FSU football: 3 hidden areas Noles must improve in 2021
By Kelvin Hunt
Special Teams
The special team’s phase of the game is the first thing Mike Norvell mentioned in his introductory press conference in December 2019.
Norvell implied how a team plays on special teams is indicative of how they’ll play in all phases of the game.
He couldn’t have been more right, because the Noles were not very good in several areas as a team. The lone bright spot on the special team’s unit was freshman punter Alex Mastramanno.
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The punt return unit was nonexistent, averaging less than one return per game for 8.25 yards per return.
The field goal kicking was horrendous, only making six of 14 attempts with several misses from routine distances.
The kickoff return unit only averaged 20.83 yards per return. They would have been better off fair catching every kickoff since they had virtually no shot for a big return.
These sub-units of the special teams need to step up in 2021. Punt returners need to shorten the field for the offense when given the opportunity. Field goal kickers can’t leave points on the board when the offense has to settle for kicking them.
The kickoff unit has to give the offense a shorter field. The fewer yards needed to score, the higher the probability of a score happening.