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Spring Practices Analysis – Special Teams
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While information on CU spring football was limited (three practices open to the public, including the “Spring Showcase”, there have been notes and quotes aplenty. Grades have been assigned based upon the following measurements: C+ … Confident; C … Cautiously optimistic; or C- … Concerned.
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Previously posted … Quarterbacks … Running backs … Wide Receivers and Tight Ends … Offensive Line … Defensive Line … Linebackers … Defensive Backs …
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My grades … Quarterbacks: C … Cautiously optimistic … Running backs: C- … Concerned … Wide Receivers and Tight Ends: C+ … Confident … Offensive Line: C- … Concerned … Defensive Line: C- … Concerned … Linebackers: C … Cautiously optimistic … Defensive Backs: C+ … Confident …
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Your Grades (from polls) … Quarterbacks: C … Cautiously optimistic (60%) … Running backs: C … Cautiously optimistic (64%) … Wide Receivers and Tight Ends: C+ … Confident (53%) … Offensive Line: C … Cautiously optimistic (52%); Concerned (45%) … Defensive Line: C … Cautiously optimistic (53%) … Linebackers: C … Cautiously optimistic (56%) … Defensive Backs: C … Cautiously optimistic (47%); Confident (40%)
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Special Teams
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Notes …
Unlike last off-season, when the news was all about CU bringing in a 30-year old kicker from Australia, this spring has been quiet in the kicking game.
Senior Alex Kinney is entrenched at punter, while sophomore kicker James Stefanou had a freshman campaign which was good enough to assume that he will be the CU placekicker this fall.
Kinney had 56 punts last year for a 43.77 yard average. Overall, CU’s net punting numbers were 3rd in the Pac-12, 23rd in the nation.
Stefanou, meanwhile, connected on 17-of-22 field goal attempts, with a long of 53 yards. His 10-for-11 start on field goal tries is the third best start to a career ever at Colorado with one miss (.909 percentage). The 53-yard field goal is the second-longest by a freshman in Colorado history.
Spring did nothing to change the starting lineup, with both kickers showing consistency and improved leg strength.
Also reportedly showing improvement was kicker Davis Price, who displayed good accuracy throughout the spring as well as improved leg strength, while long snapper J.T. Bale has improved his velocity and accuracy.
One change this year will be Kinney acting as the holder for Stefanou on field goals, a combination that looked good throughout the spring.
As for returners, the main kick and punt returner from last season, Ronnie Blackmon, is back. Blackmon had 12 of CU’s 19 punt returns for 96 yards, with 15 kickoff returns for a 21.0/return average (K.D. Nixon had 11 kickoff returns, with a 23.7/return average).
That being said, the Buffs tried a number of players on kicks and punts, and those are spots that likely won’t be decided until late in fall camp.
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Quotes …
… “Coming back and being settled and being on the field in the spring and the offseason training, I wouldn’t say it’s easier, but I’m definitely settled and you know what to expect,” James Stefanou said.
… “Just a few little technical things,” Stefanou said of what he’s working on this offseason. “Not muscling up as much on the longer ones. Things like that which tend to come a little bit when you’re tired and fatigued toward the end of the year. It’s more about conditioning the body and making sure you’re doing the right things to keep strong throughout 12-14 games or however many games we play.”
… MacIntyre said Stefanou had a “really good spring,” but also said Bale made a jump with his snapping, putting more velocity on the ball and placing it with more accuracy. “Having a new holder in Alex, he’s been fantastic, and the snaps from J.T. are perfect like always,” he said. “I can’t complain; it’s been good.”
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Analysis …
Alex Kinney has improved each year he has been the punter at Colorado. As a freshman, Kinney averaged 40.1 yards per punt. That number moved up to 41.3 in 2016, then 43.8 last season.
Buff fans cannot assume, but certainly can hope, that Kinney’s numbers will improve once again, and that Colorado will again be in the top three in the Pac-12 in punting.
James Stefanou had a very encouraging freshman campaign, and did it as a 30-year old who played in the first collegiate football game he had ever witnessed, hitting a 39-yarder against Colorado State. Not bad for an Australian adjusting to life in Boulder … and as a newlywed who got married last May.
“Those are pretty big, drastic changes,” CU head coach Mike MacIntyre said. “He handled all of that, to me, incredibly.”
With a full off-season in Boulder, Kinney might also move into the upper echelon in the Pac-12.
So, barring injury or meltdown, the Buffs appear to be set at the kicking positions.
There will also be a full slate of candidates for the kickoff and punt returning positions. Ronnie Blackmon and K.D. Nixon were adequate in 2017, (CU was 23rd in the nation in punt returns; 47th in the nation in kickoff returns) but the Buff Nation has a right to expect more from CU’s stable of wide receivers and defensive backs.
Perhaps a redshirt freshman (Maurice Bell? Isaiah Lewis? Chase Newman?) will earn playing time on special teams, or even a true freshman (Daniel Arias? Dimitri Stanley? Dylan Thomas?) will catch the eyes of the coaches during fall camp.
Colorado remains without a dedicated special teams coach (inside linebackers coach Ross Els has the primary responsibility for special teams), but that does not diminish the importance of these units.
Special teams excellence in 2018 could spell the difference between a bowl bid and sitting home for the holidays once again.
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Grade … C … Cautiously optimistic …
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Stuart
Continue reading...
Spring Practices Analysis – Special Teams
—
While information on CU spring football was limited (three practices open to the public, including the “Spring Showcase”, there have been notes and quotes aplenty. Grades have been assigned based upon the following measurements: C+ … Confident; C … Cautiously optimistic; or C- … Concerned.
—
Previously posted … Quarterbacks … Running backs … Wide Receivers and Tight Ends … Offensive Line … Defensive Line … Linebackers … Defensive Backs …
–
My grades … Quarterbacks: C … Cautiously optimistic … Running backs: C- … Concerned … Wide Receivers and Tight Ends: C+ … Confident … Offensive Line: C- … Concerned … Defensive Line: C- … Concerned … Linebackers: C … Cautiously optimistic … Defensive Backs: C+ … Confident …
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Your Grades (from polls) … Quarterbacks: C … Cautiously optimistic (60%) … Running backs: C … Cautiously optimistic (64%) … Wide Receivers and Tight Ends: C+ … Confident (53%) … Offensive Line: C … Cautiously optimistic (52%); Concerned (45%) … Defensive Line: C … Cautiously optimistic (53%) … Linebackers: C … Cautiously optimistic (56%) … Defensive Backs: C … Cautiously optimistic (47%); Confident (40%)
—
Special Teams
—
Notes …
Unlike last off-season, when the news was all about CU bringing in a 30-year old kicker from Australia, this spring has been quiet in the kicking game.
Senior Alex Kinney is entrenched at punter, while sophomore kicker James Stefanou had a freshman campaign which was good enough to assume that he will be the CU placekicker this fall.
Kinney had 56 punts last year for a 43.77 yard average. Overall, CU’s net punting numbers were 3rd in the Pac-12, 23rd in the nation.
Stefanou, meanwhile, connected on 17-of-22 field goal attempts, with a long of 53 yards. His 10-for-11 start on field goal tries is the third best start to a career ever at Colorado with one miss (.909 percentage). The 53-yard field goal is the second-longest by a freshman in Colorado history.
Spring did nothing to change the starting lineup, with both kickers showing consistency and improved leg strength.
Also reportedly showing improvement was kicker Davis Price, who displayed good accuracy throughout the spring as well as improved leg strength, while long snapper J.T. Bale has improved his velocity and accuracy.
One change this year will be Kinney acting as the holder for Stefanou on field goals, a combination that looked good throughout the spring.
As for returners, the main kick and punt returner from last season, Ronnie Blackmon, is back. Blackmon had 12 of CU’s 19 punt returns for 96 yards, with 15 kickoff returns for a 21.0/return average (K.D. Nixon had 11 kickoff returns, with a 23.7/return average).
That being said, the Buffs tried a number of players on kicks and punts, and those are spots that likely won’t be decided until late in fall camp.
—
Quotes …
… “Coming back and being settled and being on the field in the spring and the offseason training, I wouldn’t say it’s easier, but I’m definitely settled and you know what to expect,” James Stefanou said.
… “Just a few little technical things,” Stefanou said of what he’s working on this offseason. “Not muscling up as much on the longer ones. Things like that which tend to come a little bit when you’re tired and fatigued toward the end of the year. It’s more about conditioning the body and making sure you’re doing the right things to keep strong throughout 12-14 games or however many games we play.”
… MacIntyre said Stefanou had a “really good spring,” but also said Bale made a jump with his snapping, putting more velocity on the ball and placing it with more accuracy. “Having a new holder in Alex, he’s been fantastic, and the snaps from J.T. are perfect like always,” he said. “I can’t complain; it’s been good.”
—
Analysis …
Alex Kinney has improved each year he has been the punter at Colorado. As a freshman, Kinney averaged 40.1 yards per punt. That number moved up to 41.3 in 2016, then 43.8 last season.
Buff fans cannot assume, but certainly can hope, that Kinney’s numbers will improve once again, and that Colorado will again be in the top three in the Pac-12 in punting.
James Stefanou had a very encouraging freshman campaign, and did it as a 30-year old who played in the first collegiate football game he had ever witnessed, hitting a 39-yarder against Colorado State. Not bad for an Australian adjusting to life in Boulder … and as a newlywed who got married last May.
“Those are pretty big, drastic changes,” CU head coach Mike MacIntyre said. “He handled all of that, to me, incredibly.”
With a full off-season in Boulder, Kinney might also move into the upper echelon in the Pac-12.
So, barring injury or meltdown, the Buffs appear to be set at the kicking positions.
There will also be a full slate of candidates for the kickoff and punt returning positions. Ronnie Blackmon and K.D. Nixon were adequate in 2017, (CU was 23rd in the nation in punt returns; 47th in the nation in kickoff returns) but the Buff Nation has a right to expect more from CU’s stable of wide receivers and defensive backs.
Perhaps a redshirt freshman (Maurice Bell? Isaiah Lewis? Chase Newman?) will earn playing time on special teams, or even a true freshman (Daniel Arias? Dimitri Stanley? Dylan Thomas?) will catch the eyes of the coaches during fall camp.
Colorado remains without a dedicated special teams coach (inside linebackers coach Ross Els has the primary responsibility for special teams), but that does not diminish the importance of these units.
Special teams excellence in 2018 could spell the difference between a bowl bid and sitting home for the holidays once again.
—
Grade … C … Cautiously optimistic …
—
Stuart
Continue reading...