Skill positions in place on special teams

ntsumgspe · September 7, 2005

Kicker Nick Bazaldua returns to anchor the special teams

Rian Johnson

Staff Writer

September 07, 2005

NT’s football team is confident about the skill positions on special teams. It’s the remainder of the positions that remain questionable.

“I am anxious to see how our coverage and return teams do, because we lost a lot of guys that were critical ingredients to those teams,” NT coach Darrell Dickey said. “We have some good guys that definitely have the ability to do it, but it is just seeing how they do under fire.”

Kicking

Place kicker Nick Bazaldua returns to anchor the Mean Green special teams. Last season, Bazaldua connected on 14 of 18 field goal attempts, including a perfect nine of nine inside 40 yards. The senior also drilled a career long of 51 yards against New Mexico State in 2004. Bazaldua’s success last season awarded him a spot on the Sun Belt all-conference team, and placed his name on the Lou Groza watch list, an award that goes to the nation’s best place kicker each season.

“It’s a great honor to be on the list and I take great pride in it,” Bazaldua said. “But none of that matters if you don’t go out and do your job. I am just going to go out and do what I’ve done the past three years.”

Aiding Bazaldua with field goals and extra points will be deep snapper Beau Davidson and holder Johnny Quinn.

“The protection has been great, and I have the best holder around. Johnny [Quinn] gets everything down no matter where the snap is,” Bazaldua said.

Denis Hopovac will handle the kick-off duties for the Mean Green. The past two seasons, the senior did not begin the season on the kick-off team, but managed to finish the season as the kick-off specialist. In 2003, Hopovac handled kick-offs for the last three games, including the Wyndham New Orleans Bowl. Last season, he assumed the role for the final eight games, registering three tackles on the kick coverage.

“Denis [Hopovac] worked out hard in the summer and his kick-offs are routinely traveling in the end zone,” Bazaldua said.

Redshirt freshman punter Truman Spencer will replace three-year punter Brad Kadlubar. Over the past three seasons, Kadlubar consistently averaged around 40 yards per punt. Both Bazaldua and Dickey said they feel good about Spencer.

“Truman has a huge leg,” Bazaldua said. “As soon as he gets his consistency down, he is going to be a great punter like we have always had.”

Returning

The Mean Green kick and punt returners will be unparalleled.

For the third consecutive season, junior wide receiver Johnny Quinn will field punts for the Mean Green. In 2004, Quinn received all-conference special team accolades as a punt returner, averaging nine yards per return, including an 85-yard touchdown scamper against Louisiana-Monroe.

Junior wide receiver Zach Muzzy and senior running back Patrick Cobbs will handle kick return duties for the Mean Green. Muzzy led NT in kick-off returns last season with 23, averaging 18.5 yards per return.

Senior defensive back/wide receiver Ja’Mel Branch is expected to add a spark on special teams. During his three-year career, Branch has averaged over 21 yards per kick return. In 2002, Branch was named to the all-conference team as a special teams selection.

TheColonyEagle · September 7, 2005

Junior wide receiver Zach Muzzy and senior running back Patrick Cobbs will handle kick return duties for the Mean Green. Muzzy led NT in kick-off returns last season with 23, averaging 18.5 yards per return.
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That is really exciting. Actually, it makes me feel all "warm and muzzy"

ROCK ME

medpilot21 · September 7, 2005

Skill positions in place on special teams
Senior defensive back/wide receiver Ja’Mel Branch is expected to add a spark on special teams. During his three-year career, Branch has averaged over 21 yards per kick return. In 2002, Branch was named to the all-conference team as a special teams selection.
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There are a lot of things Ja'Mel Branch is very good at, but I'm not sure about kick return? He will be as good a DB as he was a WR, which was awsome. (See MTSU highlights from two years ago) However, I seem to remember him having issues "mishandling" punts and kick-offs, and we are not just talking about one bad game? I suspect Muzzy and Cobbs will more than handle the KO duties. Branch is a great player for the Mean Green, and we need him on defense...but let's not ask for trouble, please???

GMG!!!

TheColonyEagle · September 7, 2005

One player we're gonna miss is Markeith Knowlton. He was solid at safety and a rock on special teams. I've always thought he was VERY underrated. He just made plays and always seemed to be around the ball on special teams. Smart, well disciplined, athletic, and always in the right position.

Monkeypox · September 8, 2005

There are a lot of things Ja'Mel Branch is very good at, but I'm not sure about kick return? He will be as good a DB as he was a WR, which was awsome. (See MTSU highlights from two years ago) However, I seem to remember him having issues "mishandling" punts and kick-offs, and we are not just talking about one bad game? I suspect Muzzy and Cobbs will more than handle the KO duties. Branch is a great player for the Mean Green, and we need him on defense...but let's not ask for trouble, please???
GMG!!!
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I agree. I recall him (Branch) being pretty scary back there, and not in a good way.