One of the big places that Michigan football had hoped to see massive improvement from last year to this season was on special teams. However, in Week 1, it appeared that issues were still extant.
Though the punting had improved, wide receiver Andrew Marsh fumbled a punt return, arguably the turning point of the first game of the season. In Week 2, there weren't any turnovers, but running into the kicker penalties extended a drive, so mistakes were still an issue week-over-week.
However, one place where the Wolverines were vastly improved in the second game was in the punt game, as UNLV transfer Cam Brown was exemplary. Twice he pinned Oklahoma inside the one-yard line, and he consistently pinned the Sooners back deep.
On Wednesday, special teams
coordinator Kerry Coombs shared what he's liked thus far in the young season, noting Brown, the kick game, and more, while also sharing where the unit has to improve.
"I obviously am very happy with our punter, with our specialists in general. They performed well," Coombs said. "Cam had a really good game on Saturday, although he would tell you there was a couple of balls you'd like to have back. But we've kicked the ball off well with the freshman kicker, Trey's done a good job making kicks, Nico snapped well.
"So from a specialist standpoint, they've performed well, we've got lots of things we can improve. But then in the punt block, the penalties have been an issue, and we gotta fix that, and we will, we will, we absolutely will. And we could kick off return, we're close.
"So there are things, there are a lot of things that we can improve on, and we look forward to doing that this week."
As far as Brown is concerned, Coombs is excited about what he seems to have in his punter. Coombs shared that while Brown isn't perfect, he's very good at putting the ball right where the coaches generally want him to, even when he's under pressure.
"Cam's the fourth Australian punter that I've coached. And they do have a unique ability to do things with the ball on their feet. Because that's how they grow up," Coombs said. "I've never been to Australia, so I don't know what they do, but it's different. And he just, he's very, very good at putting the ball where we want him to put it. And that's really important, because when you don't, it creates issues.
"We have one that wasn't there on Saturday, and it creates an issue. So we have very specific targeted places for him to put the ball. Every Thursday is a pooch day, and Coach Whitt and Coach Hill run that, cuz I'm running punt protection in a different place. Coach Whitt told me Thursday, it was the best week been all year. And I think it showed up on Saturday. So he's off to a very good start."
As far as Marsh is concerned, Coombs says he's coming along, and that the issues he's faced in the early going has been due to the scheme change. He's not solely at fault, and it's incumbent upon the coaches to get the whole punt return unit working so that Marsh can be unleashed. But the most important thing is that Marsh has to ensure that he catches and keeps the ball before anything else.
"Well, I think that the big thing is just having a comfort level with the scheme, and being aware of where the people are around him," Coombs said. "We've gotta help him by holding up the gunners better, and making sure that he has space and comfort when he fields the ball.
"And so I think that it's an 11-player process. And so one guy doesn't get his guy, he's running down the field at you, that's a tough deal. And so, No. 1 priority for us is always to secure the kick. And so, he's gotta make that decision and feel good about where the coverage is. And so we gotta do a better job holding guys up. We had some reps Saturday that were better. I'm excited about that, looking forward to that. He's a dynamic athlete, we wanna get him the ball in space."
Michigan's next game will be against UTEP at The Big House to close out nonconference play. The game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. EDT with BTN on the broadcast.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan special teams coach assesses early issues, major bright spot
