Although the rules have changed, the special team’s unit will to win has not.
Kicking
The Cowboys should be solid in this area. They return junior kicker Jason Ricks, who nailed 10-12 field goals, including a 53-yarder. However, they must replace last year’s place kicker Bruce Redden and adjust to the new rule that requires kickoffs to be moved to the 30-yard line.
The Good: Ricks should be one of the premier kickers in the nation after connecting on 10-12 field goal attempts last season.
The Bad: The new kickoff rule makes it more difficult for the kick coverage team by giving opponents an opportunity for better returns and virtually eliminating touchbacks.
The one-on-one with Ricks:
Question: Can you talk a little bit about the new rule change regarding kickoffs?
Ricks: Now they actually have that one inch tee. That was a rule last year and they switched the one at the 30 yard line too, so its like kicking off in the NFL. My mind set for kicking it deep is: We used to kick touchbacks and now we gotta place it and work on more hang time.
Q: You think the rule will help or hurt the team this year?
Ricks: We finished with the best special teams the last couple of years so it will help us with returns and hurt us on kickoffs. But matt and myself, whoever gets the job, will do a great job for us and help us out.
Punting
Cowboy fans can rest easily. Junior punter Matt Fodge Returns, whose 44.9 punt average was good enough for eighth in the nation last season. He is considered to be one of the nation’s top punters for next season.
The Good: Fodge is back and should be one of the best in the nation. He often pinned opponents deep, forcing them to start inside their own 20-yard line 14 times last season
The Bad: The punt coverage team must improve after allowing two punt return touchdowns last season
The one-on-one with Fodge
Question: In What area did you improve the most during the offseason?
Fodge: I worked a lot on hang time and directional kicking also on trying to punt the ball down between the numbers and sidelines. That gives the cover team more time to get down there and the other team less room to work with.
Q: How concerned are you about out-kicking your coverage?
Fodge: I definitely do not want to do that. I had some trouble with that last year. The main thing is getting hang time up and keeping it to within 40-45 yards with no return.
Kick Return
After his 96-yard scamper in the season opener last season against Missouri State, junior defensive back Perrish Cox gave fans caught a glimpse of how dangerous he is on kick returns. With the departure of Grant Jones, expect Cox and senior wide receiver Tommy Devereaux to become the new dynamic duo this season.
The Good: Cox returns after averaging 23.8 yards per return last season
The Bad: Despite his impressive 23.8 yard average, he only had one kick return for a touchdown last season. With his talent and explosiveness, expect him to take it to the house more often next season.
The one-on-one with special teams coach Joe DeForest
Question: How much has the special teams progressed since last season?
DeForest I am very pleased with how our specialists are playing. It is a luxury to have the punter, kicker, snapper and holder back and to have our returner back too. We have to find the right guys up front, but they have bought into the scheme and that is half the battle.
Q: How do you feel about the kickoff rule change?
DeForest: It scares the heck out of me because now the kickoff teams have to cover every play. It makes it a lot more dangerous because every kick will be returned and you have to concentrate on it more now. Last year we had 70 percent touchbacks, but now we will have to cover every one.
On kick returns well have a chance to return every kick so its good and bad. There could be more injuries also because of higher impact collisions and more plays so more people could get injured more often.
Punt Return
Cox, who finished second in the conference last season after averaging 12.8 yards per return, has this spot locked down. His play-making ability will put the offense in better scoring positions and give the Cowboys another legitimate touchdown threat.
The Good: Cox will be one of the top punt returners in the conference and in the nation.
The Bad: Cox is known as a risk-taker on returns and sometimes loses yards while trying to make a big play.
The one-on-one with Cox
Question: What do you think is tougher: kick or punt returns?
Cox: Punt returns are much tougher than kick returns. On punt returns it matters whether the punters out-kick their coverage. Sometimes they kick it short or away from you and you get no return or have to fair catch. On kick returns, they have to kick it deep and the cover team is like 15 yards away so you can get a better return.
Q: You are known as a risk-taker on punt returns. Are you going to change your style this year?
Cox: That’s just my style because I try to help my team out and be a playmaker back there. I’m definitely not going to change my style.
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