New bosses, new energy as Boise State tries to revitalize error-plagued special teams
When special teams went as poorly as it did last season for the Boise State football team, change had to come.
Thus far in the Broncos’ spring practices, there is a different energy around that facet of the game — a renewed focus after some major struggles last fall.
With new coordinators overseeing the kicking and return games, the Broncos have used March to begin fixing those woes.
“A lot more time is being spent on special teams, which I like a lot,” junior cornerback/returner Avery Williams said. “The emphasis is that it’s a very important part of the game, that it can win or lose a game.”
Look no further for proof of that than the Broncos’ last game of the season, when a blocked extra point loomed large in an eventual overtime loss in the Mountain West championship game. That was preceded by two blocked punts at Oklahoma State, New Mexico’s first punt return touchdown since 2002, 12 of 20 field goals made and a multitude of penalties throughout the year.
Boise State coach Bryan Harsin decided to reassign special teams coordinator Kent Riddle to focus on tight ends, and named running backs coach Lee Marks co-special teams coordinator along with new hire Jeff Schmedding.
“We’ve talked about it more, just the whole mentality on that phase,” Harsin said. “We’ve spent more time on it, we’ve spent more time on the fundamentals. ... We’ve done a lot more fundamental work than we have in the past — how we block, how we got off blocks, how we run, how we avoid people. That started in (winter) conditioning.”
Harsin noted that most of the focus has been on those smaller details, with the scheme work slowly progressing. The first half of spring practices mainly were spent on the kicking game, with the return game emphasized more in these final two weeks. Junior Joel Velazquez has handled punting and kicking duties as the Broncos graduated their primary punter and kicker, though more competition will come in the fall.
Schmedding, hired as outside linebackers coach along with co-special teams coordinator, will slowly move away from special teams as he was recently named the new defensive coordinator. Still, he has already put his stamp on special teams with new ways of motivating players. Williams said: “We’ve completely changed our meetings. We’ve brought more energy.”
“Everybody’s bought in,” junior defensive back Kekaula Kaniho said. “... Nobody’s slouched back in their chairs, it’s everybody up.”
Williams and Kaniho said starters like themselves have wanted to be a part of special teams. It harkens to the recent past when the goal was to get the best players on the field on special teams, regardless of which side of the ball they played on or how much they were on the field. Kaniho, for example, is working on all units, and is a holder on placekicks.
“Maybe last year there was less intent to do that on special teams, but from what I’ve seen, a lot of guys want to get out there and have a role they can star in,” Williams said.
As spring progresses, Harsin hopes to get a better idea of the structure on special teams, whether it’s one or two coaches in charge. He said Riddle will be leaned on for his years of knowledge, which the staff would’ve done even if Schmedding hadn’t switched roles.
Harsin himself wanted to be involved, and he’s led the punt team this spring. The two defensive coordinators, Schmedding and Spencer Danielson, have taught tackling and shedding blocks.
“Like we’ve done before, everybody’s got a piece of what we’re doing on special teams. … It’s really a collective effort at this point,” Harsin said.
Seeing how errors on special teams can truly decide a win or loss, the Broncos hope correcting those now makes a difference this fall.
“We’re always taught special teams are game-changing, but when it’s going on the opposite end, that’s never how you want it. The things you can control, the fundamentals and technique ... that’s been our focus,” senior safety Kekoa Nawahine said.
