No, special teams was not the reason Clemson beat Florida State, 59-10.
No, special teams is not the reason that FSU has lost four games this year.
No, special teams is not the most disappointing part of the program.
But in terms of performance? Florida State’s special teams is the worst unit on the field.
Scratch that, it is one of the worst units in the nation. In fact, S&P+ ratings have the Seminoles at 96th overall. There are only 130 teams in the system.
Trying to count the mistakes made by Florida State on special teams is genuinely difficult. Based on pure memory, they have committed at least 10 penalties on kick/punt returns, allowed at least four returns of 20-plus yards, fumbled three punts, and surrendered a blocked punt touchdown. That’s in addition to poor blocking that will not show up in the stat sheet.
Keep in mind that S&P+ does not account for penalties, and it is also including D.J. Matthews’ results on punt returns. Matthews is the lone bright spot with his electric plays, but even his best returns happen almost solely because of his own talent. Matthews was guilty of muffing a punt that set the Tigers up in the FSU red zone on Saturday.
No need to beat around the bush or bring up historical comparison. This is one of the worst special teams unit in FSU history and unit coach Alonzo Hampton has no excuses.
In general, Willie Taggart’s offseason hires were a quality group of coaches. The concern was with a specific set of coaches that he has taken with him to various locations. Raymond Woodie Jr., David Kelly, Donte’ Pimpleton, and Alonzo Hampton were that group.
Woodie Jr. coaches the linebackers, Kelly coaches the receivers, Pimpleton the running backs and Hampton coaches special teams. The former three have done decent jobs at their respective positions. Woodie Jr. cannot control the current lack of talent at linebacker, so not all of the issues there are on him.
In comparison, special teams is almost completely on Hampton. Special teams is not really an issue of talent, it’s completely based in coaching. Hampton has failed miserably and it looks like his unit has given up on him. To make matters worse, he is not pulling his weight on the recruiting trail.
This seems like the easiest change Taggart could possibly make: Horrendously under-performing coach on the field, disappointing coach off the field. It’s not even a necessary spot on staff. At many Power 5 schools, there is no coordinator devoted solely to special teams.
Perhaps the importance is being overstated. But this will be the first test of Taggart’s program management inside the offices. Will he get rid of his friend?
During his initial tour after being announced as the head coach, most would have responded with an enthusiastic “yes” to that question. Taggart seemed totally committed to improving the program — even if it meant hurting the feelings of a friend. It was his dream destination — he was not going to play favors at his long-desired job. He loved, and still loves, Florida State.
But after the first few games, the hypothetical has become the actual. Taggart is faced with a situation that he hoped would not arise until well into his tenure.
Most Florida State fans are well versed in what happens when a coach improperly manages his program. Jimbo Fisher’s decisions towards the last couple of years of his regime were questionable at the time and may have actually been worse than previously thought. It’s no exaggeration to say that at least a few of the current troubles which plague the team stem from that group.
Unfortunately for Taggart (and especially Hampton), there’s no blaming the previous staff for these special teams issues. It’s plain bad coaching.
Taggart said ominously after the game that “there will be changes next week”. That was in reference to players who quit on the team, and it’s refreshing to hear a coach outright admit that some guys abandoned the effort.
More refreshing? His later comment.
“Each coach is responsible for their guys,” he said. “If the players don’t play well, it’s on the position coach. We evaluate coaches during the season like we do players.”
That is an outright admission that there is something to take a second look at. Players receive a lot of blame when things go wrong on the field (not totally undeserved), but you almost never hear a coach admit that members of his staff were not living up to expectations. At the very least, Taggart suspects that there are coaching problems he must deal with.
Now he needs to decide what to do about it.
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