Countdown to Kickoff: Special Teams

Countdown To Kickoff

Position Previews: Special Teams

Senior Brendan Carney returns to handle the punting and kickoff duties for the Orange in 2006. Carney was an All-BIG EAST First Team selection in 2005 after ranking 24th nationally and first in the conference in punting average (42.6). He also set single season records for punts 982) and most punting yardage (3,491). He enters the season second at Syracuse all-time in punting average (42.8), and third in most punts (199) and punting yardage (8,513). Carney also handled kickoffs for the Orange in 2005, averaging 62 yards a kick.

Last season, the Orange attempted to use a three man kicking unit, using a different kicker for extra points and long and short field goals. Ricky Krautman handled the extra point duties the entire year, connecting on 17 of 18 kicks. After the second game of the season, John Barker took over all of the field goal duties and went 8-12 on the season. Patrick Shadle missed his one attempt of the season, a 39-yarder against Buffalo.

This season, the Orange will stay away from the three man rotation and let one kicker handle all of the field goal duties. While it hasn’t been decided yet who that kicker will be, the plan is to have either Barker or Shadle kick all of the field goals and most likely the extra points as well. Head coach Greg Robinson has said that a decision will not be made until the week before the Wake Forest game.

Although the Orange had only one special teams touchdown in 2005, which came off a blocked punt, a number of players saw action in the return game. Sophomore running backs Curtis Brinkley and Kareem Jones each returned 17 kickoffs as freshmen. Jones gained 398 yards and had a long of 52, while Brinkley gained 354 yards with a long of 35. Sophomore safety Bruce Williams also returned five kickoffs for 109 yards. Williams was more of a force on the punt return side, ranking second on the team with nine returns for 87 yards. Senior safety Joe Fields, who played quarterback for the Orange the past two seasons and was touted for his running ability, has also had some work in the return game during training camp.

Placekicker

42 Patrick Shadle (5-8, 203, So.) PAT

6 John Barker (5-8, 148, So.) FG

Punter

47 Brendan Carney (6-5, 205, Sr.) Punts, KO

Long Snapper

72 Ian Hammond (6-3, 308, Jr.)

84 Brandon Darlington (6-4, 260, Sr.)

Orange Special Teamers in the NFL

In 8 days, Syracuse will take the field. Visit suathletics.com regularly for 'Countdown to Kickoff' to get an inside look at the 2006 season as the excitement builds. Season and individual game tickets are available via the internet and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (1-888-DOMETIX). To purchase tickets via the internet, click here.

Syracuse University Athletics

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