UK FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Special Teams

Today's look at the Special Teams is the last in a continuing series of positional previews for the 2009 UK Football Team. If you have missed the past ones, you can catch up on THE QB's , THE RBS, THE WR's, The Linemen, The LB's, and the DB's. Whew. Let's go ahead and look at the Special Teams.

SPECIAL TEAMS

While doing the research for this article, I found a stat that was surprising to me. I guess I can never get the special teams breakdown at Florida out of my mind, but overall, UK's Special Teams Performance was ranked 8th nationally by Phil Steele's College Football Preview. Here's a look at some of the things the 2009 version of special teams will have to build on:

• averaged 26.4 yards per kick off return (even more impressive due to the fact that both Dicky Lyons and Derrick Locke were lost for the season early). This state was number 3 nationally and the best in the SEC.
• that 26.4 average is second best in school history (behind 2005)
• First time in school history that two different returners took kickoffs back for TD's (Derrick Locke, David Jones)

KICKING

LONES SEIBER, the incumbent placekicker, enters his senior campaign just 15 points shy of become the all time leading scorer at UK. UK fans have had a love/hate relationship with Seiber as he won the Georgia game with a FG and had three crucial FG's vs LSU, yet brings into this season just a 60.3% success rate. Last season was a rough 11 of 19 season but part of his problems was attributed to hip problems. This year, he comes into camp healthy and looking for a chance to redeem himself against his home state Volunteers.

RYAN TYDLACKA has the unenviable position of replacing former Punter Tim Masthay. Tydlacka was the "pooch punter" last season and did a good job placing 16 of his 22 pints within the 20. While special teams coach Steve Ortmayer feels that there is not that much difference between Tydlacka and Masthay as punters, the big challenge will be filling Masthay's shoes as a booming kicker on kickoffs. Tydlacka is also the backup placekicker, converting 3 of 6 last season.

RETURNS

Kentucky appears to be in prety good shape in the returns department. Randall Cobb is a dangerous punt returner and Eric Adeyemi provides a nice option. Kickoff coverage seems to be pretty solid as well as UK has speedsters Alfonso Smith, Derrick Locke, Winston Guy, and Moncell Allen to handle the chores. I would think that Locke and Guy would get the most touches as Guy also had a 96 yard KO return vs Georgia last year.