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Robert Randolph, who missed just two kicks last season, is the likely starter for field goal attempts. |
There are three parts to a complete football team: offense, defense, and special teams. The Cavalier special teams unit saw a lot of action in 2009 with mixed results. There were elements of the special teams game that were the very models of consistency, while others struggled throughout the year to find a certain comfort level. 2010 will be a year of fierce competition for playing time on special teams, and a few key position battles are heating up as the summer draws to a close.
The UVa special teams unit is coached by Cavalier legend Anthony Poindexter, though the staff basically takes a committee approach to special teams. Coach Dex was one of the most intense Virginia players ever to play the game, and he has very clear expectations of his guys. “My philosophy is just to get in there, play hard, play fast,” he said. “To me, football is a simple game: run, tackle, catch. When you’re returning, block the guy; when you’re kicking off, tackle the guy. That’s the bottom line.”
Coach Poindexter has a whole stable full of capable kickers at his disposal; there seems to be a different kicker for every different situation. Last season, junior Chris Hinkebein handled the kickoff duties, and recorded seven touchbacks on 33 attempts. He has a lot of power, and the ball makes an absolutely delightful sound when he crushes it. Hinkebein likely will handle kickoffs again this season; his booming kicks helped the Hoos excel in coverage last season when they ranked 31st nationally in kickoff yardage defense (20.31 yards allowed per return).
If Hinkebein brings the power, then fellow junior Robert Randolph brings the finesse to the kicking game. Randolph made 17 of 19 attempts last season, including a 49-yarder against Georgia Tech. He finished the season second in the ACC in accuracy (89.5) and was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza award.
“Robert has had a very productive camp,” Cavalier coach Mike London said. “The other day he kicked a 50-yarder, along with Chris Hinkebein . But I think as far as the accuracy and keeping track of who’s making the most, Robert’s winning that battle.”
Sophomore Drew Jarrett handled some extra-point opportunities last year, and was a perfect 17 for 17. Jarrett will probably get a redshirt this season, giving him an opportunity to step into a larger role in the future. And regardless of who does the kicking, it looks like reserve receiver Jacob Hodges may be the holder. Hodges, a 5’11”, 185-pound junior, topped the depth chart coming out spring practice. In one open practice, he tossed a touchdown pass on a fake field goal.
Junior punter Jimmy Howell was one of the bright spots on special teams last season, though he did draw the ire of the previous staff during the season after some rugby-style kicks went awry. Still, Howell averaged 40 yards per punt with 9 kicks going more than 50 yards. Hopefully the Cavalier offense won’t be forced off the field so much in 2010, but Howell is more than capable of picking up any slack left behind and London says his leg potentially could provide some field position advantages. For that to work out, UVa must improve as a punt coverage group. Virginia ranked 82nd in net punting yardage (34.65 yards per net punt) and 71st in punt yardage defense (9.82 yards allowed per return). Logan Spangler , a 6’0″, 200-pound redshirt freshman, is the back-up punter for 2010.
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Jimmy Howell had nine punts cover more than 50 yards in 2009. |
Long snapper Danny Aiken returns for his fourth season as the starter for his position. He has a good touch on the ball, and is effective on punt return coverage. Practice makes perfect, and it pays to have an experienced guy handling snaps during high-pressure situations. Linebacker Darnell Carter has been working as a long snapper during practice as well, giving the Hoos an emergency option at the spot. Freshman Matt Fortin is also listed on the roster at long snapper with his 5’11”, 190-pound frame.
On the other side of the field, Virginia loses electric return man/cornerback/quarterback Vic Hall. However, junior cornerback Chase Minnifield is back in the competition to return kicks. Although he was fearless in the face of oncoming coverage units, Minnifield sometimes showed poor judgment about when to return a punt and when to call for a fair catch. He was leveled several times, but luckily he was never seriously injured. Minnifield returned both kickoffs and punts for the Cavaliers in 2009, achieving a career-high 134 yards in returns against Duke.
Minnifield has plenty of company vying for a shot in the return game. Sophomore running back Perry Jones , who had 241 return yards last season, is poised to have a breakout year. While some of that may came on offense this season (he exited spring practice as the top running back on the depth chart), watch out for in the return game as well. He is elusive and possesses a low center of gravity, making him hard to bring down.
Jones isn’t the only running back in the mix. London said this week that senior Raynard Horne made a strong run in a scrimmage situation last weekend, prompting the coaches to insert him into the kickoff return group as well. Dominique Wallace is also a possibility from the RB corps. Also from the offensive side of the ball is Tim Smith , a blazing fast receiver. Smith starred as a returner at Oscar Smith High School, taking five kicks back for scores as a senior. Defensive players that have given returning a shot include Devin Wallace , Rodney McLeod , and Corey Mosley .
Regardless of who wins out in the race to be a returner, the Cavaliers kickoff return and punt return units must improve. The blocking was woefully inconsistent in 2009 and that left returners little room to make plays. The result was poor production and poor field position, something that didn’t help an offense that was already struggling. UVa ranked 113th nationally in kickoff returns last season (18.59 yards per return) and 93rd (tied) in punt returns (6.3 yards per return).
Virginia’s offense stagnated in 2009, forcing the Cavalier special teams unit to hit the field often. Special teams are the crucial catalyst on which the offense and the defense both turn. The punting and kickoff units can pin opposing teams deep and set up key defensive stops, while the return game is essential to kick-starting a sputtering offense. Special teams can score, too, and the Hoos left some important field position and points on the field last season. Coach Poindexter brings a sense of energy this season, after serving as an assistant special teams coordinator last year. His simplistic, fundamental approach, in addition to the experienced players returning hopefully will account for more positive production in 2010.
Notable 2009 Stats
- Jimmy Howell punted 66 times last season, averaging 40.1 yards-per-punt.
- Chase Minnifield returned 22 kickoffs for 513 yards.
- Robert Randolph won the George Welsh Award for the team’s outstanding special teams player.
Spotlight on Danny Aiken
Senior Danny Aiken took over long snapping duties in 2007 as a true freshman, and had 134 perfect snaps out of 140. He saw time on 126 special teams plays last season and recovered one fumble. Aiken enters his senior season ready to make a positive impact. The Sabre caught up with Aiken after practice (and after he got in a few more reps with Coach London and Coach Poindexter) to get his take on the upcoming season.
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Blair: What do you feel is the most improved area of your game?
AIKEN: I’ve gotten a lot more consistent. When it comes to snapping, it’s mostly about being consistent more so than about velocity, so it comes accuracy then speed. That’s something I’ve improved on.
Blair: Has the special teams unit as a whole really stepped up one aspect of its play?
AIKEN: Definitely. I think we’ve all improved and we can all help better the team this season. We each come out and work hard every day. We don’t always get the recognition everyone else does, but we take that with a grain of salt and keep going.
Blair: Coach Dex said your goal as a unit is to “Kick the ball down the field, then tackle the guy.” Do you guys just take that as your personal philosophy, or do you have a specific goal as a unit?
AIKEN: We definitely try to hit all our own goal marks like kicking the ball where it’s supposed to be, 4.0 hang time, but for the most part it’s just kick it, get down the field, and cover it. We mostly listen to Dex on that, too.
Blair: As the long snapper, you have one specific role on the field. How do you view your role as a member of this team?
AIKEN: This being my fourth year, I see myself as more of a leader within the kickers and that group, the specialist group. I take a secondary role on the team more as a “lead by example” guy. I just go out and get the job done. That’s the only thing I really preach. Just go out, do what you’re supposed to do, and keep all eyes off us.
Blair: Do you have any specific individual goals this season?
AIKEN: I just want to win. That’s what everyone wants to do, and I think that all of us are preparing really hard. I think it’s going to be something special this year.
Best Attribute
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The Hoos are hoping for a good year on special teams. |
Experience. The Cavaliers return three kickers with game experience, a consistent punter, a senior long snapper, and at least one experienced return man who can take the hard hits. The unit is also coached by a former Cavalier with a desire for high-energy play. New guys will make their mark this season, but the tone will be set by the returning upperclassmen.
Biggest Concern
Too much time on the field? The special teams unit was a large part of the game in 2009. They may be great players, but having them on the field so often is a bit worrisome. It takes one big special teams play to completely change a game, so hopefully that play will come at the other team’s expense.
The Final Word
The kicking game is solid with Hinkebein, Randolph, and Howell all back. The return game should shake out better if the blocking can show progress. There were a variety of players fielding kicks during the early part of fall camp, so it remains to be seen who the go-to guy will be but the Hoos have some athletic options there.
With that said, Virginia’s special teams units are a lot like the Cavaliers in general. The Hoos have to get better in virtually every special teams category as they hung around the bottom of the national rankings in too many categories in 2009. If Virginia can improve on some of that production, then it has a better shot at success in 2010.
