Notre Dame’s “Big Three”

Great management of field position last week. If not Manti, then I hope Turk got the game ball.

three keys apparent in the mich. st. game.the forementioned kicking of turk.the three down lineman getting great pressure in a passing situationwhen the last time that happend.kelly going for it in a fourth down when he could have punted and getting it.this sent a message to his offensive line that he has confidence in them and to future opponents.

It's time to focus on Michigan. They will come in hungry. It won't be any fun discussing our 3-1 team next week, so we must get it done. This is, without a doubt, the key game of the season. If something is, indeed, happening here, we must get this opponent off our backs. They have killed the last three seasons for us! Go Irish!

Given that ND ranks 96th in punt returns, isn't there plenty of "hidden yardage" available to the Irish? With the success of the team, we don't hear much about the lack of a punt return game as we did last year. However, I'm still concerned that in games where inches count, the lack of a punt return is going to hurt the team. Does anyone know why BK has implemented a fair catch strategy? I presume it's a strategy.

Yea, Lou you are dead on with the Leach, Tiller, and other examples. Those programs are always hot and cold, and most of the time don't get the top recruits. It just seems like BK has been very good recruiting top defensive players the last 2 years. As for Jack Swarbrick, I say he is the Heisman trophy winner of the ADs', for the decade, for what he has done for all the sports.

ShelbyIrish,

I'm not a coach and can't even pretend to go into all the technicalities of it, but here's the best explanation I can give through the coaches regarding the complaints on punt returns or blocking with the new alignment:

The Shield
In recent years, “The Shield” in punt coverage has helped minimize returns in the college game.

Unlike in the NFL, where only the two gunners are permitted to take off more than one yard down the field prior to the kick, the college rule permits the front seven to run down prior to the kick.

Thus, the formation in vogue in the collegiate game as opposed to “pro punt” has the seven front-line players (three on each side of the snapper) spread out to cover punts, and then three blockers — many times offensive linemen — in front of the punter. The three who were lined up in front of Turk in the Aug. 15 practice were sophomore offensive linemen Nick Martin and Matt Hegarty, and sophomore linebacker Jarrett Grace.
At least three purposes are served with The Shield:

• Much more people can get into coverage quicker, which usually requires more frequent fair catches everywhere, not just at Notre Dame.
• With the blockers spread out up front, more skill and speed can be put along the line for coverage, while a couple of linemen are put in to protect the punter. Faster people along the line allow for quicker overall coverage, allowing it to smother potential returns before they can set up.
• The wide splits along the line help spread out the punt return defense, thereby lessening the chance for a blocked punt as well.

“In this game with the shield punt and the fact that (the coverage is) able to get out so early, if you look at the stats around the nation, there aren’t that many punt returns happening,” said first-year Irish special teams coordinator Scott Booker, who also coaches the tight ends.

Although Notre Dame attempted only 13 punt returns in 2011, or an average of one per game, Florida International University led the nation in punt return average (15.93) — but returned only 15 punts in 13 games. Northwestern was No. 2 (15.86) — and returned just eight punts, or five fewer than the Irish. Ole Miss ranked No. 3 with just 14 punt returns.

The two teams that had the most punt returns with 41 apiece were Ohio U (14 games) and Penn State (13 games), or an average of three per game. While Notre Dame returned only 13 punts in 2011, its opponents combined for only 15 returns against them.

That’s not to say Booker and Co., are waving the white flag this season when it comes to punt return. The punt return stats might not make or break a team’s campaign, but the three punt return yards Notre Dame totaled during its 12-game regular season also is unacceptable.

“We had Rocket and Tim Brown, but those rules didn’t apply when they played,” Kelly said. “So not to take anything away from their ability, but we certainly do not want to be where we were last year.”

In practice situations, the staff attempts to distract the players catching punts by throwing towels or other objects in front of their faces, among other tactics, while the ball is in the air.

However, Booker says it’s hardly about just the return man. It’s more about getting just enough blocking up front to help ward off the vast and spread out coverage team. Booker said a lot of the concentration has been on helping hold up the coverage — without getting called for holding, of course.

“We’re looking for guys up front who are able to do the techniques and the things were asking them to do to hold and to give those guys in the back end — whoever it is — a crease to go,” Booker said. “That’s a very important part of the equation. We’re working hard at trying to work on our tie-up and tie those guys up at the line of scrimmage — and then put someone out there that can go vertical.”

A stronger investment into the punt return game just might yield some overall better returns.