JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Mississippi State”s kick coverage and return teams haven”t been spectacular this season, and head coach Dan Mullen is hopeful a month-long layoff doesn”t affect either unit.
Friday, Mullen expressed concern over the lack of game-speed reps his kickoff teams have had since the regular season finale against Ole Miss on Nov. 27.
He said he”s tried multiple ways to give the coverage and return teams ample practice for today”s Gator Bowl, where they”ll face Michigan at 12:30 p.m. CDT today (ESPN2).
Though Michigan averages just 21.14 yards per kickoff return — good for 76th in the nation — Mullen is aware of Michigan”s play-makers who return kicks.
Receivers Jeremy Gallon and Darryl Stonum each have over 20 returns this season, with Stonum, the team”s second-leading receiver, averaging 23.3 yards per return.
The Wolverines haven”t returned a kickoff for a score this season, but the same praise Mullen has given to Michigan”s passing game carries over into the kicking game.
“You got to be on your game because those are momentum swings that can change the game,” Mullen said.
The Bulldogs haven”t given up a kickoff for a score this season, or in the two seasons Mullen has been in charge. However, the Bulldogs are 84th in the country with 22.48 yards given up per return.
Also, hang-time hasn”t been a strong point for MSU kickers Sean Brauchle and Derek DePasquale, as opponents” average start after kickoffs is the 28-yard line.
Mullen said he split up the special teams groups and tried to run “good on good,” much like he did with the offense and defense toward the end of practice in Jacksonville.
“We can go ones on ones and offense on defense and you can get acclimated back to the speed of the game,” Mullen explained. “The kicking game, once you get to a bowl game, is critical because you haven”t simulated how fast you have to play the kicking game.”
In the return game, MSU will be looking for a spark from LaDarius Perkins and Robert Elliott. Perkins enters today”s game averaging a hair over 20 yards per kick return, while Elliott has returned just one kick this season.
Kick returns haven”t been the same since senior Leon Berry was lost for the season following the Houston game. He still leads the team in total returns, return yards and average.
Take away Berry”s 97-yard return against Alcorn State and the Bulldogs are 100th in the country with 19.76 yards per return.
With Michigan”s high-powered offense, MSU could see plenty of opportunities to return the ball today, making the kickoff return team a key to MSU”s chances of winning the game.
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