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GAINESVILLE — Florida senior analyst Joe Houston came to revive the Gators’ special teams rather than reinvent them.
Houston recalls a time when the third phase of the game was in full flight in Gainesville instead of stumbling at critical moments.
When Houston was a kicker for the USC Trojans from 2007-10 after an All-American season at El Camino College in ’06, Urban Meyer’s Gators were amid a run of two national championships in three seasons with special teams playing a vital role.
From 2006-09, Florida blocked 23 kicks and had 4 touchdown returns while going 48-6. UF has 3 blocks and no touchdown returns while going 11-14 under Billy Napier.
“The standard here is the standard,” Houston said. “When I was going to college, Florida was the standard.”
In 2023, the Gators’ special teams became a punchline.
Seven penalties included when cornerback Jason Marshall and wide receiver Eugene Wilson III — each donning No. 3 — ran onto the field simultaneously after the Gators forced a punt during a 24-11 season-opening loss at Utah. After the 5-yard penalty, the Utes got back the ball and scored three plays later.
UF also had 10 men on the field in Salt Lake City, one of five times it would field too few players on a special-teams play.
Following four seasons as a special team’s assistant for Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots, Houston arrived with a rudimentary fix.
“We’re going to implement a launch pad,” he said Tuesday at UF’s Media Day.
To eliminate confusion, crossover or a miscount, players on the return, coverage, blocked and kicking units will gather at a mat featuring 10 circles, with the specialist or return man assuming the final spot.
Think an extra-large Twister mat minus the colored dots.
“It’s like a home base for them,” Houston said. “They know where to find me. It’s an…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/joe-houston-restore-gators-special-120000263.html
Author : Orlando Sentinel
Publish date : 2024-07-31 12:00:00
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