Colorado University Athletics
Position Preview: Buffs Special Teams Could Be Major Strength
August 10, 2018 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Here's a statistic most Colorado football fans probably aren't aware of:
In 2017, the Buffaloes' special teams were ranked 12th in the nation in overall efficiency. It means the Buffs were solid in their punt game, kicking game, return game and coverages.
This year, the Buffs could be even better, particularly when it comes to their punter and kicker. In his preseason prognostications, analytics guru Phil Steele ranked the Buffs' special teams unit as the No. 13 group in the nation, which includes first-team all-Pac-12 designation for long snapper J.T. Bale (as well as second-team All-American), along with third-team all-conference designations for kicker James Stefanou and Alex Kinney.
In other words, the Buffs special teams could be difference makers this year in all the right ways.
"I like our special teams and our specialists because they're all back," said Buffs special teams coordinator Ross Els, entering his second year in the post in Boulder. "When you have a returning guy who has snapped as much as our guy, punted as much as our guy and kicked as much as our guy, that's a pretty good start. We have a long ways to go, but I'm happy with what we've seen so far."
The Buffs do indeed have experience where it counts most on special teams.
Kinney is coming off a solid junior year and has been CU's starting punter the previous three seasons. Bale is entering his third year as Colorado's long snapper and Stefanou, while just a sophomore, is also not only the oldest player on CU's team this year — he turned 31 in April — he is the oldest player in college football's FBS division.
Throw in the fact that CU also has its leading punt returner, Ronnie Blackmon, back from last year, as well as its two leading kick returners, Blackmon and K.D. Nixon, and it adds up to an experienced unit the Buffs should be able to depend on in clutch moments.
Kinney is coming off a solid junior season in which he averaged 43.8 yards per attempt while putting a CU-record 28 kicks inside the 20. Named a team captain this summer by his teammates, he also finished 2017 with a bang, putting together a 49.3-yard average over the last five weeks of the regular season — the best average in the nation in that stretch.
He is also having an excellent camp thus far, regularly booming kicks that not only have distance, but also excellent hang time.
"He's smooth back there," Els said. "It's not a panic situation, which is the first thing you want from your punter. His mechanics have gotten really good. He's steady, he's square, he's following through, he's hitting the ball well. But the thing I like most is he's just really confident right now. He's just kicking it really well."
Stefanou, a former pro soccer player from Australia who got his introduction to American football just last year, is also coming off a solid 2017, when he quickly earned a reputation as the owner of a powerful leg. He was a first-team Freshman All-American pick by ESPN and a Lou Groza Award semifinalist, and finished the year 17-for-22 on field goal attempts and 35-for-35 on PAT tries. He also hit nine field goals in a row at one point — and this year, he seems to have more power and even better accuracy.
"Probably the best thing right now is he's healthy," Els said. "All last year there was a little bit of thing like kickers get with the leg swing — he got a little bit tired, got a little bit sore. He hit it well last year, but not great. He's over that now. He's in better condition and we look for a good year from James."
One thing Els isn't worried about is Stefanou's nerves.
"He's 31 years old and he's been through life decisions and life difficulties," Els said. "Now, for him, 'Oh, I'm just going to go out in front of 70,000 people and kick a game-winning field. No problem.' He's very confident."
The presence of Bale, meanwhile, makes Kinney's and Stefanou's jobs that much easier. An accurate snapper with excellent velocity, Bale has earned the confidence of his kickers — and this year, he'll be snapping to Kinney all season, as Kinney will also serve as Stefanou's holder on field goals and PATs.
"I've always said, being a long snapper is like being an official," Els said. "If people don't know who officiated a game, you did a good job as an official. It's the same thing with a long snapper, and J.T. is steady. James and Alex are really comfortable back there with him."
As for the return game, the Buffs were solid last year, and with their leading returners back, should be even better.
WHO'S BACK: Senior punter (and holder for kicks) Alex Kinney, sophomore kicker James Stefanou, junior long snapper J.T. Bale, junior kicker/punter Davis Price, punt/kick returner Ronnie Blackmon, punt returner Jay MacIntyre, kick returner K.D. Nixon, holder Josh Goldin.
WHO'S NEW: Punter Bailey Landwehr.
CURRENT DEPTH CHART: Punter: Kinney, Price, Landwehr. FG kicker: Stefanou, Price. Kickoffs: Price, Stefanou. Punt return: Blackmon, MacIntyre. Kick return: Nixon, Blackmon. Holder: Kinney, Goldin. Long snapper: Bale, Nate Landman.
WHAT'S IN STORE: The Buffs have had their fair share of special teams miscues in the past, but they became much more consistent last year. This season, they should be a confident group that will be counted on to make big plays in crucial situations.
STAT TO REMEMBER: Pac-12 rival Utah has earned a reputation as the home of the best special teams in the conference. The Utes have won three of the last four Ray Guy Awards (best punter in the nation) and last year won the Groza Award (kicker).
This year, Kinney and Stefanou are on the preseason watch list for both awards. CU's coaches would love to see the Buffs win at least one — or sweep — the honors.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
