Compare our STs to that of NE High School Football.

[Righteous Red]

During NE HS playoffs, a kicker from class B Omaha Skutt nails a 43 yd FG, even more amazing is a kicker from eight man Class D3 Twin Loup HS nails a 43 and a 47 yd FG in a playoff game! In NE we have class A, Class B, Class C1, Class C2, Eight man Class D1, Class D2, Class D3 and finally Six Man Football. These eight man D3 schools barely have enough kids to field a team, often times they have to forfeit games due to injuries and sickness. Yet they have a center, holder and kicker to make these FGs. I know that they don’t have the training table, specialized coaching and the time and number of repetitions that a Div 1 university would have.

This year our STs if successful would have definitely been a factor in winning those games we lost. It’s amazing that STs are a One-Play One Trick Pony. You either make or miss a FG extra point, have a penalty, shanked punt, fair catch or not. Everything hinges on the one play that they are out there. It’s not like the O and D where there are numbers of plays in a drive that define the success. Focused repetition in practice on that one play to be successful should be the gold standard. It’s like: “You Have One Job, and One Job Only”.
As a scholarship and well paid player, we should expect more. The blame on ST’s should also be put on the O and D. Maybe they should drive out west to Twin Loup HS to see how it is done.

 

[Blatz]

Que Gacho!!! (Mexican slang for really emphasizing a total burn)

Yeah, drive them out through the country roads to the school and sit in the 200 seat bleacher field and have them watch.

 

[Doc Fumble]

There's been a lot of ST bashing. I would agree that our FG kicking has killed us in every single one of our losses. But I would point out that Special Teams as a whole is made up of five distinct operations: 1 & 2) Kickoff coverage and returns; 3 & 4) Punt coverage and returns; and FG/EXP kicks.

I have heard complaints that we miss Ekeler who went off to USC after last season. I was a big Ek fan and thought he brought an energy to our ST play that we had been missing. But that said, I cringe when I hear ST sucks because Ek left.

For the record, Coach Ek was the one responsible for bringing Kyle Cunanan to Lincoln. And Brett Maher was Kyle's kicking coach last season as well as this one. So the notion that Cunanan sucks because Ek left seems far-fetched to me.

I also heard some early season Archie Wilson bashing. But Arch has really stepped up and done his part to flip the field in these tough B1G games. And while Barney has yet to break a big one, he's done well as our punt returner. We've also had a couple (only one acknowledged) blocked punts.

On the other hand, I was spitting nails angry to see us start drives from deep on our side of the field against Oregon because of dumb kickoff return decisions made by Nyziah Hunter.

My point with this post is simply to say that "special teams" is a collection of critical 'one plays.' Obviously, field goal kicking has been horrible. I would add that FGs are important across CFB but absolutely critical in B1G play because the conference has so many one-score games. Comparing Nebraska's FG kicking to Indiana's is telling.

 

[Blatz]

what’s the difference between winning and losing coaches? Haven’t they all spent 1000’s of hours studying the same or versions of the same exact things? What does Saban know that Rhule doesn’t?

Maher most assuredly knows more about kicking than Ek. I have zero problem saying that and I’m from Blair, who are certainly his biggest supporters.

I assure you it comes down to seldom deviating from STANDARDS OF EXPECTATION. And in Ek’s case THE POWER OF ENTHUSIASM. Which turns on most everyone and when dealing with young people is enormous.

 

[Doc Fumble]

I assure you it comes down to seldom deviating from STANDARDS OF EXPECTATION. And in Ek’s case THE POWER OF ENTHUSIASM. Which turns on most everyone and when dealing with young people is enormous.

Like this x1000! In my opinion, 'the power of enthusiasm' is one of the most important ingredients to becoming an effective leader.

And while Blatz's comment was about Coach Ek, it may explain why things didn't work out for someone like Dana Holgorsen with a stellar record of offensive success. I was no coach but as I drew closer to retirement, I found that my own POWER OF ENTHUSIASM wasn't what it used to be.