INSIDE THE HUDDLE
Special teams coach Chris Haering acknowledged during the spring that he expected to see Collin Larsh and Jack Van Dyke battle throughout camp for the No. 1 kicking job. Larsh has handled field goals for the last two seasons and has the edge in experience over Van Dyke, who attempted one kick as a freshman last season.
Productivity and consistency will be the deciding factors, however, and all parties know the numbers must improve. Larsh has made 68% of his kicks (17 of 25). He has made 15 of 18 attempts (83.3%) from 39 yards and in but is just 2 of 7 (28.6%) on kicks from 40 yards and longer.
Van Dyke has the stronger leg and recorded 16 touchbacks on 34 kickoffs last season, a solid number for a freshman.
The return units were still unsettled in the spring but it appears Jack Dunn and Dean Engram will be the top two punt returners.
Don’t be surprised to see the staff use two return men against punters who are adept at rugby-style punts.
“We’ve got a lot of guys we play that do a lot of rugby style punts,” Dunn explained. “So when you put two returners back there it makes it a lot more difficult for them to just spray it around the field and get that extra roll.
“By putting two guys back there you can save a lot of hidden yardage. I think that gives us a little more flexibility.”
Stephan Bracey and Devin Chandler had six kickoff returns apiece last season, but Chandler gave the unit a boost late in the season and finished with a 26.0-yard average. That was 7.0 yards better than Bracey’s 19.0-yard average.