.Those slow dudes up front on the other teams aren't great runners and we're usually tackling them around the 30- or 35-yard line. Given our track record, that's acceptable.

When we're receiving:

• -- No more returning kickoffs after the ball has gone into end zone. We're barely getting the ball to the 20. We're better off taking a knee and starting from the 25.
  -- On punts, Beathard isn't Devin Hester but he doesn't get us in trouble, either. Take the fair catch and let our offense go to work.
  -- On obvious on-side kick situations, we need more than five players up front. As one blogger cleverly deadpanned: stAte's kicker fixed himself a martini while waiting for the ball to go 10 yards. Meanwhile, no Mountaineers were in sight. That's gotta be fixed because given the way we're playing lately we're going to see more.

Other ideas?

What time are you available??? ---

[YesAppCan]

On punting... Deep 6 the 3 man shield... Put 10 men across the line and then possibly have Critcher dial back his punts or release if needed.

[Saint3333]

Spot on, basically keep it simple. Treat this like you would a game manager QB. Special Teams don't try too hard, just don't make things harder for the offense and defense.

No FGs outside of the 25 yard line would be my only add.

[WVAPPeer]

Not sure about getting rid of the shield - blocked punts devastate --- of course, returns for TDs hurt badly as well - I'll stick with 78's points - sounds right on to me
---

[ASUPATCH]

Adding on to the pooch kick idea and getting to the up men, not only are the much slower but they are less accustomed to carrying a football. One might try and do to much and cough it up.

Unless it is 4th and plus 7-8 yards give Lamb and company a shot on the plus side of the field. We havent pooch punted well(see late punt at Ark State) or kicked FG's well.

Lastly insert a few less essential starters on coverage teams. Dont put Cox(see Corey Lynch)out there but more Middelton, Law, McElfresh types. Solid starters/athletes that wont decimate the team in the unlikely even they get injured.


That all I got.

[WVAPPeer]

Let's not overlook the fact that Bentlee is 6-8 in FGs ---

[EastHallApp]

Other ideas?

Wait 'til next year, when we have a scholarship placekicker and 20 redshirt freshmen to bolster the coverage and return units.

Sorry, that's all I got.

[ASUPATCH]

Let's not overlook the fact that Bentlee is 6-8 in FGs ---

Yes makes of 24,26,33,37,38 with a career long 39 yarder. Lets also not forget he is 23-27 on pat's for a league and NCAA worst 85.2%. That's right we currently have the PK with the worst PAT conversion rate in all of FBS. I believe he can get the job done if needed under 40 yards but I sure wouldn't intentionally play for it.

[hapapp]

Adding on to the pooch kick idea and getting to the up men, not only are the much slower but they are less accustomed to carrying a football. One might try and do to much and cough it up.

Unless it is 4th and plus 7-8 yards give Lamb and company a shot on the plus side of the field. We havent pooch punted well(see late punt at Ark State) or kicked FG's well.

Lastly insert a few less essential starters on coverage teams. Dont put Cox(see Corey Lynch)out there but more Middelton, Law, McElfresh types. Solid starters/athletes that wont decimate the team in the unlikely even they get injured.


That all I got.

Critcher is 6 of 8 in FGs so far this season. He seems to have more trouble with PATs.

[ASUPATCH]

Adding on to the pooch kick idea and getting to the up men, not only are the much slower but they are less accustomed to carrying a football. One might try and do to much and cough it up.

Unless it is 4th and plus 7-8 yards give Lamb and company a shot on the plus side of the field. We havent pooch punted well(see late punt at Ark State) or kicked FG's well.

Lastly insert a few less essential starters on coverage teams. Dont put Cox(see Corey Lynch)out there but more Middelton, Law, McElfresh types. Solid starters/athletes that wont decimate the team in the unlikely even they get injured.


That all I got.

Critcher is 6 of 8 in FGs so far this season. He seems to have more trouble with PATs.

75% on FG's is ok with long of only 39. If your inside the 15 the sure go for it he is 2/2 on 20-29 yarders. On kicks 30+ he is 4/6. Thats with only attempting one kick over 40.
85.2% is the worst PAT rate in FBS football, dead last.

Doesn't make me feel super confident in the converted punter.

[hapapp]

Adding on to the pooch kick idea and getting to the up men, not only are the much slower but they are less accustomed to carrying a football. One might try and do to much and cough it up.

Unless it is 4th and plus 7-8 yards give Lamb and company a shot on the plus side of the field. We havent pooch punted well(see late punt at Ark State) or kicked FG's well.

Lastly insert a few less essential starters on coverage teams. Dont put Cox(see Corey Lynch)out there but more Middelton, Law, McElfresh types. Solid starters/athletes that wont decimate the team in the unlikely even they get injured.


That all I got.

Critcher is 6 of 8 in FGs so far this season. He seems to have more trouble with PATs.

75% on FG's is ok with long of only 39.
85.2% is the worst PAT rate in FBS football, dead last.

Doesn't make me feel super confident in the converted punter.

No dispute but he has only tried one longer than 39 and that was the long attempt in the snow v. Ga State. Based on the stats, he might actually be more accurate from long range.

[tjpappy]

.

Critcher is 6 of 8 in FGs so far this season. He seems to have more trouble with PATs.[/quote]

Any thoughts as to why PATs would be more challenging than field goals for him, relative to the usual rate that placed kickers are successful at PATs?

Is it that the real percentage of making either is fairly close (75% for FG [all under 40 yds] vs. about 85% for PATs) and that he gets a slight advantage in PATs because of the shorter distance, but not as much as other place kickers kickers might enjoy?

I certainly appreciate the work he has done to take over all the kicking duties and the points that he scores. I am just curious about the reasons for relative level of success.

Any thoughts?

[T-Dog]

My biggest concern when it comes to kicking is that we have two other kickers on the roster and if neither can handle PAT's and we have Bentlee do everything, why are they on the roster? I know we got recruits on the way that'll help, but we still got two games left this year. Surely one of then can be drilled into kicking PAT's so Bentlee has the leg he needs on kickoffs.

The 3-man shield is fine since it keeps defenders from laying out and hurting Bentlee.

The rugby kick, which can be a good idea at times, has not worked and it should be axed.

Fair catches for Bobo going forward unless there is no one within 20 yards, then go straight forward.

We do need a couple starters on special teams, especially on coverage. Bentlee has made way too many tackles this season. Satt said he might have do this after the game.

With all the adjustments Satt has made in the last six weeks, I have faith he'll figure it out.

[ASUPATCH]

My biggest concern when it comes to kicking is that we have two other kickers on the roster and if neither can handle PAT's and we have Bentlee do everything, why are they on the roster? I know we got recruits on the way that'll help, but we still got two games left this year. Surely one of then can be drilled into kicking PAT's so Bentlee has the leg he needs on kickoffs.

The 3-man shield is fine since it keeps defenders from laying out and hurting Bentlee.

The rugby kick, which can be a good idea at times, has not worked and it should be axed.

Fair catches for Bobo going forward unless there is no one within 20 yards, then go straight forward.

We do need a couple starters on special teams, especially on coverage. Bentlee has made way too many tackles this season. Satt said he might have do this after the game.

With all the adjustments Satt has made in the last six weeks, I have faith he'll figure it out.

Agree on each and every point.

[YesAppCan]

Not sure about getting rid of the shield - blocked punts devastate --- of course, returns for TDs hurt badly as well - I'll stick with 78's points - sounds right on to me
---

I am not sold on the shield... I've seen blocked punts with the 3-man shield.

[WVAPPeer]

Let's not overlook the fact that Bentlee is 6-8 in FGs ---

Yes makes of 24,26,33,37,38 with a career long 39 yarder. Lets also not forget he is 23-27 on pat's for a league and NCAA worst 85.2%. That's right we currently have the PK with the worst PAT conversion rate in all of FBS. I believe he can get the job done if needed under 40 yards but I sure wouldn't intentionally play for it.

How long was the GAME WINNING FG against UL-M? - Does anyone give a &#@% ---
He made the biggest kick he has had this season ---

[EastHallApp]

Before this turns into another six-page thread about whether it's OK to criticize our players, can we just agree that Critcher has done an admirable job stepping into a role that he didn't expect to have, but that we still need to have a more reliable kicking game? Critcher himself said after the ULM game that he was a punter, not a placekicker.

[WVAPPeer]

Before this turns into another six-page thread about whether it's OK to criticize our players, can we just agree that Critcher has done an admirable job stepping into a role that he didn't expect to have, but that we still need to have a more reliable kicking game? Critcher himself said after the ULM game that he was a punter, not a placekicker.

Yes - we all agree on that ---

[ASUPATCH]

Let's not overlook the fact that Bentlee is 6-8 in FGs ---

Yes makes of 24,26,33,37,38 with a career long 39 yarder. Lets also not forget he is 23-27 on pat's for a league and NCAA worst 85.2%. That's right we currently have the PK with the worst PAT conversion rate in all of FBS. I believe he can get the job done if needed under 40 yards but I sure wouldn't intentionally play for it.

How long was the GAME WINNING FG against UL-M? - Does anyone give a &#@% ---
He made the biggest kick he has had this season ---

Technically he is 1/2 on his "biggest kick".

ULM make
Liberty miss.