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2018 tOSU Special Teams Discussion

I have noticed that the blocking of the gunners the last few years has been horrible. A lot of times it's 2 vs. 1 and we still can't get them blocked.

If returners don't have time to catch and make a move and can't make the 1st defender down the field miss, there is no return. But, if you can make that 1st person miss, find some breathing room, there is potential to bust a big one. Hopefully with McCall in the mix we will see some fireworks this fall.
 
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10 NON-SPECIALISTS WHO COULD PLAY KEY ROLES ON OHIO STATE'S SPECIAL TEAMS IN 2018

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The first step to earning playing time on Ohio State’s offense or defense is to earn playing time on the Buckeyes’ special teams.

Since Urban Meyer became the Buckeyes’ head coach prior to the 2012 season, he has repeatedly expressed that his players must earn playing time on special teams first before earning playing time on offense or defense. While there have been some exceptions (such as J.K. Dobbins last year), Meyer has mostly held true to that mantra, as most of the Buckeyes who have gone on to star in other phases of the game over the past six years have earned their stripes on special teams first.

As such, Ohio State’s special teams units often provide an early glimpse into who will be the team’s stars of the future.

Ohio State’s field goal kicker (Sean Nuernberger), kickoff specialist (Blake Haubeil), punter (Drue Chrisman) and long snapper (Liam McCullough) are all back from last season, while Meyer has also said that Demario McCall is in line to be both the primary kickoff returner and punt returner for the Buckeyes this season.

Which players will make up the rest of those special teams units is less certain. But those players could be just as important to the Buckeyes’ success in the third phase of the game this season.

Although special teams stars can feasibly come from any position – and aside from quarterbacks, every other position player is expected to be ready to play on special teams – linebackers and defensive backs are the most common standouts on kickoff and punt teams, while tight ends, running backs and wide receivers also often have the size and athleticism to be impact players on those units.

With some exceptions, Ohio State’s special teams units are also usually composed primarily of players who are backups on offense and defense, as starters are typically removed from most special teams units – with the exception of the punting unit, where the Buckeyes do regularly play starters – in order to protect them for their primary roles.

Given that, the top candidates to be impact players on special teams for the Buckeyes in 2018 are players from the aforementioned positions who are not projected to start on offense or defense this season, but who nonetheless possess the physical attributes to be playmakers. The following list gives consideration to both players who have already shown they can make their mark on special teams, and players with upside to earn their first significant playing time on special teams this year.

PETE WERNER, LB
It’s still possible that Werner could earn a starting spot in Ohio State’s linebacker corps, but if not, he might be the top candidate to shine on special teams for the Buckeyes this year. A player who has earned praise from Meyer since he arrived on campus, Werner already showed playmaking ability on kickoff coverage as a true freshman last season. His speed and hard-hitting demeanor suit him well in that capacity, while he also saw playing time on the kickoff and punt return units last season and on the punting unit in the spring game.

JUSTIN HILLIARD/BARON BROWNING, LB
Hilliard and Browning were both regulars on special teams for the Buckeyes last season, but are competing to start for the Buckeyes at middle linebacker this season – at least until Tuf Borland is able to return from his Achilles injury. While whoever wins the starting job isn’t likely to see much playing time on special teams – at least as long as they remain in the starting lineup – whoever doesn’t is likely to be one of the Buckeyes’ core special teamers. Browning has as much upside as any player on the team, which could make it tough to keep him off the starting defense, but Hilliard is also a five-star recruit who made his mark on special teams last season after battling injuries in his first two years as a Buckeye.

AMIR RIEP, S
As a true freshman last season, Riep earned immediate playing time on the Buckeyes’ kickoff coverage unit, starting on that unit in all 14 of Ohio State’s games. He was one of only two true freshmen (along with Isaiah Pryor) to play on special teams in last year’s season opener, a testament to how quickly he made an impression in that phase of the game. So unless Riep wins the vacant starting safety job – which is a possibility, as that competition remains wide open, though Pryor is the apparent frontrunner – it’s likely that Riep’s presence on special teams will only grow in his sophomore year.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...ey-roles-on-ohio-states-special-teams-in-2018
 
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OHIO STATE'S EXPERIENCE AT SPECIAL TEAMS POSITIONS IS A HIDDEN STRENGTH

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When you think of Ohio State's returning talent, your mind probably doesn't jump to Drue Chrisman, Sean Nuernberger or Liam McCullough, but maybe it should.

While much of the team is in flux this season with a new quarterback, new pieces on the offensive line, drastic changes in the secondary and three new starters at linebacker, Ohio State returns every single starter on one particular unit – it just might not be the flashiest one.

At punter, the Buckeyes return a player that had one of the finest freshmanp seasons of any Ohio State punter in program history. Chrisman averaged 44.2 yards per punt during the 2017 season – better than even Cameron Johnston's average during his freshman and junior seasons – and of his 51 total punts, 25 of them were downed inside the 20-yard line and 15 were boomed over 50 yards.

Perhaps most impressively, Chrisman was adept at limiting the opponents' return opportunities – a key coaching point for Buckeye punters. He didn't allow a single punt return for the team's first 10 games, going 30-straight punts without allowing a return yard.

At place kicker, Ohio State returns a veteran player coming off of his best season yet. During the 2017 season, Nuernberger kicked more field goals than he had any other year, and also had his highest make percentage. He kicked 21 field goals throughout the season and hit 17 of them for a make percentage of 81 percent.

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Nuernberger is also one of the most consistent extra point kickers in history. He's never missed an extra point in his three seasons as the starting place kicker and this past fall, he broke the Big Ten record for most consecutive extra point makes.

He's currently made 177-straight extra points, which is just 56 shy of the FBS record. If the Buckeyes average just over four touchdowns a game this season – which is far lower than their typical average – Nuernberger will have a chance to break that record as well.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...-special-teams-positions-is-a-hidden-strength
 
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How New Kickoff Rule Will Change Urban Meyer’s Strategy

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Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer is always looking for little advantages he can gain in every phase of the game.

For most of his career, his trademark offense has been based around gaining a numerical edge against opponents by using the quarterback as a ballcarrier.

He is similarly obsessed with finding small areas to exploit on special teams, whether through blocked kicks or unconventional kickoff strategies.

In Meyer’s first six seasons with the Buckeyes, he crammed all of his kickoff coverage unit onto one side of the field and asked his kicker to drop the ball close to the sideline and inside the five yard line.

If executed correctly, these coffin-corner kicks force the returner to field the ball close to the sideline. That allows the coverage unit to come crashing down without worrying about getting outflanked on one side of the field.

The strategy worked wonders – the Buckeyes ranked No. 1 in the nation in opponent’s average starting field position in 2014 and No. 2 nationally in 2015.

However, as new studies have shown kickoffs to be among the most dangerous plays in football, the NCAA and other governing bodies have tried to find a way to reduce the risk to players.

This year, a new rule will allow returners to call for a fair catch on a kickoff. If they field the ball cleanly, their team will receive it on the 25.

Big Ten Coordinator of Football Officials Bill Carollo explained the rationale for the rule during Big Ten Media Days, and it certainly sounded like a direct shot at Meyer’s old strategy.

“Those pooch kicks that are in the side zones that we’re trying to eliminate in the game. Because it has proven out to our testing and reviewing that some major injuries have happened on kickoffs,” Carollo said.

Entire article: https://theozone.net/2018/07/new-kickoff-rules-will-change-urban-meyers-strategy/
 
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just kick it a few yards deep into the endzone and dare them to return it.

I think it's actually going to be the opposite.....I think we are going to see a heavy premium on guys who can essentially fair catch. I think teams will now be willing to risk 5-10 yards of field position, while kicking the ball EXTREMELY HIGH, in hopes the catch is muffed. If they fair catch it on the 30 yard line, peace. But there will without a doubt be a few drops that turn into 50/50 skirmishes with the kicking team recovering deep in territory. The kickoff, is about to turn into a glorified punt with a premium on guys with legs strong enough to elevate the ball high enough in the air, before it gets to the end-zone, where the returner is already surrounded by the kick unit. Muff the ball and it's death.....

The flip-side of this, and I think it's the intention, is a lot of the blockers for the kick-off return are going to turn into "hands guys". Teams are going to prtect against the "high pooch" by having guys prepared to make the fair catch and just take the ball on the 25. Essentially the motto will be, if you're an "upback" and are making the catch, it's always a fair catch. The guys behind, knowing they don't have the blocking anymore, likely just become touch-back/fair catch machines as well.

I don't see the kick-off being eliminated though. In a counter-intuive way, I think it way become more exciting. I believe many games this year will shift on coaches going for high pooches, that force teams to make clean catches. There isn't that much downside to starting on the 25 yard line or 30 yard line. Teams are going to test the fair catch ability of their opponents an awful lot....
 
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5 Things To Watch For On The Ohio State Special Teams

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Ohio State football will be back on the practice field today for their fourth official workout of fall camp, and for the first time this fall it will be open to the media.

That means that later today, you’ll have some real, live football reporting to sink your teeth into.

It also means we’ll get a chance to start answering some of the lingering questions about this year’s Buckeyes.

Ohio State is projected to be one of the best teams in the nation this fall, but still have some things to answer in every phase of the game.

Sunday, we looked at 5 things to watch for on the Ohio State offense, including some questions up front, a position group with something to prove, and some true freshmen who could be impact players sooner rather than later.

Monday, we turned to 5 things to watch for on the Ohio State defense, including a linebacker unit in complete flux, a pair of young corners, and a line that could be the best in school history.

Now, it’s time for the special teams.

Here’s a list of five things that will be interesting to watch for in August, and then throughout the season.

How will the new rules change kickoff strategies?
You’re probably familiar with the new kickoff rules, but if not, the short version is that a returner can now fair catch a kick anywhere on the field and have it taken out to the 25 yard line.

That almost certainly means the end of Urban Meyer’s preferred strategy of kicking the ball high and toward the sideline and trying to hem the returner in.

The coaching staff has met about the new rule and what they want to do about it, but it sounds like it’s still up for debate.

Without knowing what other teams plan to do, they don’t know whether to try to drop a kick at the 5, or the 10, or the 15, or just to boom it through the back of the end zone every time.

It’s going to be a fascinating cat-and-mouse game to watch play out throughout the fall. How much do you have to give the other team before they decide it’s worth taking a shot to return it?

What about in the return game?
This is the other side of the same coin. When the Buckeyes receive a kickoff, when will they try to run it back for a big play, and when will they just take it at the 25?

At Big Ten Media Days, Urban Meyer said they would return it whenever they thought they had an advantage.

That likely means a lot of chances against teams with lesser athletes, or shaky lane discipline on coverage.

But don’t be surprised if you see guys in scarlet and gray waving for fair catches against some of their tougher opponents this fall.

Is this the year Demario McCall takes over?
One of the most explosive players on a team loaded with extraordinary athletes, the first two seasons of McCall’s career have been a big “what if?”

What if the coaching staff was willing to let him return kicks? What if he could stay healthy?

This may be the year everyone finds out.

McCall was healthy in the spring, and was the Buckeyes’ top returner at that time.

OSU played it safe and trotted out guys like K.J. Hill and Mike Weber at the return positions last year.

If McCall is finally 100 percent and gets a chance to return kicks, punts, or both this fall, make sure you’re in your seat and watching every time that ball goes in the air.

Entire article: https://theozone.net/2018/08/5-things-watch-ohio-state-special-teams/
 
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SKULL SESSION: TRESSEL'S PUNTING TENDENCIES VS MEYER'S, ANOTHER SHOT AT CLEMSON AND MICKEY MAROTTI ROLE WITH URBAN MEYER ON LEAVE

TO PUNT, OR NOT TO PUNT.
We all know there's a drastic difference in Jim Tressel's fourth down calls and Urban Meyer's. But now, thanks to a handy tool, we can see it!

A hero by the name of Zane Murfitt put together this handy tool, which can be found at FootballScoop.com, that graphically shows how often teams went for it on fourth down in a given year.

Here's a look at Ohio State's.

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The immediate takeaway is how much more often Ohio State punted under Tressel than it has under Meyer, but that enormous jump isn't quite where you'd expect it to be – it happens between Meyer's first season and his second.

In fact, Meyer went for it on fourth down fewer times in 2012 than either Tressel in 2010 and Luke Fickell in 2011. I'm not sure I have an answer for why, other than it was a new team without a ton of offensive firepower but a strong defense.

That jump was welcomed though. I love punts, and am a huge fan of punters, but electing to punt while you're on the opponent's side of the field in short yardage is always hailed as "conservative," but it's not. It's analytically reckless. You're giving away free yards and taking points off the board.

Now, if you're inside your own 20 and need a big leg to flip field position, fire away.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/skul...son-playoff-rematch-mickey-marotti-head-coach
 
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