Special Teams play come Saturday

#1
governmentmule

governmentmule

as always Go Lady Vols :clapping:
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#1
I do think the Field Goal kicking game will be crucial in this game,it is time for Medley to step it up and knock down a couple of long ones and hopefully he knocks em into the end zone on the kick offs,he has done a great job so far this year at pinning em back

hopefully Trevor Daniels will keep up his great job at punting,there is nothing as good as a punter flipping field position and he has been great at it

the special teams defenses have to have an excellent game also,they have played pretty damn well so far,the Vols should win the kicking game,which will set up the Defense and Offense for a good opportunity to win the game

Go Vols :clapping:
 
#3
#3
I'm hoping that he knocks down his first long one and get's some confidence back,I did see Fuad on The Sports Source saying you never know about young kickers and how well they will do from one year to the next
 
#11
#11
governmentmule said:
I am watching The Sports Source replay from this past Sunday and they did bring up a good point,with Medley kicking 2 out of bounds this past Saturday,why isn't he being told to kick it down the middle instead of to the left ?

Sports Source | Sundays at 11am on WATE Channel 6
Click to expand...

"Analytics" say to kick it to the corner of the 1 yard line and it shrinks the coverage on the field. The runner is forced to return...and with the shrunk in field to cover...hopefully tackled short of the 25 yard line for field disadvantage. Of course, your kicker has to be able to accurately place his kicks. Medley is "kick accuracy challenged".

Net/Net..."Analytics" can sometimes be full of crap...
 
#12
#12
another question,should Kamara be doing punt returns instead of Sutton ? the Vols do have better depth at running back and Sutton is the Vols only true lock down CB,it would be terrible for the Vols to lose Sutton doing punt returns

or maybe split time between the 2?Sutton was put in as a punt returner because he could catch the ball,not so much for his return ability
 
#13
#13
TAF said:
"Analytics" say to kick it to the corner of the 1 yard line and it shrinks the coverage on the field. The runner is forced to return...and with the shrunk in field to cover...hopefully tackled short of the 25 yard line for field disadvantage. Of course, your kicker has to be able to accurately place his kicks. Medley is "kick accuracy challenged".

Net/Net..."Analytics" can sometimes be full of crap...
Click to expand...

I agree :)
 
#14
#14
I agree OP, Special Teams is key, while we do not speak of it often it is crucial that we do well with it, lets hope Medley can WAKE UP and just kick it straight.
 
#15
#15
governmentmule said:
another question,should Kamara be doing punt returns instead of Sutton ? the Vols do have better depth at running back and Sutton is the Vols only true lock down CB,it would be terrible for the Vols to lose Sutton doing punt returns

or maybe split time between the 2?Sutton was put in as a punt returner because he could catch the ball,not so much for his return ability
Click to expand...


If Butch feels comfortable with Kamara back deep for punts in a big road game, I would love to see an old-school double-safety punt return formation; they could run reverses and/or fake reverses off of it, in addition to simply having two dynamic returners on the field at the same time. That approach would also minimize Florida's ability to simply kick the ball out of bounds.
 
#16
#16
governmentmule said:
another question,should Kamara be doing punt returns instead of Sutton ? the Vols do have better depth at running back and Sutton is the Vols only true lock down CB,it would be terrible for the Vols to lose Sutton doing punt returns

or maybe split time between the 2?Sutton was put in as a punt returner because he could catch the ball,not so much for his return ability
Click to expand...

Injury is a risk of the game. Put the best athlete there regardless. Florida beat us many many times and elite athletes on special teams were a big reason.

That said... Not sure which is a better returner
 
#17
#17
i know face,but they can't really afford to lose Sutton,if Kamara should go down,Hurd is there

and I hope neither gets injured
 
#19
#19
I will be very surprised if this game doesn't come down to UTs ST.

Good (return game)

Or bad (Medley)
 
#20
#20
They would be totally stupid to punt or give us kickoffs. Like when Phil kicked to Brandon Jacobs. Bad idea!
 
#21
#21
Volosaurus rex said:
If Butch feels comfortable with Kamara back deep for punts in a big road game, I would love to see an old-school double-safety punt return formation; they could run reverses and/or fake reverses off of it, in addition to simply having two dynamic returners on the field at the same time. That approach would also minimize Florida's ability to simply kick the ball out of bounds.
Click to expand...

I haven't seen 2 back for a punt in a long time,maybe the Vols should try it,it would be nice to have somebody back to block the lead tackler,since Sutton seems to have somebody on him in a hurry all the time
 
#22
#22
Volosaurus rex said:
If Butch feels comfortable with Kamara back deep for punts in a big road game, I would love to see an old-school double-safety punt return formation; they could run reverses and/or fake reverses off of it, in addition to simply having two dynamic returners on the field at the same time. That approach would also minimize Florida's ability to simply kick the ball out of bounds.
Click to expand...

Don't know who it was for OU. But he kept releasing super fast off our defender on punts and was in Sutton's face almost every punt. And they punted a bunch.

Paralyzed our return game. Something I had forgotten after being at the game.
 
#23
#23
Governmentmule, I posted this data in another thread but it is relevant to this one as well and underscores just how opportunistic this team has been and how often they have capitalized on defense/special teams play thus far:

(1) We are currently tied for eighth nationally in turnover margin (+5), trailing only Ole Miss among SEC teams. Turnover Margin | FBS Football Statistics - NCAA.com

(2) Evan Berry leads the nation in kickoff returns, with a 45.8 average and Cam Sutton is 17th in punt returns, with a 17.2 average. As a team, Tennessee ranks 3rd in kickoff returns, with a 39.29 average, and is 17th in punt returns, with a 19.88 average.

(3) We have two outright scores via return (88-yard kickoff return by Evan Berry and a 50-yard punt return by Alvin Kamara).

(4) Against Bowling Green we had one touchdown drive (only 29 yards) set up by a 47-yard Cam Sutton punt return. Another touchdown drive (only 24 yards) was set up by a 34-yard Cam Sutton punt return. A third touchdown drive (only 29 yards) was set up by a 21-yard Cam Sutton punt return. A fourth touchdown drive (18 yards) was set up by a 67-yard kickoff return by Evan Berry. Bowling Green vs. Tennessee - Play-By-Play - September 5, 2015 - ESPN

(5) Against WCU, we had one touchdown drive (only 8 yards) set up by a 57-yard interception return by LaDarrell McNeil. Another touchdown drive (only 21 yards) was set up by a fumble, caused by Khalil McKenzie and recovered by Shy Tuttle. Western Carolina vs. Tennessee - Play-By-Play - September 19, 2015 - ESPN

So, we have two touchdowns scored directly by special teams and six other short touchdown drives set up by defense/special teams play. And that does not even take into account the enormous role that Trevor Daniels has played in dictating field position for our opponents. He is currently 4th nationally in punting, with a 47.6 average. Of his 16 punts, "eight have landed inside the 20-yard line and seven have been of 50-plus yards.” Trevor Daniel Bio - University of Tennessee Official Athletic Site Those are stats that would make the General very proud.
 
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#25
#25
I know, but the bottom line is that we finally have dynamic threats in both phases of the return game for the first time in years. Like everything else, yards and points in the return game do not come as readily vs. top-tier opposition, but we have difference makers there nonetheless.
 
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