Special Teams
The Hornet specials teams had some highs and lows this season. The high being possibly one of the best kicking performances in Hornet history by Chris Diniz. Punter Augie Heath also had a good year and won Big Sky special teams’ player of the week in week 9. The low being the Big Sky record 95 yard punt return that the Hornets gave up to Tim Toone in the Weber State game. The coverage teams showed much improvement over the course of the year and were solid during the last 4 games of the season. The punt return team wasn’t able to break any big returns; however the kick return was able to break open a few long returns and played well all season long.
Special teams play is always a crucial aspect in a game. There were games where the cover teams didn’t play well at all and it cost the Hornets. There were other times when Sperbeck opened up the play book on special teams and it worked out for the Hornets. Most notable were a fake punt in the NAU upset that kept a scoring drive alive, and a throw back reverse on a kick return in the Causeway that gave the Hornets the momentum in the game. This type of play calling can keep an opponent guessing and force them to prepare for many different looks.
Players Leaving
Players Returning
Team Rankings
Individual Stats
For next year we should expect solid special teams play all around. The field goal kicking should be excellent again as should be the punting. The punt and kick coverage should be solid if it can play like it did down the last stretch of the season. The key will be to not allow any big plays. With regard to the punt and kick return teams, I would like to see a return go for six. The kick return team has done an excellent job and this should carry over into next year. The punt return team was unable to get many good opportunities for a big return, but I think they have the potential to make something happen. It would be nice to see the punt return team go after a punt and try for a block as they should try to make a play anyway possible. The only question mark heading into the 2010 season is the long snapping, but this isn’t anything some practice can’t resolve.
The Hornet specials teams had some highs and lows this season. The high being possibly one of the best kicking performances in Hornet history by Chris Diniz. Punter Augie Heath also had a good year and won Big Sky special teams’ player of the week in week 9. The low being the Big Sky record 95 yard punt return that the Hornets gave up to Tim Toone in the Weber State game. The coverage teams showed much improvement over the course of the year and were solid during the last 4 games of the season. The punt return team wasn’t able to break any big returns; however the kick return was able to break open a few long returns and played well all season long.
Special teams play is always a crucial aspect in a game. There were games where the cover teams didn’t play well at all and it cost the Hornets. There were other times when Sperbeck opened up the play book on special teams and it worked out for the Hornets. Most notable were a fake punt in the NAU upset that kept a scoring drive alive, and a throw back reverse on a kick return in the Causeway that gave the Hornets the momentum in the game. This type of play calling can keep an opponent guessing and force them to prepare for many different looks.
Players Leaving
- • Long Snapper/TE Brian Heath will be lost to graduation. This is a key loss. Of all the games I watched this season I never saw a bad snap. Never. This is where every field goal and punt starts. Freshman Jeff Badger is listed as the backup long snapper. Whoever fills this role next year will have big shoes to fill.
Players Returning
- • Kicker Chris Diniz will be a senior for the 2010 season. He had an excellent and near perfect season. He set the tone early with his 44 yard FG in Sin City during week 1. The FG was his first of the season and was made in high wind conditions.
• Punter Augie Heath will be a junior for the 2010 season. He had a solid year and was very good at dropping the ball inside the 20. Heath played a huge role in the NAU upset as he pinned them deep in their own territory late in the game during that week 9 upset.
• WR/PR Ron Richardson will be a senior for the 2010 season. As talented and skilled as he may be, he needs to cut down on the muffed punts and fumbles on returns. One muffed punt return is one too many.
• WR/KR John Hendershott will be a senior and RB/KR Sam McCowan will be a sophomore in the 2010 season. Both of these guys have shown they have the ability to make a big return.
Team Rankings
- •Sac State ranked 8th in the Big Sky (66th FCS) in net yards per punt with 32.6 per attempt.
•The Hornets tied with WSU for 4th in the Big Sky (67th FCS) with 53 punts on the season.
• The Hornets were 8th in the Big Sky (104th FCS) in punt return average with only 4.8 yards per return.
• The Hornets were 4th in the Big Sky (19th FCS) in kick return average with 22.6 yards per return.
Individual Stats
- • Diniz: 12/13 in FG’s; 30/32 in PAT’s; 8/56 touchback’s per kick-off’s.
• Heath: 53 punts for an average of 39.0 yards per punt. 15 punts downed inside the 20, 3 touchbacks.
• Richardson: 16 punt returns for a total of 76 yards with an average of 4.8 yards per return.
• McCowan: 18 kick returns for a total of 414 yards with an average of 23.0 yards per return.
• Hendershott: 14 kick returns for a total of 366 yards with an average of 26.1 yards per return.
For next year we should expect solid special teams play all around. The field goal kicking should be excellent again as should be the punting. The punt and kick coverage should be solid if it can play like it did down the last stretch of the season. The key will be to not allow any big plays. With regard to the punt and kick return teams, I would like to see a return go for six. The kick return team has done an excellent job and this should carry over into next year. The punt return team was unable to get many good opportunities for a big return, but I think they have the potential to make something happen. It would be nice to see the punt return team go after a punt and try for a block as they should try to make a play anyway possible. The only question mark heading into the 2010 season is the long snapping, but this isn’t anything some practice can’t resolve.
