Here We Go Again

Only a couple days into training camp and special teams rears its ugly, ugly head for the 2007 Cougars. Two notes from the Seattle times:

The Cougars will have a new long snapper this year for extra points and field goals because junior Pete Hill didn't return because of a chronic knee problem. The candidates to replace him are Tony Thompson, the second-year punt snapper, and Zach Enyeart, redshirt freshman offensive lineman from Skyline High outside Issaquah.

Walk-on freshman kicker Wade Penner from Corvallis, Ore., was reaching the end zone with kicks. That is significant because the new yard line for kickoffs is the 30, which is 5 yards farther than last year in a move designed to have more kickoff returns rather than touchbacks. Penner is likely to redshirt because the Cougars have senior kickers in Romeen Abdollmohammadi and Loren Langley.

The first note isn't a major cause for concern, but Pete Hill was a very consistent snapper and performed well last season. His predecessor will have to do the same.

The second note makes me want to sound the alarm bells. With kickoffs being moved back this upcoming season the cougars need someone who can kick the ball deep enough to get to the endzone and high enough to avoid out-kicking the return coverage. Word is that Romeen is kicking the ball inside the 10, and if they cut the reins loose on Langley like they did a couple times last year he actually can kick it inside the 10 or to the endzone. But if Wade Penner can consistently reach the end zone, why redshirt him? The goal should be to win ball games now and not later. Granted, the experience Romeen and Langley have is important, but not so important that we should bet our special teams' lives on it.

Still, we are at a better position with kickers now than we were the last couple of years. If Romeen struggles, go to Langley, and if Langley struggles, go back to Romeen. Both are seniors and both are capable of making kicks consistently from inside the 30 (especially Romeen). The concern is that if our kickoff coverage is as poor as it was last season a lot of opponents will see their drives start from the 30, 35, or 40 yard line. Considering the recent struggles of the Cougar defense, we can't be spotting our opponents a 10-yard advantage in field position. All we can do now is hope for the best, and pray that we don't go back to squib kicks.