Well, I am chickening out

[dunar]

Originally Posted by ISUAlum2002

I agree. Special teams were a big problem last year....and we didn't see ANY kickoffs or punts to see them practice the coverage of the kicks or even the returns.

I may be wrong, during the break in the middle, it looked like they were working on punt blocking (blocking the punt, not for it) on the north end, and some sort down field coverage around the 50. I wish my terminology was better to describe the second one, as it looked like punt coverage to me. But I'm no coach, so what do I know???

[clone2011]

Originally Posted by ISUAlum2002

I agree. Special teams were a big problem last year....and we didn't see ANY kickoffs or punts to see them practice the coverage of the kicks or even the returns.

Before "flex" (stretching) the specialists were on the field working on their long snapping, punting, and punt receiving the same way they did before games last year. They kicked 4 or 5 field goals immediately after flex, and then kicked probably 10 or 15 punts and worked on downfield coverage before the first snap of the scrimmage. At "halftime" they worked on blocking punts and I believe more downfield coverage or punt protection.

There was plenty of special teams practice before the scrimmage and during the halftime, not including the fact that the guy kicking FGs looked like he wouldn't have even hit the net in the AFL on a couple of those kicks so it's a good thing we've got 2 new guys coming in.

[ISUAlum2002]

Oh, I was there the whole time. We were in our seats 45 minutes before the team even came out. I saw the practice punts and FG kicking, but they never looked like they were going at full speed. And they never really worked on punt/kick returns, a running return or covering a running returner.

[ISUAlum2002]

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

Our two kickers for this coming year haven't even graduated high school yet. You wanna give them a chance to make it to Ames before we write off the kicking game entirely?

I don't care about the actual kicks. I care about the RETURNS and the RETURN COVERAGE.