Scouting Notre Dame: Special Teams

The Bulls will have to contain Theo Riddick returning kicks and shut down the ND special teams units.

It is finally here, game week. We have been talking and waiting all summer long for this moment and it finally arrives (counting the seconds every day). Week 1 of the 2011 season is upon us and the Bulls prepare for the big season ahead of them as they take on Notre Dame (game is at 3:30 PM, like you didn't already know about this).

We have been talking non-stop for the last few months preparing and anticipating the first game of the season and it is finally here, so it is time to get every fan educated for game week and start by covering every inch of the Notre Dame team, starting with their special teams.

I talked earlier last week about how Lindsey Lamar could be a huge X-factor for the Bulls going into this game and stand by the fact that special teams will be a huge game-changer in this game. Let's take a look at the Notre Dame specialist and see what they bring. [keep reading]

Notre Dame Special Teams

Special teams, while not the most glamorous positions on the field, they are some of the most important for a winning football team and could play a huge role in the game vs. the Irish. Here are the Notre Dame specials teams.

Kicker

Ah yes, the kicker, the infamous kicker. While there are some kickers and some fans who could care less, in a close game, the kicker could be your best friend or the most hated man on the field (looking at you always Alvarado). So let’s see who will be doing the place kicking for the Irish this season.

Senior - David Ruffer - 6’1 176-pounds

David Ruffer is the senior place kicker for the Irish and is a very reliable special teams weapon for them. He was 18 for 19 in field goals last season, including a long of 50-yards. He was 37 of 40 in extra point attempts. Ruffer is also the kick-off specialist for the Irish. He had 65 kick-offs last season, averaging a total of 64.3 kicks, so field position will be a battle, especially with a senior player lining up for the final time.

Reserve - Junior - Nick Tausch - 5-11 - 196-pounds

Tausch is the back up kicker and saw action in only 3 games last season. He went 1 for 1 with a 34-yard field goal and made 8 kick-offs during the season. He lost his job to Ruffer at the beginning of the season, but could play depending on what happens during the course of the game.

Punter

Not the most glamorous position on the field, but in a close game where field position is the most important battle to win, the punter could be the game’s MVP. Let’s see who the Irish have launching punts this season.

Junior - Ben Turk - 5-11 - 196-pounds

The junior punter returns to his position in 2011 after a solid 2010 season. He had 68 punts last year, averaging 38.3 yards per kick (not the best, but not the worst out there). He had 3 touchbacks and 26 kicks inside the opponents 20-yard line. He has been a 2-year starter and has never had a kick blocked, so it is time to make a little history against him.

Reserve - Freshman - Kyle Brindza - 6-1 - 219-pounds

Brindza has no experience as of yet.

Punt Return

Punt returns are always an important position on the field as they determine the battle of field position and could even lead to be plays. Let’s see who the Irish have returning punts in 2011.

John Goodman - 6-3 - 207-pounds - Wide receiver - Senior

Goodman enters the season as the punt return specialist for the Irish. He had 13 returns last season for a total of 17 yards, including a long of just 13 yards. He has reliable hands and average speed, making him a reliable player to field punts and make sound decisions. He had 15 receptions for 146 yards last season, showing his ability to make plays with the ball in his hands. The special teams unit will have to contain him and make him fair catch everything.

Reserve

Theo Riddick - 5-11 - 198-pounds - Wide receiver - Junior

Riddick is a speedy player that could see increased playing time. He had 6 punt returns last season, including 2 kick returns as well, so Kelly will use him to return. The converted running back made a bigger impact in 2009 when he returned 37 kickoffs for 849 yards, including a long of 38 yards. He also had 40 receptions last season for 414 yards including 3 touchdowns, so he has the ability to create and will be a player to shut down.

Kick Return

Cierre Wood - 6-0 - 210-pounds - Running back - Junior

Listed as the top kick return man, Cierre Wood is an athletic player that can make plays in the open field. He finished the 2010 season with 119 carries for 603 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also caught 20 passes for 170 yards and 2 touchdowns. He played more towards the end of the season with running back Armando Allen out with an injury. Brian Kelly wants to get the ball in his hands more this season and allowing him to create in open space during a kickoff makes him an ideal return man.

Reserve

Theo Riddick - 5-11 - 198-pounds - Wide receiver - Junior

Bennett Jackson - 6-0 - 181-pounds - Cornerback - Sophomore

Jackson returns as an experienced return for Kelly. In 2010, he returned 29 kicks for 645 yards for 645 yards, including a long for 43-yards. (He has not returned a punt return in his career as well). Jackson was recruited as a wide receiver, but shifted to defensive back last season. He recorded 10 tackles last season and was also named the Notre Dame Special Teams player for 2010, so expect him to be returning kicks.

Long Snappers

Alright, let’s face it, only the die-hard fans know or even care about the long snapper on the football field, but when a snap is bad or over the kickers head, everyone is looking for an answer. Let’s see who the long snappers are for the Irish and see if we can make them snap a bad ball.

Jordan Cowart - 6-2 - 215-pounds - Junior

Cowart returns as a 2-year starter at long snapper, so experience is strong for the Irish. He has made 94 snaps to the punter and one has never been blocked (time to break that mark).

Reserve

Ryan Kavanagh - 6-3 - 200-pounds - SeniorKavanagh is a walk-on and is listed as the only back-up for Cowart on the depth chart.

Holder

The holder position is another snooze position, but let a few field goal attempts have a bad hold or messed up and the fans will be looking for someone to beat up.

Junior - Ben Turk - 5-11 - 196-pounds

The punter Turk is listed as the holder for the Irish.

Reserve

Ryan Kavanagh - 6-3 - 200-pounds - Senior

The beauty of special teams, the back-up at one position is the back-up at another.

Overall Assessment

Notre Dame has a solid special teams unit. The kicker position has a senior leader that seems to be pretty automatic. Turk at punter is solid as well. There is something to be said about never having a punt blocked in your career, which gives credit to his quick ability to get rid of the ball and the overall ability of the line to block and field a kick (time to make history and block one). Cierre Wood returning kicks is scary and will have to be watched at all times when he is back deep. Goodman at punt return is a solid veteran, but is not as explosive as one would think, especially compared to Terrence Mitchell for us who seems to be a loaded canon ready to go at all times (watch for Riddick to return punts as well). Overall, they are a good unit, nothing big, nothing bad, just solid.