How Special Are USC's Special Teams?
posted by Scott Hood, Thursday, July 19, 2007
Steve Spurrier addressed special teams in his recent press conference, saying “We’re hoping our special teams play will be much improved this year.”
How much does USC actually need to improve?
I decided to check it out for myself.
What did I find? A mixed bag.
There are six special team categories in which official statistics are kept: kickoff return, kickoff coverage, net punting, punt return, field goals and extra points.
In 2006, USC was lodged in the bottom half of the SEC in just two of the aforementioned six categories
Here’s how USC fared among the 12 SEC teams in each special teams category:
Kickoff Return – 8th (19.2 yards per return)
Kickoff Coverage – 2nd (43.6 net yards per kick)
Punting – 4th (36.0 net yards per pent)
Punt Return – 9th (7.7 yards per return)
Field Goals – 4th (76.2 percent)(Tied with Georgia)
Extra Points – 6th (95.2 percent)
Overall, not too bad. Clearly, the two areas requiring the most repair are kickoff and punt returns, both of which tend to grab the lion’s share of the attention from fans and media.
Here’s the simple, easy-to-understand rule about USC’s special teams: when kicker/punter Ryan Succop is involved the Gamecocks are pretty good; when he’s not involved, USC is, well, not so good.
Succop connected on 16-of-20 field goals (8-of-9 inside 40 yards) last season, including a 55-yarder against Vanderbilt, and punted for an average of 43.7 yards per kick, third highest in the SEC. However, he only punted 29 times, not enough for him to be eligible for inclusion in the league rankings.
Unfortunately, despite his strong season, some fans only remember Succop had three kicks blocked in the Florida game. Of course, they conveniently forget Succop drilled a 55-yard field goal in that same game that was called backed because the ball was snapped a millisecond after the 25-second play clock expired.
Life can be cruel when you’re a kicker.
Here’s something else you need to know about kickoff and punt returns: there does not appear to be any correlation between success or failure in those categories and a team’s won-loss record.
The two worst teams in the SEC last season in kickoff returns were Florida (17.5 ypr) and Tennessee (16.1 ypr). Ironically, the Gators finished 13-1 and captured the national championship with a convincing victory over Ohio State.
Moreover, two of the three worst punt return teams in the SEC in 2006 were Arkansas (7.2 ypr) and Auburn (5.5 ypr). Those schools won a combined 21 games last season and both played in New Year’s Day bowls.
Do fans and the media focus too much attention on kickoff and punts returns, to the detriment of other special team categories? Yes, much like the mainstream media inexplicably gravitates towards Paris Hilton and ignores more important issues of the day.
But they’re still important, of course.
Improvement in USC’s special teams was one of the major reasons Shane Beamer was lured away from Mississippi State. The son of Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer was named co-special teams coordinator when he was hired.
Hopefully, some of the Hokies’ exemplary special teams play will rub off on the Gamecocks. As Spurrier has frequently pointed out, USC failed to score a special teams touchdown in his first two years as head coach.
In my opinion, that’s what he means when he says USC needs to improve in special teams.
As long as Succop keeps kicking well on both field goals and punts, USC’s main concerns rest with ensuring the kickoff and punt return teams pull their weight. Once those areas are shored up, the Gamecocks should be in great shape on special teams.
When was the last time we said USC had great special teams?
It’s been too long.
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I’ve often heard from a bunch of people, including coaches, how terrible South Carolina’s special teams are.
Steve Spurrier addressed special teams in his recent press conference, saying “We’re hoping our special teams play will be much improved this year.”
How much does USC actually need to improve?
I decided to check it out for myself.
What did I find? A mixed bag.
There are six special team categories in which official statistics are kept: kickoff return, kickoff coverage, net punting, punt return, field goals and extra points.
In 2006, USC was lodged in the bottom half of the SEC in just two of the aforementioned six categories
Here’s how USC fared among the 12 SEC teams in each special teams category:
Kickoff Return – 8th (19.2 yards per return)
Kickoff Coverage – 2nd (43.6 net yards per kick)
Punting – 4th (36.0 net yards per pent)
Punt Return – 9th (7.7 yards per return)
Field Goals – 4th (76.2 percent)(Tied with Georgia)
Extra Points – 6th (95.2 percent)
Overall, not too bad. Clearly, the two areas requiring the most repair are kickoff and punt returns, both of which tend to grab the lion’s share of the attention from fans and media.
Here’s the simple, easy-to-understand rule about USC’s special teams: when kicker/punter Ryan Succop is involved the Gamecocks are pretty good; when he’s not involved, USC is, well, not so good.
Succop connected on 16-of-20 field goals (8-of-9 inside 40 yards) last season, including a 55-yarder against Vanderbilt, and punted for an average of 43.7 yards per kick, third highest in the SEC. However, he only punted 29 times, not enough for him to be eligible for inclusion in the league rankings.
Unfortunately, despite his strong season, some fans only remember Succop had three kicks blocked in the Florida game. Of course, they conveniently forget Succop drilled a 55-yard field goal in that same game that was called backed because the ball was snapped a millisecond after the 25-second play clock expired.
Life can be cruel when you’re a kicker.
Here’s something else you need to know about kickoff and punt returns: there does not appear to be any correlation between success or failure in those categories and a team’s won-loss record.
The two worst teams in the SEC last season in kickoff returns were Florida (17.5 ypr) and Tennessee (16.1 ypr). Ironically, the Gators finished 13-1 and captured the national championship with a convincing victory over Ohio State.
Moreover, two of the three worst punt return teams in the SEC in 2006 were Arkansas (7.2 ypr) and Auburn (5.5 ypr). Those schools won a combined 21 games last season and both played in New Year’s Day bowls.
Do fans and the media focus too much attention on kickoff and punts returns, to the detriment of other special team categories? Yes, much like the mainstream media inexplicably gravitates towards Paris Hilton and ignores more important issues of the day.
But they’re still important, of course.
Improvement in USC’s special teams was one of the major reasons Shane Beamer was lured away from Mississippi State. The son of Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer was named co-special teams coordinator when he was hired.
Hopefully, some of the Hokies’ exemplary special teams play will rub off on the Gamecocks. As Spurrier has frequently pointed out, USC failed to score a special teams touchdown in his first two years as head coach.
In my opinion, that’s what he means when he says USC needs to improve in special teams.
As long as Succop keeps kicking well on both field goals and punts, USC’s main concerns rest with ensuring the kickoff and punt return teams pull their weight. Once those areas are shored up, the Gamecocks should be in great shape on special teams.
When was the last time we said USC had great special teams?
It’s been too long.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to Blog Home
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Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.