Most of the discussions here have been about finding offensive gamebreakers and about the youth and inexperience of our defense, mostly the safeties.  However, we all know that special teams is very important (we had a good one in '05, although it unfortunately did not materialize as the advantage it should have been in the Rose Bowl), and I want to hear people's thoughts on how special teams looked.

It's a bit difficult to say much about the return game; I believe we only statistically returned two punts and two kicks against FAU.  I think Shipley and Cosby could do fine, but many question if we shouldn't use a more explosive option here that would also protect our two most experienced receivers from injury.  In any case,  Shipley gained 24 yards on his return and Malcom Williams gained 18, while Earl Thomas and Cosby combined for only six yards on two punt returns.  That's not much a sample size to say anything, but I'm sure there will be continued discussion about who should be fielding kicks.

Our coverage wasn't as consistent as I would have liked.  Punt coverage was fine, as FAU returned three for a paltry six yards, and on kickoffs, we did stuff them a couple times.  However, they had this quick little guy who was able to slice through and give them good field position on a two occasions, averaging over thirty yards per return.  As a team, they averaged 23.9 yards on 7 returns, which is decent but I guess nothing to be worried about, although we did give up three returns of at least 30.  Obviously, I'm nitpicking, but against FAU, we'd like to have that average between 18 and 22.

Hunter Lawrence kicked the ball fine, and I liked the fake field goal.  Having a quick guy like Shipley as our holder does give us the option of doing that more often on fourth and short.  Gold punted the ball decently (hopefully, we don't use him very often), and Colt actually matched Gold's long ball for the day.  Perhaps we should allow Colt to kick a 45 yard field goal and see if he can do it.

The blocked punt was definitely exciting, and I want to see more of a special teams impact than last year (at least, a postive impact).  I still cringe when I think about the two return TD's we gave up against K-state last year, and despite four interceptions from Colt, Rock M Nation's The Boy's numbers showed that we nonetheless should have won that game if not for those special teams gaffes.  He called it one of the flukiest games he's ever seen, statiscally.

I just have a feeling that if we are to beat OU, and perhaps Mizzou as well, we're going to have to win the special teams battle.  They both have more explosive offense than we do (on paper) and so we need to win the field position battle, which means consistent returns and coverage, accurate field goals, and solid punts.  A blocked kick would do wonders too.  If we give up a 99 yard TD return to Maclin like Illinois did, let's just say we'll have a much tougher time winning.