FSU football: 3 biggest questions heading into 2022
By Kelvin Hunt
Special Teams
The unit was the worst on the team in 2021 and probably cost the Noles at least one win. FSU ranked No. 106 nationally according to one advanced metric assessment.
They were No. 73 in kickoff return efficiency and No. 108 in kickoff efficiency. Punt return efficiency ranked No. 126, and punting efficiency ranked No. 61.
Field goal efficiency ranked No. 64, and opponent field goal efficiency ranked No. 113. The most important stat was poor field position. The Noles ranked No. 125 in offensive field position and No. 113 in defensive field position.
FSU was no threat to return a kickoff for a touchdown and struggled to cover opposing kickoffs. Their punting was slightly above average, but punt return was nearly the worst in the nation.
FSU’s offensive field position was at a disadvantage because there was no threat to return punts, and struggled to make the 20-yard line on kickoff returns. FSU added two players from the transfer portal that should help with these issues.
Mycah Pittman will help as the punt returner, and Winston Wright Jr. should help on kickoff returns. Special teams are supposed to be Mike Norvell’s thing, but how much can they improve in one year? Can they be average?