Vols seeking consistency in the kicking game

Tennessee's special teams have been a mainstay in Butch Jones' tenure as the Vols head coach. In 2016, the kicking game hasn't been bad, but it's not been as consistent as we have seen in Jones' first three years.

In seven games, the Vols have given up 5 special team returns of 34 or more yards. Last year, they gave up just three. In 2015, they gave up 214 yards on 19 punt returns. This season they have given up 124 yards on two returns alone.

In Tennessee's return game a season ago they had nine returns of 40 yards or more. In 2016, they have only had two returns to this point of 40 yards or more.

“When we looked back it it, it's making sure we develop a level of consistency in what we are doing,” special teams coordinator Larry Scott said of their open date evaluation of the kicking game. “Sometimes when you are starting to mix in, due to some injuries, some of your younger guys. That's the first thing you start to see kind of not be up to par as far as the high level of consistency that we want and need especially in the stretch of games we are in.”

For weeks, head coach Butch Jones has been asking, almost pleading for help, from his younger players on special teams to lighten the work load of some veterans. Scott said some have answered that call and others are starting to ask for an increased role in the kicking game.

“Daniel Bituli has done a really good job with his role and we have expanded his role. Baylen Buchanan is doing a lot of things with our special teams,” Scott said. “He stands out. Marquill Osborne has done a good job with his role and developing. We have continued to build his role. Those guys mostly from the defensive back/safety situation and some young linebackers mostly have filled some of shoes for us. And they are getting better. I'm glad we had this past week to continue to get them better.

“Absolutely (players have requested to be on special teams), that's where you want to be this time of year as you get into games eight, nine, 10. Every game is more meaningful. You want more guys to accept that challenge and step up to be a part of what we are doing so that they can contribute to the success of the team.”

One of the challenges sometimes with young players is to get them to completely understand the importance of the “third” phase of the game. Scott said the easiest way is to show examples of veterans who contribute on special teams. Veterans like Todd Kelly, Jr. as well as Alvin Kamara, Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Cam Sutton before they got hurt.

“At the end of the day that is probably the most significant thing that grabs their attention,” Scott admitted. “For a guys that's playing 50 or 60 snaps of defense and he's doing the right things. He's in meetings. He's paying attention and he's executing his role everyday in practice and in games. They start to understand that is is critical and that it is important. It's just the leadership of the older guys that's creating the culture for them to understand that.

“Just getting them to understand the importance of special teams plays at this level of football and how important they are and what they mean. It's not a play off. It's not a play where I don't have to be focused or dialed in and understand technique and fundamentals and all of those different things. It's the level of urgency that you must have because you are talking one play here and one play there. That one play at any point and time can be the difference whether it's in field position. Whether it's doing like what our punt team did against Alabama. You play well the whole time then it's just one play. It's one kick. It's one missed tackle. It's one guy not being where he's suppose to be and it make a difference in the game.”

With five of the most significant games for the Vols in a long time starting Saturday night in Columbia, South Carolina, the Vols will need contributions from all three phases of the game. They will need more contributions from more players on the roster particularly on special teams if they are going to play at the consistent level the need.