Nebraska is 3-0 and rolling on both sides of the ball, but the third phase of the game has been a bit of a mixed bag so far. It’s not a blinking red light or some giant red flare that should have people panicking, but it’s definitely something to keep an eye on as the Big Ten slate gets underway.
This is first-time special teams coordinator Brett Maher’s show. He has been on the staff the last several years—first as a consultant, then as an assistant—and stepped into the full-time coordinator role when Mike Ekeler left for USC. Ekeler had turned the unit around in impressive fashion last season, but differences with Head Coach Matt Rhule and a desire to be more involved on the defensive side of the ball (even after being offered a contract extension) led to the marriage not working out long-term. Rhule didn’t go outside the building for a replacement. He trusted Maher to keep Ekeler’s system running, and that continuity makes sense on paper.
One of the biggest pieces of that system was the rugby-style punter, Australian Archie Wilson. Wilson was brought in under Ekeler and is now in his sophomore season. The results so far have been underwhelming. He’s averaging right around 39 yards per punt, and there have already been moments where one nearly got blocked. That’s not where you want to be when you’re trying to flip the field against better competition.
Beyond the punting, the kicking game has had its own hiccups. Kyle Cunanan has been solid on extra points and the shorter field goals, but the Huskers have already tried and missed two attempts from 50-plus yards (a 55-yarder against Bowling Green and a 54-yarder against North Dakota). Those longer kicks just aren’t falling right now.
Penalties on special teams have also been more numerous than anyone would like, especially early on with multiple holdings on returns. Rhule has pointed to the Big Ten officiating differently this year as part of the issue, and the staff is clearly trying to adjust the aggression level while still being physical. Fielding punts has looked a little risky at times, and the return yardage has been limited as a result—Jacory Barney and company haven’t been able to consistently generate the explosive plays we saw more of last year. In fact, they are averaging around 6 yards per return.
Again, this isn’t a full-blown crisis. The coverage units have shown improvement in spots, and the overall body of work through three games is still functional. There are no long snapper issues (hello PTSD) But when you’re heading into a tougher stretch of the schedule, special teams needs to stop being a question mark and start becoming a consistent strength. Maher and the group have time to tighten it up. For now, it’s just something worth watching closely.
