FSU football: Top 5 concerns going into 2022 season
By Kelvin Hunt
Special Teams
This unit was one of the worst units on the team in 2021. Field goal kicker Ryan Fitzgerald and punt Alex Mastromanno were solid for the most part.
Fitzgerald made 10 of 13 attempts but missed three extra-point attempts. Mastromanno averaged 43 yards per punt, though needed a tad more hang-time on some of them. Regardless, opposing teams only returned 13 of 61 punts.
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When it comes to FSU returning punts? It’s non-existent, averaging only 4.18 yards per return and failing to catch several that cost the offense an ungodly amount of field position.
Kickoff returns were terrible too, averaging 20 yards per return. FSU could improve their field position if they fair-caught every one of them, no lie.
The good news is Fitzgerald and Mastromanno have another year under their belt and should improve. FSU coaches added Mycah Pittman to address punt return issues, and they have better athletes at kickoff return in Deuce Spann and others.
Pittman fielding each punt would literally improve FSU’s field position, but he averaged 10 yards per return last season at Oregon.
If special teams are merely competent, that could swing a close game or two to favor the Noles this year.