Analyzing the Irish – Part 9 by Randy W. Hall Special Teams Alright, I’ll admit I was halfway considering just glossing over the Notre Dame special teams. Partly because it’s such an unknown and partly because it’s depressing. Particularly the kicking game. As of right now no one is sure who’s kicking off, punting or place-kicking. Punting is probably the most solid today as Geoff Price is expected to finally be consistent enough to handle the day-to-day punting duties. Price has always possessed a huge leg and can boot the ball untold distances. However, he was just as likely to boot one 50 yards as he was to shank it 15. He’s what you would call a “wild card”. He talked to former ND kicking luminary Hunter “the Punter” Smith and figured out some mechanics deficiencies. Hopefully he’s figured it out and can start to show a modicum of consistency (which he apparently has at practice). Price has an NFL-caliber leg but must show it in the games. If he does, that would be a big boost to ND’s field position throughout the year (they can’t score on every drive, can they?) As for kickoffs, it’s been a long time since Notre Dame had someone who would reliably kick it into the endzone. With incoming freshman Ryan Burkhart they may have ended the dry spell. Still he’s a freshman and has a lot to prove. Another name that has emerged as a possibility is walk-on Bobby Renkes. While he’s hardly a household name, even for Notre Dame nuts like myself, don’t be surprised if he’s performing kickoffs come Sept 2nd at George Tech. On place-kicks, it’s pretty much between Carl Gioia and Burkhart. Gioia had some kicks in the Stanford game when D.J. Fitzpatrick was injured and even made a 30-yard field goal. However he stunk it up in the Blue-and-Gold Game in the spring and had many Irish observers wondering if they should just forgo any field attempt over 30 yards and go for it on fourth down. As for fall camp, it’s hard to know who’s doing well and who isn’t as most of practice is closed, but I would figure Gioia to get the early opportunity simply because he has some experience and Burkhart is a freshman who’s never been in a big-game situation and early on probably won’t get a baptism by fire if he doesn’t have to. I can see him getting an attempt or two if a game is in hand, but a pressure-filled kick with perhaps the game on the line would be a surprise, if not an outright shock. As for the return game, Notre Dame definitely could be good. On kickoff returns it could be early enrollee George West who handles them, or David Grimes or even speed merchant Munir Prince. DJ Hord would’ve had a shot if not for his season-ending leg injury. All have the potential to keep teams on their toes. On punt returns I’d expect Tom Zbikowski to be the guy. He had a pair of TD returns last year (including his big one against USC) and seems to run like a man possessed. He’s not the fastest guy eligible to return kicks but he’s tough, he’s shifty enough and he’s difficult to bring down. Once he’s got a head of steam, it’s a chore tackling Zibby. Both units probably won’t be elite, but they will be more than adequate. As for kickoff and punt-return coverage, Notre Dame, under the watchful eye of special teams coach Brian Polian, has emphasized the importance of this facet of the game. I think the days of lackadaisical coverage (which crept up during the Tyrone Willingham regime) are over and we’ll return closer to the days of Holtz (whose teams I believe never allowed a punt or kickoff return to brought back for a touchdown). Coach Weis has made it a priority for the team and he doesn’t hesitate to put his best athletes on special teams. While I wouldn’t expect the Irish to be like Virginia Tech in 2006 I think it will be a unit which is more of a strength than a weakness. Overall the special teams are a hit-or-miss proposition. While the kicking game is a huge question mark, the return and coverage units will be solid if not spectacular. Still, my blood does run cold when I think about the possibility of a game coming down to a 45-yard kick that we have to make. That scares the bejesus out of me and most any diehard fan. I have faith the staff can get these guys to be pretty decent, it’s just a matter of how good and how fast. Grade: C-. This kicking game needs to shake out and shake out fast. Maybe I’m being pessimistic, but I also have to be fair. Definitely an Achilles heel on a team that doesn’t have many.