Better than before
Last year Kevin Robinson was the second best punt returner in the country, and since the Aggies’ team motto is “better than before,” expectations are for him to be number one this year.
How well Robinson returns kicks will depend on if he returns kicks.
“Other teams might not even kick to him as much this year since he did so well last year,” punter Justin Hamblin said. “That will be a definite advantage for us because if they don’t kick to him they won’t be able to get as much distance.
“But he won’t get as many long returns as last year either.”
As for Robinson it’s as simple as two plus one.
“I’ll just return more,” he said. “I had two punt returns [for touchdowns] last year and I’ll try to get three. I had one kick return so I’ll try to get two.”
As for the kickoff returns, Robinson, Jarrett Bush and Tony Pennyman should see most of the action as the return men. Robinson fell one return short of qualifying for the kickoff return leaders but his average would have placed him 20th in the nation last season.
The rest of the special teams still has a few things to work out, namely who will be handling kickoffs and how well will the Aggies change from the rugby punt to the man punt scheme. Those questions are unsettling for head coach Brent Guy.
“The kicking game always scares you whether you’re a first year coach or a tenth year coach,” Guy said. “Especially since we changed from rugby punt, it was totally new and we’ve improved a lot.”
Senior Jarrod Jakubiak and junior Hamblin have been alternating kickoff duties in practice. Hamblin said the starting kicker seems like it changes everyday and it will probably be a couple days before the first game before the coaches make a decision. Both kickers will probably be used in some form for field goals as well.
Hamblin will see most of the punting work, replacing Ben Chaet and Leon Jackson from last year. Jackson took over when Chaet went down with an ankle injury and ranked 32nd in the nation in punting for the remainder of the season. Barring injuries Jackson probably won’t see any time at punter since he was named the starting quarterback during summer practices.
Even with the kicker, punter or returner taking a fair amount of the spotlight on special teams there are still 10 other players doing their part on the field. The blocking scheme for punts has changed from a zone look to a man-to-man scheme.
Hamblin said the change should make it easier for everyone to pick up their man and also make adjustments at the line since its a simple number system and they are responsible for one man.
The gunners meanwhile have free reign as they either go for the ball or try to pin the other team close to the goal line.
“The kickoff team is just guys who want to kill someone,” Hamblin said. “They are running down the field trying to break the wedge and then on the return team its just about everybody doing their blocking and the returners finding the holes.”
Of the 10 or so team goals the Aggies have set, net punting and kick returns are two of the stats the Ags want to win every game.
“We want to pin them inside the 20 on every kickoff,” Hamblin said. “[When we receive] we want to get out to the 30, which would be like the first first-down for the offense.”
The Aggies also want to have the net punting advantage, which is the distance the punt travels minus the yards returned.
-krn@cc.usu.edu
Aggie Justin Hamblin practices kicking at a recent practice. Hamblin will be punting for Utah State this season. (Ryan Talbot)