As one of the numerous changes that the Ohio football team has introduced this spring, special teams is now following a divide-and-conquer philosophy.
In contrast to the 2004 season when Steve Russ held the title of special teams coordinator, the duties of special teams have been divided among several members of the coaching staff this year. Linebackers coach Ross Els is handling punt and kickoff coverage, cornerbacks coach Fred Reed has punt return, and wide receivers coach Derek Mason is covering kickoff return.
We've kind of divided the responsibilities
Els said. Different programs do it different ways. Sometimes you have special teams coordinators who have it all. We just decided that we had a lot of good coaches that had a lot of knowledge so we wanted to spread the wealth a little bit.
One returning player who has impressed his new coaches so far is punter Matt Miller. Miller handled all of the punting duties last season, averaging 42.4 yards per punt and only two touchbacks.
Miller's doing a fantastic job Els said. He's a tough player
and a lot of times you don't find that from punters. He's willing to follow through when he's got pressure on him. He's willing to go down and make a tackle
even though we don't want him to. I've been impressed with him. He's been working on some of the things that we've asked him to do and done well.
Every spring I work on something new
Miller said. This spring I've been working on directional punting -more placement. Every time I add more accuracy with the kick. I just don't like to get touchbacks. My goal is always to keep it out of the end zone.
Returning kicker Brooks Rossman, new long snapper Ryan Senser and holder Justin Riley have been learning how to work together as a unit.
I've pretty much just been trying to get the timing down with the new snapper and new holder
(and) just getting back into it
Rossman said. We've been working after every practice on our timing and stuff
so it's showing in the scrimmages and practices.
Rossman is looking to improve on last season when he converted just half of his field goal attempts and 20 of 24 extra points.
I take that as like a learning season for me
he said. The only way I can go is up now.
Els said with Rossman returning and the emergence of Matt Lasher as another potential contributor, the position should be a strong one for the Bobcats.
Lasher
kind of our backup punter
