Penn State Position Previews 2011: Coverage And Return

Without the benefit of game film, there's probably no good way to break this stuff down without relying heavily on past statistics. So...let's rely heavily on past statistics. First, the punting game:

Punt Returns

To give these a little more context, let's look at some other points in the special teams continuum:

#1 Utah 17.60
#20 Virginia Tech 12.43
#40 Iowa State 9.60
#60 Iowa 8.18
#80 UNLV 6.77
#100 Notre Dame 5.35
#120 Memphis 0.45(!)

2010 punt returns:

The Van Fleet TD, naturally, was the scoop and score after a blocked punt against Indiana. In terms of a PSU player fielding a punt and bringing back for a touchdown, you have to go back to Derrick Williams at Wisconsin in 2008.

2009:

Based on the numbers, Astorino and Brown should not be returning kicks in any capacity, with the only logical exception being when the opposing team is pooching. Otherwise, no. Astorino has been more of Designated Fair Catcher, to his credit. Brown's numbers put him in Notre Dame territory.

Kickoff Returns

#1 UCF 27.78
#20 North Texas 24.29
#40 South Florida 22.57
#60 Northern Illinois 21.97
#80 Western Kentucky 21.06
#100 Purdue 19.76
#120 Louisiana-Lafayette 17.64

2010:

2009

We can safely assume that Silas Redd won't be an option for kickoff returns. Green is obviously gone. Powell is an interesting option -- he's clearly the best of the experienced returners, but he's also a starting cornerback. That leaves Moo-Moo again, to give us hopes of having our own little Trindon Holliday. Should be interesting to see which pairings the coaches come up with. Alex Kenney, perhaps?

Punt Return Defense

Usually a pretty good area for Penn State. The 2010 touchdown was a hilariously blocked punt in the Outback Bowl. The 2009 touchdown, of course, was Adrian Clayborn. Let's not discuss those, other than to say they weren't much about actual punt coverage, though the 15.4 average in 2009 indicates more at issue than one blocked and scooped punt. Still, for unblocked punts, no return touchdowns in the past five years says Penn State is doing something right.

#1 Tulsa 1.53
#20 Notre Dame 5.50
#40 TCU 7.12
#60 PSU/WVU 8.67
#80 South Florida 9.68
#100 W. Kentucky 11.77
#120 New Mexico 15.62 (3 TD's)

Kickoff Return Defense

Hey, 2009 isn't the suckiest this time! Certainly, Anthony Fera's leg strength contributed to better performance, although a one yard difference in either direction equals a jump/drop of about 20 spots in the overall rankings. As you'd probably expect, the middle of the curve is packed.

#1 Washington State 17.00
#20 Boston College 19.84
#40 West Virginia 20.73
#60 Louisiana-Monroe 21.36
#80 Wyoming 22.15
#100 Indiana 23.75
#120 New Mexico 29.67

Again, very tightly grouped in the middle. And just for the hell of it:

Net Punting

No real beef here other than arrrrrrgh2009.

Chart? (I've always wanted to do this.) Chart.

Okay, graph. Also, not a Microsoft Excel wizard. 2009 is "Year 4", as I'm sure you realized.

Truth is, for as much as we read GRRRRR WHY DON'T WE HAVE A SPECIAL TEAMS COACH, JOE during the season, Penn State's special teams are generally pretty good. I'll continue to argue that the coaching staff is missing an opportunity with its punt returner choices, which have been risk-averse beyond belief.