Reese’s rapid play-reading skills allots him more time on the field

By Adam Karon
Daily Bruin Staff

Marcus Reese is beginning to understand the importance of
special teams. After blocking a punt for the second consecutive
game, the junior weakside linebacker knows he can impact the
outcome of a game, even if he does not get as many chances on
defense as he would like.

“My freshman year I didn’t think it was that
important,” Reese said of special teams play following
Saturday’s 56-17 win over California. “Now I know it
can be a real momentum changer.”

Reese’s block with 6:22 left in the third quarter was
recovered and returned for a touchdown by Devon Reese, no relation.
The score put the Bruins up 35-10 and put the game out of
reach.

Oddly enough, the play was not supposed to be an attempted
block. The Bruins set up for a return, but Reese and fellow
linebacker Ryan Nece noticed a flaw in the Bear’s punt
team.

“We weren’t even trying to block the kick,”
Nece said. “We noticed if the center came at us, we just had
to swim him and explode by him. Marcus did that, exploded, and made
a key block that really got the momentum swinging our
way.”

Reese also saw considerably more time on the field defensively,
finishing third for the game with six tackles, one for a loss. He
had just 17 tackles coming in to Saturday’s game. Reese
generally sits out the first two defensive series before rotating
at outside linebacker with Nece. Playing on special teams helps
keep him warm and ready to come in at linebacker when needed.

“The hardest part (about sitting) is the first few
minutes,” Reese said of the series he sits out.

The Bruins nearly got another block early in the game when
backup linebacker Auddie Attar was called for running into the
kicker while attempting to deflect punter Christian Jensen’s
kick.

“You see something and you make a play,” Attar said
of the special teams reading Cal’s blocking scheme.
“That’s what good athletes do, they read the play and
react.”

If Reese continues to read and react at his current rate, he
could find himself on the field a lot more. The coaches always tell
special teams players that big plays on punt and kickoff returns
translate to more time on the field.

“I’m just trying to get the job done,” Reese
said.

With two blocked punts leading to touchdowns in the last two
games, he’s doing a lot more than merely completing a
job.

“Marcus Reese was all over the field,” Nece
said.

The Bruins will need play like that when they face more
formidable foes on the road to the national championship.