GAINESVILLE, Fla. –
Johnny Townsend averaged 47.5 yards per punt last season, which not only led the nation, but secured Townsend's place atop the all-time Southeastern Conference career average list. Townsend finished his Gators career with a 46.2-yard average, edging Tennessee's Trevor Daniel (45.9) for the best in SEC history.
Based on those credentials, it seems a safe assumption that Florida's special teams owned a distinct advantage in the punting game.
Not so fast, Johnny.
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| CATEGORY (2017 Season) |
UF (national rank) |
MSU (national rank) |
| Blocked kicks |
1 (T-67th) |
3 (T-19th) |
| Blocked kicks allowed |
2 (T-70th) |
3 (T-97th) |
| Blocked punts |
1 (T-19th) |
2 (T-9th) |
| Blocked punts allowed |
1 (T-71st) |
1 (T-71st) |
| Kickoff return defense |
26.6 (126th) |
17.9 (16th) |
| Kickoff returns |
21.3 (64th) |
20.8 (73rd) |
| Punt return defense |
10.9 (105th) |
4.8 (29th) |
| Punt returns |
5.1 (103rd) |
9.6 (35th) |
Note: Florida played 11 games, Mississippi State, 13; National rankings 1-129.
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The Gators' punt coverage team was atrocious compared to the opposition. Florida allowed opponents to return punts an average of 10.9 yards. Meanwhile, the Gators averaged only 5.1 yards per return. Once touchbacks and penalties factored into equation, the Gators owned an advantage of less than a yard in net punting (41.0 to 40.3).
While Townsend served as one of Florida's most dangerous weapons in 2017 – you can make an argument he had the best season of any player on the roster – those net punting stats don't lie.
But what exactly do they say? For starters, Florida's special teams were nowhere near as good as Townsend was individually. Florida finished 14th in the country in net punting, but that was only good for fifth in the SEC despite Townsend leading the league in average.
In the bigger picture, it simply illustrates what those who have watched the Gators regularly in recent years already know: special teams have not been nearly as good as they once were or need to be.
Dan Mullen is out to change that. He recalls the days when Urban Meyer made Florida's special teams dynamic and dangerous. The Gators' special teams helped win games but rarely played a significant role in losing them. (Proof: Florida blocked 32 kicks in Meyer's six seasons; the Gators have five blocked kicks in the last five seasons).
"I'm hands on with the special teams,'' Mullen said during his speaking tour last week. "I'm in there for every special teams meeting."
Mullen works closely with longtime assistant coach
Greg Knox in coaching special teams. Knox is running backs coach/special teams coordinator.
With the start of Mullen's first spring camp as Florida's head coach on the horizon later this month, special teams is an area certain to be addressed and re-addressed. While Townsend and kicker
Eddy Pineiro starred a season ago to add some consistency, both were in Indianapolis last week for the NFL scouting combine.
The Gators have to find a new punter, kicker and some answers on how to improve across the board.
"We'll put that emphasis on special teams," Mullen said.
Mullen experienced what a big play on special teams can mean in the big picture in his second season as Florida's offensive coordinator in 2006. The Gators stayed in the national championship hunt when Jarvis Moss blocked South Carolina kicker Ryan Succop's 48-yard field goal try with eight seconds to play, preserving a 17-16 win. Florida finished unbeaten in the SEC and went on to defeat Ohio State in the national championship game.
Knox is used to Mullen having a strong voice in special teams meetings.
"He himself works with it closely. Not a lot of head coaches will put the time in that he does with special teams," Knox said. "He's right there at the forefront of it. I think the players understand the importance of it. That by far is different than a lot of other coaches I've been around."
Knox plans to get everyone involved. No player on the roster is off-limits.
"Some roles are larger than others, but everyone has a role,'' he said. "That's coaches included. So when I put together a plan, every coach is included, every player is included. Special teams is going to win the game for you. That's the hidden yardage that no one really calculates at the end of a game. Those are things that we look for as a staff that helps us win games."
