Improved special teams a focus, Iowa players say

IOWA CITY - Iowa's up-and-down special teams performance last year has led to a renewed focus entering this fall.

The team has watched more film and spent more practice time honing on the often-overlooked part of football. Special teams breakdown were costly - especially in losses against Arizona and Wisconsin - and they was addressed this off-season and in training camp.

“That's been one of the points of focus,” senior defensive lineman Broderick Binns said. “Coach (Kirk) Ferentz has put a big asterisk mark next to last season. We really weren't consistent at times.”

There are new performers at virtually every key spot - punter (Eric Guthrie); holder (John Wienke); snapper (Casey Kreiter) - plus the nameless souls who sprint down the field trying to pin a punt or kickoff deep in opposing territory.

The return game also features newcomers except junior Keenan Davis. Junior safety Micah Hyde is slated to field punts with senior wide receiver Marvin McNutt in reserve. Fielding a punt is different from catching a pass, McNutt said. He watches the ball's spin once it leaves a punter's foot. Hyde said he reads the tip of the ball.

“It goes back to center field in baseball,” Hyde said. “You've got to read the ball, take a first step back. If it comes up short, you've got to give the return team a call and let them know it's short. There are a lot of other things to it, but you've got to read the flight of the ball.”

Davis joins senior Jordan Bernstine on kickoff return. Davis said along with receiving numerous kicks during practice, he watches film to “know what everybody is doing.”

“The most important part is fielding the ball, and we really concentrate on catching the ball,” Davis said. “The whole running thing, that'll come.”

But the return game wasn't the problem last year. The miscues came in kickoff coverage, kick protection and punt defense. Ferentz said he could use true freshmen on those units this year. Other players plan to step up their intensity.

Backup running back Jason White likely will see time on special teams “all areas perhaps.”

“I think it's more of a wake-up call for the team more than anything,” White said. “Looking at some of the old tape from last year, you've got to approach these things with a positive attitude. You've got to try to go out there and just sacrifice yourself for the team.”

Iowa struggled on kickoff coverage early last year and allowed a 100-yard return against Arizona. Iowa ranked 107 out of 120 teams in allowed return yardage after September. But the unit improved in October, cutting yards allowed per kickoff by seven.

White said playing special teams is about mentality.

“At the end of the day, you've got to understand it's not for you; it's for the team,” White said. “Any way you can impact the team, just throwing your body around on kickoffs, one of the most violent plays in sports, it's got to be done.”

Two blocked kicks indirectly led to losses at Arizona and against Wisconsin. A blocked punt inside the 10-yard line led to Arizona's first touchdown in a 34-27 loss. A protection breakdown allowed Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt to block Iowa's first extra-point attempt. Wisconsin won 31-30.

As you can imagine, protection has been discussed ad nauseam in practice.

“You just protect the inside first,” said red-shirt freshman Brandon Scherff, the right tackle on field goals and extra points. “Just don't let anybody through. It's a lot harder than you think.”

Two different Iowa kickers missed a combined three extra-points last year, giving the Hawkeyes one of the nation's worst percentages last year. Even in spring drills, sophomore Mike Meyer - who clearly holds the position - and junior Trent Mossbrucker caused some angst for Ferentz. Now ...

“It's been good,” Ferentz said. “I don't want to jinx us. All three of the place-kickers are really doing a pretty good job over the last couple weeks, pretty much all camp.”

Ferentz and the players are upbeat about special teams now with healthy contributors itching for a chance to play. But if there's an injury - and there will be - what happens then?

That's when veterans like senior cornerback Shaun Prater will rejoin the units. Prater, who plays on punt return and punt coverage, asked for kickoff responsibility after the problems at Arizona. He'll do the same thing again this year.

“I won't be starting on kickoff this year unless I'm needed, unless we have guys who can't get the job done,” Prater said. “Then I'll volunteer myself like I did against Arizona.”