Photo by: Charles Wainwright
Orange Extra: Special Special Teams
9/26/2018 12:20:00 PM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse entered the week among the ranks of the unbeaten in college football's bowl subdivision (FBS). The Orange are 4-0 for the first time since 1991 and for the fifth time since the end of World War II. There are 21 undefeated teams remaining heading into this weekend, including four in the ACC. Fellow conference members Clemson (4-0), Duke (4-0) and NC State (3-0) have also navigated the early part of their schedules without a blemish.
SPECIAL SPECIAL TEAMS
Last Saturday's 51-21 triumph against Connecticut brought back fond memories of Syracuse's successful teams of the 1980s and 1990s. Coach Dino Babers' current club unleashed a special teams unit that performed as a potent weapon, a characteristic of those great Syracuse teams led by Coach Dick MacPherson and Coach Paul Pasqualoni.
Special teams covers placekicking, punt and kickoff return and coverage, as well as punting and kickoffs. Blocked field goals and extra points also fall under their responsibilities.
Syracuse has already produced two special-team touchdowns in 2018. In the Wagner victory, Sean Riley blocked a punt and Trill Williams returned kick attempt for a 2-yard score. Riley was in on the act again last week against the Huskies when he returned a punt for a touchdown.
SYRACUSE RETURN POLICY
There was a feeling in the Dome last weekend that every time Riley took the field in a kick-returning capacity, that he was a threat to score. He fulfilled that in the third quarter when he hauled in a Connecticut punt and darted through the Husky coverage team for a 69-yard return to paydirt. The dynamic sprint put a virtual lock on Syracuse's lead and a charge in the Dome crowd.
Explosive special teams played a large role in the success of the Syracuse program previously. Opponents not only had to prepare for Orange offensive and defensive schemes, but also had to devote time to the kicking and return game when playing Syracuse.
Qadry Ismail and Kevin Johnson were both spectacular return men at Syracuse. Ismail led the team in kick-return average for four straight seasons from 1989-92. He leads the program in career kickoff return yards (2,290). Johnson averaged 36.7 yards and 30.0 yards per kickoff return in 1997 and 1998, respectively. Johnson returned two kickoffs for touchdowns each season.
Quinton Spotwood posted some amazing numbers as a punt returner in 1997. He returned 31 punts, averaged 14.9 yards per return, and scored four touchdowns. Scott Schwedes, the team's top punt returner from 1984-86, remains the program leader in career returns (82) and yards (876).
Riley's returns against Connecticut were electric. He had punt opportunities three times and responded with runbacks of 41, 69 (TD) and zero yards for an average of 36.7 yards per return. Riley also contributed two kickoff returns for 49 yards (24.5 avg.).
After four games, Riley ranks second nationally (30.4 avg.) and first in the ACC in punt-return average. He ranks second and third, respectively, in career kickoff returns (85) and kickoff return yards (1,870) at Syracuse.
SZMYTÂ GETTING A KICK OUT OF SUCCESS
Placekicking is another area the Syracuse program has been recognized for over the years. Between 1979-88, four Syracuse kickers – Dave Jacobs, Gary Anderson, Don McAulay and Tim Vesling were selected in the NFL Draft. Â
Redshirt freshman Andre Szmyt seems intent on kicking his way into Syracuse history. He has made all 24 extra-point attempts and 10-of-11 field goals this fall. He is just 11 PATs from 10th on the school's single-season record list and six field goals away from tying for sixth on the Orange's single-season list.
Szmyt ranks second nationally and first among ACC performers in scoring average (13.5). His 2.5 field goals per game is tied with Cole Hedlund of North Texas for the FBS lead.
COVER ME
Sterling Hofrichter has handled Syracuse's punt and kickoff duties this year. The combination of his punts, and the work of the punt coverage team, has the Orange in the national rankings. Syracuse leads the ACC and ranks seventh nationally in net punting average with a 43.6 mark. Hofrichter has punted 16 times and only one has been returned. The lone runback, by Florida State, covered just one yard. He is averaging 44.9 yards per punt and has been named to the Ray Guy Award's "Rays 8" twice in four games.
Hofrichter's kickoff average is 58.0 yards on 38 attempts. A total of 18 tries have resulted in touchbacks.Syracuse's foes have averaged just 14.2 yards per kick return, a figure that ranks fourth nationally.
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For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
SPECIAL SPECIAL TEAMS
Last Saturday's 51-21 triumph against Connecticut brought back fond memories of Syracuse's successful teams of the 1980s and 1990s. Coach Dino Babers' current club unleashed a special teams unit that performed as a potent weapon, a characteristic of those great Syracuse teams led by Coach Dick MacPherson and Coach Paul Pasqualoni.
Special teams covers placekicking, punt and kickoff return and coverage, as well as punting and kickoffs. Blocked field goals and extra points also fall under their responsibilities.
Syracuse has already produced two special-team touchdowns in 2018. In the Wagner victory, Sean Riley blocked a punt and Trill Williams returned kick attempt for a 2-yard score. Riley was in on the act again last week against the Huskies when he returned a punt for a touchdown.
SYRACUSE RETURN POLICY
There was a feeling in the Dome last weekend that every time Riley took the field in a kick-returning capacity, that he was a threat to score. He fulfilled that in the third quarter when he hauled in a Connecticut punt and darted through the Husky coverage team for a 69-yard return to paydirt. The dynamic sprint put a virtual lock on Syracuse's lead and a charge in the Dome crowd.
Explosive special teams played a large role in the success of the Syracuse program previously. Opponents not only had to prepare for Orange offensive and defensive schemes, but also had to devote time to the kicking and return game when playing Syracuse.
Qadry Ismail and Kevin Johnson were both spectacular return men at Syracuse. Ismail led the team in kick-return average for four straight seasons from 1989-92. He leads the program in career kickoff return yards (2,290). Johnson averaged 36.7 yards and 30.0 yards per kickoff return in 1997 and 1998, respectively. Johnson returned two kickoffs for touchdowns each season.
Quinton Spotwood posted some amazing numbers as a punt returner in 1997. He returned 31 punts, averaged 14.9 yards per return, and scored four touchdowns. Scott Schwedes, the team's top punt returner from 1984-86, remains the program leader in career returns (82) and yards (876).
Riley's returns against Connecticut were electric. He had punt opportunities three times and responded with runbacks of 41, 69 (TD) and zero yards for an average of 36.7 yards per return. Riley also contributed two kickoff returns for 49 yards (24.5 avg.).
After four games, Riley ranks second nationally (30.4 avg.) and first in the ACC in punt-return average. He ranks second and third, respectively, in career kickoff returns (85) and kickoff return yards (1,870) at Syracuse.
SZMYTÂ GETTING A KICK OUT OF SUCCESS
Placekicking is another area the Syracuse program has been recognized for over the years. Between 1979-88, four Syracuse kickers – Dave Jacobs, Gary Anderson, Don McAulay and Tim Vesling were selected in the NFL Draft. Â
Redshirt freshman Andre Szmyt seems intent on kicking his way into Syracuse history. He has made all 24 extra-point attempts and 10-of-11 field goals this fall. He is just 11 PATs from 10th on the school's single-season record list and six field goals away from tying for sixth on the Orange's single-season list.
Szmyt ranks second nationally and first among ACC performers in scoring average (13.5). His 2.5 field goals per game is tied with Cole Hedlund of North Texas for the FBS lead.
COVER ME
Sterling Hofrichter has handled Syracuse's punt and kickoff duties this year. The combination of his punts, and the work of the punt coverage team, has the Orange in the national rankings. Syracuse leads the ACC and ranks seventh nationally in net punting average with a 43.6 mark. Hofrichter has punted 16 times and only one has been returned. The lone runback, by Florida State, covered just one yard. He is averaging 44.9 yards per punt and has been named to the Ray Guy Award's "Rays 8" twice in four games.
Hofrichter's kickoff average is 58.0 yards on 38 attempts. A total of 18 tries have resulted in touchbacks.Syracuse's foes have averaged just 14.2 yards per kick return, a figure that ranks fourth nationally.
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For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
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