First, for some context,
SPECIAL TEAMS STATISTICS FROM THE 2016 SEASON:
How the 2016 Buckeyes ranked of the 128 FBS Division teams,
- 5th in Punting, with an average punting yardage of 45.86 and 2nd in Net Punting, with a net punting yardage of 43.14,
- 13th in Kickoff Returns, with a kickoff return yardage of 24.36 yards per return,
- 30th in Opponent Kickoff Returns, with a kickoff return yardage of 18.92 yards per return,
- 105th in Punt Returns with a punt return yardage of 5.15 per return,
- 15th in Opponent Punt Returns, limiting opponents to only 3.93 yards per return.
With regards to explosive plays on special teams, Ohio State ranked tied for 81st in Long Punt Return Plays, having only 1 return of 20+ yards in 13 games, while tied for 24th in Long Kickoff Return Plays having 7 returns of 30+ yards in 13 games.
However, Ohio State ranked tied for 1st in Opponent Long Punt Return Plays of 20+ yards, giving up 0, while tied for 65th in Opponent Long Kickoff Returns of 30+ yards, giving up 5 such returns.
According to the FEI Special Teams metric, Ohio State ranked 49th among the 128 FBS teams in overall Special Teams Efficiency:
The Buckeyes were,
- 9th in Kickoff Return Efficiency,
- 11th in Punting Efficiency,
- 16th in Net Field Position,
- 17th in Offensive Field Position,
- 20th in Defensive Field Position,
- 83rd in Kickoff Efficiency,
- 99th in Field Goal Efficiency, and
- 100th in Punt Return Efficiency.
Ohio State was 48th in Field Goal Percentage, at 77.3, 17 field goals in 22 attempts.
Ohio State made 63 of 65 Points After Touchdown, opponents made 21 of 21 attempts.
DISCUSSION:
First, the Buckeyes will have to replace both Cameron Johnston, the punter, and Tyler Durbin, who kicked field goals, PATs, and handled kickoffs. Drue Chrisman, a freshman, 2016 recruit, and Sean Nuerenburger, a Junior, are projected to handle the respective punting and kicking in 2017. Blake Haubeil, an incoming freshman from Buffalo, New York, will also probably compete for the kicking duties. There will also be new punt returner(s), as Dontre Wilson and Curtis Samuel, who handled most of the task in 2016 (23 of the 27 punt returns), have graduated and declared for the draft, respectively. Paris Campbell, who ranked #12 in the country with an average of 27.81 yards on 21 kickoff returns, and will be a Junior in 2017, handled most of the kickoff returning in 2016, 21 of the 28 returns.
Second, while the Buckeyes performed well in certain aspects of special teams play in 2016, Punt Return is clearly a unit that needs to improve in 2017 and Kickoff Coverage needs to yield fewer big returns. Field Goal Efficiency, Kickoff Efficiency, and Punt Return Efficiency are three other areas, according to the FEI metric, that clearly also need improvement. The Buckeyes should strive to make each of the Special Teams units elite, at least top 20 in the nation, specifically improving those that need improvement.
Third, to further highlight the particular importance of the punt return and kickoff coverage units, the Buckeye punt return unit and the kickoff coverage unit typically see much game action. Opponents punt a lot (83 in 13 games, 6.4 per game), and the Buckeyes kickoff a lot (93 in 13 games, 7.2 per game). The punt coverage (57 in 13 games) and kickoff return (50 in 13 games) units typically see less game action. [Of special note, of the 57 Buckeye punts in 2016, opponents only returned 14 of them in 13 games for 55 yards, 3.3 yards per return, while 75% of Buckeye punts (43 of 57) were not returned, demonstrating how effective a field position weapon the Buckeye punt coverage unit was in 2016.]
Given the frequency that they see action during a game, there is a distinct advantage to strongly develop both the punt return and kickoff coverage units, as they see much action during a game, 6.4 and 7.2 times on average per game in 2016, respectively. An effective punt return unit is an “offensive” advantage, improving starting field position for the offense, while an effective kickoff coverage unit is a “defensive” advantage, improving starting field position for the defense.
Finally, as indicated before, and of special note, the Buckeyes were a poorly-rated punt return unit in 2016, 105th of the 128 FBS teams in yardage gained per return. This must improve. The kickoff coverage unit ranked 30th in the nation, good, but open for improvement as well. Striving to make both these heavily-utilized special teams units top 10 in the nation in 2017 will make the Buckeyes an even better football team.
