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2007 Kickoff Changes

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BuckeyeMike80;905851; said:
The coaches worrying about g-forces and other bullshit are covering for their real worry of having crappy kickoff coverage teams....
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I hear Ferentz is very concerned about what a certain NIU poster is saying. :biggrin:
 
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CPD

Kickoff rule change exacts changes to coverage team


Friday, August 24, 2007Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
Columbus -- Freshman cornerback Eugene Clifford, in nearly a full sprint, smacked the kick returner and dropped him in his tracks. That hit during Thursday night's open practice at Ohio Stadium is what coach Paul Haynes, in charge of the Buckeyes' kick coverage, is looking for.
The college football rule change moving kickoffs back from the 35-yard line to the 30 this season has Purdue coach Joe Tiller worried that injuries will increase, though Ohio State's Jim Tressel doesn't believe that will happen. OSU coach Darrell Hazell, head of the Buckeyes' kick returns, called the move "the most major rule change that has occurred in a long time" and salivates that those touchbacks from a year ago will this season become big-play opportunities in the hands of his returners.






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osugrad21;910445; said:
CPD
Kickoff rule change exacts changes to coverage team
OSU coach Darrell Hazell, head of the Buckeyes' kick returns, called the move "the most major rule change that has occurred in a long time"
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I'd argue that the crappy "start the clock whenever the hell we feel like it" rule change a pretty major rule change. And then the repealing of that rule change was prety major, too. Both of those are #1 and #2, in my opinion. Kick off from 30 makes #3.
 
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So the coverage unit will change. Out are the plodding, solid tacklers. In are the speedsters willing to get down and get on a returner before he hits top speed.
"Personnel-wise it is different," Haynes said. "I think you need faster guys. You need more skill guys to run down and avoid blocks and get down there a lot faster. Before you could have your linebacker and tight-end type guys, and I don't know if you can have that anymore."
Players like Clifford and James Scott, freshmen defensive backs, are perfect candidates. Haynes said more receivers and running backs are in the mix as well, and the Buckeyes have covered more live kicks in practice than in past years while trying to separate those who want to be there from those who don't.
"It's not settled," Haynes said. "I would say that probably we have eight out of the 10 guys that we're set on."
The rest will be determined during coaches' meetings this weekend. But kicker Aaron Pettrey, who despite losing his job as OSU's field-goal kicker is set to kick off for the Buckeyes, already knows how his duty has changed. Instead of even trying for touchbacks, the most important part of his kick is now hangtime, with anything less than four seconds unacceptable.
"I wouldn't say it's impossible [to reach the end zone] but it's rare," Haynes said. "It's a lot different than when you were trying to get it out of the end zone. Now it's giving guys a chance to get down the field to cover."
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Maybe there should be less concern about G Forces and more about exposing skill players to ear-hole shots!
 
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scout

OSU Kickoff Team Outperforming Predecessors

By Marcus Hartman
BuckeyeSports.com
Posted Sep 29, 2007



Ohio State's kick coverage team - including at times eight freshmen - has been dishing out big hits and holding teams to worse field position than it did a season ago despite having more ground to cover along the way.

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