• Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
  • Consider registering! Fewer and higher quality ads, no emails you don't want, access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Even if you just want to lurk, there are a lot of good reasons to register!

2017 tOSU Special Teams Discussion

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Sort by date Sort by votes
Woody1968 said:
That's great, but it is basically a wash, since it seems like every third kickoff there is a big return to a not-very good team, or a kick out of bounds. Right now, who cares, it is Army or Maryland or Bumblefuck Junior College, but against better teams, it will potentially matter.
Click to expand...

Without doing the research, I'd guess that 1 out of 3 is a bit high. But you're right: giving up a touchdown against Maryland is one thing; allow one against Penn State and it might cost the game.

Not that I could ever do any better, but I find it hard to believe that with that many men on campus (20,000?), they can't find one who can consistently put the ball inside the 10, without kicking too far to the left or right.
 
Upvote 0
You know one thing that seems to have gone away is how fast Goins was getting to the return man. Last couple of games I've missed #19 flash into the screen and deliver a nice hit. Maybe teams are targeting him more than the previous games?
 
Upvote 0
Bare with me, this is a Gatorubet-ish wall of text. I've taken all our kickoffs this year, summarized by game, with season totals at the end. I believe Meyer obviously will trade off a touchback for a chance at pinning the return back further. So, I count any return stopped inside the 25 a win and any return that makes it to the 25 or beyond a loss for kick coverage.

Indiana:
95-B.Haubeil kicks 62 yards from OSU 35. 2-D.Williams to IU 13 for 10 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 60 yards from OSU 35. 2-D.Williams to IU 20 for 15 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 65 yards from OSU 35 to IU End Zone. touchback. **
95-B.Haubeil kicks 57 yards from OSU 35. 2-D.Williams to IU 38 for 30 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 59 yards from OSU 35. 2-D.Williams to IU 23 for 17 yards.
95-B.Haubeil kicks 65 yards from OSU 35. 2-D.Williams to IU 12 for 12 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 52 yards from OSU 35. 2-D.Williams to IU 22 for 9 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 53 yards from OSU 35. 2-D.Williams to IU 25 for 13 yards
Nine total kickoffs.
Six resulted in starting field position inside the 25
Two resulted in starting position at the 25 (one touchback)
One resulted in starting field position outside the 25
Kicking wins, 6-3
===========================================================================================

Oklahoma:
95-B.Haubeil kicks 58 yards from OSU 35. 2-J.Badet to OKL 29 for 22 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 59 yards from OSU 35. 2-J.Badet pushed ob at OKL 29 for 23 yards
96-S.Nuernberger kicks 54 yards from OSU 35. 2-J.Badet to OKL 33 for 22 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 55 yards from OSU 35. 2-J.Badet pushed ob at OKL 22 for 12 yards
Four true kickoffs (not counting the late on-side).
One resulted in starting field position inside the 25
Three resulted in starting field position outside the 25
Note that the kickers only reached the 7, 6, 11, and 10 yard line
Kicking loses, 3-1
===========================================================================================

Army:
95-B.Haubeil kicks 59 yards from OSU 35. 5-K.Walker to ARM 18 for 12 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 63 yards from OSU 35. 5-K.Walker to ARM 20 for 18 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 55 yards from OSU 35. 5-K.Walker pushed ob at ARM 38 for 28 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 64 yards from OSU 35. 5-K.Walker to ARM 44 for 43 yards (almost a TD)
95-B.Haubeil kicks 65 yards from OSU 35 to ARM End Zone. touchback **
95-B.Haubeil kicks 62 yards from OSU 35. 5-K.Walker to ARM 18 for 15 yards
Six total kickoffs.
Three resulted in starting field position inside the 25
One resulted in starting position at the 25 (touchback)
Two resulted in starting field position outside the 25
Kicking washed, 3-3
===========================================================================================

UNLV:
95-B.Haubeil kicks 63 yards from OSU 35. 10-D.Woods to UNLV 15 for 13 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 61 yards from OSU 35, out of bounds at the UNLV 4. !!
95-B.Haubeil kicks 62 yards from OSU 35. 10-D.Woods to UNLV 16 for 13 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 65 yards from OSU 35 to UNLV End Zone. touchback. **
95-B.Haubeil kicks 61 yards from OSU 35. 7-J.Flowers to UNLV 17 for 13 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 59 yards from OSU 35. 7-J.Flowers to UNLV 17 for 11 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 64 yards from OSU 35. 7-J.Flowers to UNLV 11 for 10 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 61 yards from OSU 35. 10-D.Woods to UNLV 25 for 21 yards
Eight total kickoffs.
Five resulted in starting field position inside the 25
Two resulted in starting position at the 25 (one touchback)
One resulted in starting field position outside the 25
Kicking wins, 6-3
===========================================================================================

Rutgers:
95-B.Haubeil kicks 48 yards from OSU 35. 25-R.Blackshear to RUT 17 for no gain
95-B.Haubeil kicks 58 yards from OSU 35. 25-R.Blackshear to RUT 19 for 12 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 65 yards from OSU 35. 25-R.Blackshear to RUT 10 for 10 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 58 yards from OSU 35. 25-R.Blackshear to RUT 19 for 12 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 58 yards from OSU 35. 25-R.Blackshear to RUT 22 for 15 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 38 yards from OSU 50. 8-J.Hicks to RUT 21 for 9 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 49 yards from OSU 35. 8-J.Hicks to RUT 26 for 10 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 47 yards from OSU 35. 8-J.Hicks to RUT 26 for 8 yards
Eight total kickoffs.
Six resulted in starting field position inside the 25
Two resulted in starting field position outside the 25
Kicking wins, 6-2
===========================================================================================

Maryland:
96-S.Nuernberger kicks 63 yards from OSU 35. 6-T. Johnson to MAR 32 for 30 yards
96-S.Nuernberger kicks 65 yards from OSU 35. 6-T. Johnson runs 100 yards for a touchdown
96-S.Nuernberger kicks 54 yards from OSU 35. 6-T. Johnson to MAR 23 for 12 yards
96-S.Nuernberger kicks 69 yards from OSU 30. 6-T. Johnson pushed ob at MAR 24 for 23 yards
96-S.Nuernberger kicks 64 yards from OSU 35. 6-T. Johnson to MAR 13 for 12 yards
96-S.Nuernberger kicks 36 yards from OSU 35 to the MAR 29, downed by 82-A.Edwards (end-of-half pooch kick)
96-S.Nuernberger kicks out of bounds at the MAR 2. !!
95-B.Haubeil kicks 65 yards from OSU 35. 6-T. Johnson to MAR 12 for 12 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 65 yards from OSU 35 to MAR End Zone. touchback **
95-B.Haubeil kicks 63 yards from OSU 35. 20-J.Leake to MAR 30 for 28 yards
Ten total kickoffs.
Four resulted in starting field position inside the 25
One resulted in starting position at the 25 (touchback)
Five resulted in starting field position outside the 25
Note several kicks were between the hashes
Kicking loses, 6-4
===========================================================================================

45 total kickoffs.
25 resulted in starting field position inside the 25 (and 15 inside the 20)
6 resulted in starting position at the 25 (counting the four touchbacks)
14 resulted in starting field position outside the 25
That's a 56% rate of holding the return team inside the 25, and a 34% rate of holding the return team inside the 20. Also, aside from the out of bounds kick in the UNLV game, only four times has the return team got past the 35: Indiana (own 38), Army twice (own 38, own 44), and Maryland (TD). That's just over 10%. So, taking a 10% chance on allowing a return to the 35 (i.e., out-of-bounds penalty equivalent) to have a near-60% chance of holding the return inside the 25 (i.e., touchback yardage), seems worth it in Meyer's thought process.

EDIT: The sources I used left out the out-of-bounds kickoff at the start of the second half of the Maryland game.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
Absolutely when executed it's very smart because we gain normally 5-10 yards in field position. However right now the risk is just too great due to not being able to place the ball correctly.

For what it's worth Meyer said today that the kickoff has been fixed now. Mentioned it was a coaching issue.
 
Upvote 0
MililaniBuckeye said:
Bare with me, this is a Gatorubet-ish wall of text. I've taken all our kickoffs this year, summarized by game, with season totals at the end. I believe Meyer obviously will trade off a touchback for a chance at pinning the return back further. So, I count any return stopped inside the 25 a win and any return that makes it to the 25 or beyond a loss for kick coverage.

Indiana:
95-B.Haubeil kicks 62 yards from OSU 35. 2-D.Williams to IU 13 for 10 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 60 yards from OSU 35. 2-D.Williams to IU 20 for 15 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 65 yards from OSU 35 to IU End Zone. touchback. **
95-B.Haubeil kicks 57 yards from OSU 35. 2-D.Williams to IU 38 for 30 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 59 yards from OSU 35. 2-D.Williams to IU 23 for 17 yards.
95-B.Haubeil kicks 65 yards from OSU 35. 2-D.Williams to IU 12 for 12 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 52 yards from OSU 35. 2-D.Williams to IU 22 for 9 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 53 yards from OSU 35. 2-D.Williams to IU 25 for 13 yards
Nine total kickoffs.
Six resulted in starting field position inside the 25
Two resulted in starting position at the 25 (one touchback)
One resulted in starting field position outside the 25
Kicking wins, 6-3
===========================================================================================

Oklahoma:
95-B.Haubeil kicks 58 yards from OSU 35. 2-J.Badet to OKL 29 for 22 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 59 yards from OSU 35. 2-J.Badet pushed ob at OKL 29 for 23 yards
96-S.Nuernberger kicks 54 yards from OSU 35. 2-J.Badet to OKL 33 for 22 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 55 yards from OSU 35. 2-J.Badet pushed ob at OKL 22 for 12 yards
Four true kickoffs (not counting the late on-side).
One resulted in starting field position inside the 25
Three resulted in starting field position outside the 25
Note that the kickers only reached the 7, 6, 11, and 10 yard line
Kicking loses, 3-1
===========================================================================================

Army:
95-B.Haubeil kicks 59 yards from OSU 35. 5-K.Walker to ARM 18 for 12 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 63 yards from OSU 35. 5-K.Walker to ARM 20 for 18 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 55 yards from OSU 35. 5-K.Walker pushed ob at ARM 38 for 28 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 64 yards from OSU 35. 5-K.Walker to ARM 44 for 43 yards (almost a TD)
95-B.Haubeil kicks 65 yards from OSU 35 to ARM End Zone. touchback **
95-B.Haubeil kicks 62 yards from OSU 35. 5-K.Walker to ARM 18 for 15 yards
Six total kickoffs.
Three resulted in starting field position inside the 25
One resulted in starting position at the 25 (touchback)
Two resulted in starting field position outside the 25
Kicking washed, 3-3
===========================================================================================

UNLV:
95-B.Haubeil kicks 63 yards from OSU 35. 10-D.Woods to UNLV 15 for 13 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 61 yards from OSU 35, out of bounds at the UNLV 4. !!
95-B.Haubeil kicks 62 yards from OSU 35. 10-D.Woods to UNLV 16 for 13 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 65 yards from OSU 35 to UNLV End Zone. touchback. **
95-B.Haubeil kicks 61 yards from OSU 35. 7-J.Flowers to UNLV 17 for 13 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 59 yards from OSU 35. 7-J.Flowers to UNLV 17 for 11 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 64 yards from OSU 35. 7-J.Flowers to UNLV 11 for 10 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 61 yards from OSU 35. 10-D.Woods to UNLV 25 for 21 yards
Eight total kickoffs.
Five resulted in starting field position inside the 25
Two resulted in starting position at the 25 (one touchback)
One resulted in starting field position outside the 25
Kicking wins, 6-3
===========================================================================================

Rutgers:
95-B.Haubeil kicks 48 yards from OSU 35. 25-R.Blackshear to RUT 17 for no gain
95-B.Haubeil kicks 58 yards from OSU 35. 25-R.Blackshear to RUT 19 for 12 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 65 yards from OSU 35. 25-R.Blackshear to RUT 10 for 10 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 58 yards from OSU 35. 25-R.Blackshear to RUT 19 for 12 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 58 yards from OSU 35. 25-R.Blackshear to RUT 22 for 15 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 38 yards from OSU 50. 8-J.Hicks to RUT 21 for 9 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 49 yards from OSU 35. 8-J.Hicks to RUT 26 for 10 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 47 yards from OSU 35. 8-J.Hicks to RUT 26 for 8 yards
Eight total kickoffs.
Six resulted in starting field position inside the 25
Two resulted in starting field position outside the 25
Kicking wins, 6-2
===========================================================================================

Maryland:
96-S.Nuernberger kicks 63 yards from OSU 35. 6-T. Johnson to MAR 32 for 30 yards
96-S.Nuernberger kicks 65 yards from OSU 35. 6-T. Johnson runs 100 yards for a touchdown
96-S.Nuernberger kicks 54 yards from OSU 35. 6-T. Johnson to MAR 23 for 12 yards
96-S.Nuernberger kicks 69 yards from OSU 30. 6-T. Johnson pushed ob at MAR 24 for 23 yards
96-S.Nuernberger kicks 64 yards from OSU 35. 6-T. Johnson to MAR 13 for 12 yards
96-S.Nuernberger kicks 36 yards from OSU 35 to the MAR 29, downed by 82-A.Edwards (end-of-half pooch kick)
95-B.Haubeil kicks 65 yards from OSU 35. 6-T. Johnson to MAR 12 for 12 yards
95-B.Haubeil kicks 65 yards from OSU 35 to MAR End Zone. touchback **
95-B.Haubeil kicks 63 yards from OSU 35. 20-J.Leake to MAR 30 for 28 yards
Nine total kickoffs.
Four resulted in starting field position inside the 25
One resulted in starting position at the 25 (touchback)
Four resulted in starting field position outside the 25
Note several kicks were between the hashes
Kicking loses, 5-4
===========================================================================================

44 total kickoffs.
25 resulted in starting field position inside the 25 (and 15 inside the 20)
6 resulted in starting position at the 25 (counting the four touchbacks)
13 resulted in starting field position outside the 25
That's a 57% rate of holding the return team inside the 25, and a 34% rate of holding the return team inside the 20. Also, aside from the out of bounds kick in the UNLV game, only four times has the return team got past the 35: Indiana (own 38), Army twice (own 38, own 44), and Maryland (TD). That's just over 10%. So, taking a 10% chance on allowing a return to the 35 (i.e., out-of-bounds penalty equivalent) to have a near-60% chance of holding the return inside the 25 (i.e., touchback yardage), seems worth it in Meyer's thought process.
Click to expand...

Sure, if you ignore the fact that Meyer said he'd boot it through the end zone if we had the leg. In other words, there's no thought process, or choice, at all.
 
Upvote 0
buckeyesin07 said:
Sure, if you ignore the fact that Meyer said he'd boot it through the end zone if we had the leg. In other words, there's no thought process, or choice, at all.
Click to expand...
So, since he doesn't have a kicker that can howitzer it through the end zone every kickoff (like the current Florida kicker), he should just let the kickoff team whatever the fuck it wants. Point he isn't going to risk having his kickers try to drill it out of the end zone when they can only reach 2-3 yards into the end zone in the middle of the field most of the time. So yeah, he does have a choice: 1.) Risk trying to kick it deep only to get it a few yards into the end zone most of the time with the coverage team spread over most of the field, or 2.) Pin them into the left corner and keep them inside the 25 yard line more often than not.
 
Upvote 0
BuckeyeSoldier said:
I think he doesnt want to give them the option of taking that knee. I think he wants to force them to attempt a return and start their drive pinned back at the 15.
Click to expand...

I've always assumed this to be the strategy too.

Considering what is being asked of a kicker... that is, put the ball at the 2-5 yard line and within 15-feet of the out of bounds line, it seems like they do a fairly decent job. Add in wind conditions, etc. and I'll be damned if I don't walk away impressed more often than not.
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top