Special teams hopes to deliver big on returns

By Adam Karon
Daily Bruin Staff

Punting seems like such a small part of the game, but most
coaches believe field position wins games. If this age-old football
adage is true, then it is time for the UCLA punt return team to
have a huge game.

This weekend’s opponent, Stanford, has one of the worst
punt coverage teams in the nation. To date, the Cardinal averages
just 23.2 net yards per punt, a far cry from UCLA’s 38.2
average.

“We’ve been emphasizing it,” punt return coach
R. Todd Littlejohn said of field position. “One of the things
that I’ve always tried to stress to that unit is to put our
offense in great field position. It’s a lot easier to call
plays from the opponents’ side of the field.”

UCLA’s punt return squad has had a rough year so far,
averaging just over 8 yards per return. Despite talented returners
Craig Bragg and Ricky Manning Jr., the unit has not been able to
break a big one. In fact, the leading punt returner is Devon Reese,
a reserve who recovered a blocked punt and ran 16 yards for a
touchdown.

“The key to big returns is one guy,” safety and
special teams member Auddie Attar said. “Everyone can hold
their block, but if one guy lets up his man will make the
tackle.”

The Bruins expect big things from the punt return team this
weekend given Stanford’s lackluster performance a week ago.
Last Saturday Oregon abused the Cardinal punt coverage for 186
yards and a touchdown.

Against California, the Bruins blocked their second punt in as
many games, leading many to think the Cardinal will fear the block
and be susceptible to the return.

“They’re going to stay back and defend the block
instead of coming to get me,” said Manning, who averages just
3.5 yards per return.

According to Bragg, UCLA has just missed a big return several
times this year. He points to a missed block or missed read as a
simple way to break down a big return, pointing out that many
things can go wrong during coverage.

To boost its punt team the Bruins have added starters to certain
special teams units. Linebacker Ryan Nece and safety Marques
Anderson both play on the punt teams, ensuring that the best
athletes are on the field as long as possible. Stanford on the
other hand tends to use mostly reserves in special teams.

If field position truly wins ballgames, it appears the Bruins
have the edge.