Virginia Special Teams Coordinator Keith Gaither gives instructions at 2023 practice. ~ Photo by Kris Wright/TheSabre.com

“We’re at the bottom of the ACC. We’ve got nowhere to go but up. I’ve owned it and I’m committed to changing it. I think we’ve got great assistant coaches; great teachers and we own where we are.” ~ Virginia Special Teams Coordinator Keith Gaither

Obviously, when a coach is that forthright then it is clear that special teams have struggled the past two seasons. Here is a look at some of the Hoos’ numbers on special teams in 2023.

2023 Virginia Special Teams Rankings

• No. 6 – Offense Gross Punt Yards Per Game – Gross punting yards, minus Return Yards, minus 20 yards for every Touchback, divided by Total Punts
• No 96 – Defense Gross Punt Yards Per Game
• No. 117 – Punt returns (3.81 yards per return)
• No. 109 – Opponent punt returns (11.79 yards per return; UVA was one of six teams that gave up two punt return TDs, one of which was on a blocked kick)
• No. 54 – Kickoff return (20.47 yards per return)
• No. 110 – Opponent kickoff returns (22.77 yards per return – one of four teams that allowed two or more kickoff returns for touchdowns)
• No. 98 – Average kickoff yardage (60.02)
• No. 102 – Touchback percentage (34.48%)
• No. 57 – Opponent Average kickoff yardage (60.96)
• No. 110 – Opponent Touchback percentage (57.33%)
• No. 16 – Offense Field Goal Conversion Percentage (85.7%)
• No. 115 – Defense Field Goal Conversion Percentage (85%)

2023 “Greg’s Grades” and notes for kickoff and punt coverage/return

• Kickoff return grade – 78.01
• Kickoff coverage grade – 77.71
• Kickoff return, Average Starting Field Position (ASFP) – 26.36 yard line
• Kickoff coverage ASFP – 30.65 yard line
• Punt return grade – 63.1
• Punt coverage grade – 69.08
• Punt average per return – 7.26 yards per game
• Punt coverage average per return – 22.62 per game

That’s been under Gaither’s leadership. That said, what UVA unit hasn’t had some problems at some point in the last three seasons?

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