Punter out for one more week
Ben Chaet, Utah State’s place kicker and punter, was voted last season’s most outstanding special teams player. This year, he just might be the team’s MVP.
Chaet has punted 23 times this season with almost a 45-yard average. That ranks him No. 9 in the country.
“Ben’s excellent, he’s a great athlete,” special teams coach Jeff Choate said. “He’s been kicking balls his whole life. It’s kind of a natural thing for him.
“We ask him to roll out and kick and he’ll roll out and kick. We ask him to stand in the pocket and kick and he’ll stand in the pocket and kick. And obviously he’s been doing a really nice job on field goals for us as well.”
There have only been 12 punts returned by an opposing team against the Aggies this season, for a total of 40 yards. What would be a 3.3 yard average per return, was boosted by one 17 yard return, the longest return against by a USU opponent this year.
Utah State is ranked No. 13 nationally in punting with a net average of 39.97 yards per kick.
Chaet said the NFL isn’t too keen on the idea of the rugby punt, but he is hoping to be able to change some minds within the next few years.
“It works for the team,” Chaet said. “That’s all that really matters in the end. I’ll do anything to win – and I’m really sick of losing.”
The Aggies use the “rugby kick” the majority of the time they punt.
“It allows you to change the block point and prevent protection problems,” Choate said. “As we stretch the corner, our coverage gets down the field, and the further down the coverage is before we kick the ball, the closer to the returner we are. So, consequently, we reduce the number of returns and the yardage that is allowed on the return.
“And, finally, it allows us some opportunities to exploit people if they are being overly aggressive, in terms of fakes, because you do have a run-pass-kick option.”
Last week, during the game against Troy, Chaet sprained his right ankle and strained a tendon in his planting foot, when he was scrambling to pick up a snap that flew over his head.
This week, against North Texas, Justin Hamblin and Jarrod Jakubiak will be splitting duties as the place kicker and Leon Jackson will shoulder the responsibilities at the punter position. Jackson, the team’s backup quarterback, has had six punts so far this season for a total of 38.7 yards.
“Ben has been one of our most consistent and productive players this year,” Choate said. “When you take one of your most consistent players out of the lineup, one of two things is going to happen, either you’re going to have a severe drop-off, or the guys behind him are going to step up and produce.
“Last week we didn’t produce in those areas. Justin came in and missed a field goal … and Leon struggled on two of his five punts.”
A junior from Helena, Montana, Chaet is majoring in marketing and after graduation said he is hoping to become a firefighter.
-kcaustin@cc.usu.edu