Texas Tech University Athletics
Special Delivery
October 20, 2004 | Football
Oct. 20, 2004
By Jenna Sampson, Texas Tech Media Relations
The Texas Tech special teams crew has continued to deliver resounding blows to opposing teams this season, the most recent being the Red Raiders' 70-10 win over Nebraska. Freshman Alex Trlica led the kicking department by tying his school record of ten successful extra-point attempts in a game, while kicker Keith Toogood and outstanding special team coverage ensured poor field position for the Cornhuskers.
Punter Alex Reyes added plenty of hang time for coverage to hustle downfield, and Nebraska returns were met by speedsters Trey Haverty and Cody Fuller on more than one occasion. Safety Chad Johnson also added a solid smack after a Toogood kickoff in the fourth quarter.
Vincent Meeks collected his first interception of the season following a Khalid Naziruddin deflection with less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter. The heads-up play was his eighth-career pick.
"The funny thing is I did the wrong thing the whole way out. I drove a route when I shouldn't have. I was just running. The ball just came a weird way and I just dove for it and got it. I was looking at (Naziruddin) the whole way, I didn't think he was going to get in position so I was going to hit the receiver," said Meeks.
Red Raider special teams selection is the coaching staff's own version of fantasy football. Special teams coordinator Ruffin McNeill divides each unit among the coaches, except for (Defensive Coordinator) Coach (Lyle) Setencich and (Head Coach) Coach (Mike) Leach.
"A lot of people don't do it that way. We like to do it because every coach feels accountable. We have great coaches on our staff, and it wouldn't be very smart of me not to use their abilities," said McNeill.
Wide receiver coach Sonny Dykes has kickoff returns, secondary coach Dave Brown covers punt returns, safeties coach Carlos Mainord has onside recovery and onside kickoff team, inside receiver coach Dana Holgorsen controls the onside return team, defensive end coach Charlie Sadler has field goal blocks, running back coach Bill Bedenbaugh is in charge of the field goal unit, and McNeill coaches the kickoff and punt team.
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"Each coach has access to anybody on the football team─ starter, backup, whoever he wants to make his team most successful, except the quarterback. When you have a pick of the litter, you have a chance to have a pretty good special teams unit, and the players understand that it's a privilege if a coach asks you to do special teams," McNeill added.
"I believe you have to be fundamentally sound. Make sure they play extremely hard and make sure they're very physical. If a kid makes plays we're going to find a place for him on special teams or somewhere else on the field."
Assistant Head Coach McNeill is in his second year as special teams coordinator and witnessed punt returner Wes Welker set the NCAA record for career punt returns for touchdowns last season. His "Welker in training" is current true freshman Danny Amendola, who kicked off his career as a Red Raider with punt returns of 47 and 52 yards against TCU to set up touchdown drives during the record-setting come-from-behind win. He has had 16 returns for a total of 162 yards this season.
"The punt returns in the TCU game were really big. That was a big momentum swinger. Any time you get a big return on anything it really gets the whole team going. I think since Danny had two long ones and Brian Bishop had a pretty long one, too, all three of those were key factors in keeping us up the whole game," said Trlica.
When asked to cite their favorite special teams play of the season, several players mentioned Amendola's return efforts.
"Definitely Danny Amendola's first punt return at home. It got the crowd pretty pumped up and he returned it down to the three. It was pretty good. If I was out there I would have opened up some lanes, thrown some hits," Toogood added, trying not to smile.
Senior running back Johnnie Mack agrees. The veteran had a memorable 80-yard return against SMU last season and often joins Amendola inside the 20 to wait for punts.
 Alex Trilica | |
"On offense, Amendola, the TCU game, the huge punt return. It brought back memories of Wes (Welker). I love to see punt returns go to the house with long yardage," he said.
Mack currently leads kick returns with eight carries for 142 yards. His 36-yard return at SMU leads the return statistics.
"Johnnie Mack, he's got so many moves we call him `And 1.' He's an impact player. Johnnie Mack can make some things happen, I really like what he brings to the table," said McNeill.
Mack's punt return success in the past has been cause for punters to avoid the 5'7" dynamo.
"They've been kicking it away from me this year. I got one punt return Saturday and I was so happy to get one I tripped over my own feet," he laughed.
Coach McNeill adds that several players on special teams have had breakout performances, including senior linebacker Geremy Woods.
"This is a guy people forget about. He's on every special teams and he makes a lot of plays. Geremy is a back-up linebacker, but he's on every special team I can think of. He's one guy I wouldn't get on the plane without," McNeill added.
McNeill also mentioned the outstanding play of defensive back Dwayne Slay, linebacker Sylvester Brinkley, and receivers Haverty and Fuller.
"Cody Fuller is a football player, he can return punts, he can cover a tackle, he can block. He's tough, he's a bulldog, a real competitor," he said.
Brinkley may not be mentioned in headlines, but his teammates have taken notice of the 6'4", 235-pound junior transfer from Reedley College.
"Sylvester Brinkley, every game he knocks someone out at least. Almost every kick return he's knocking someone out with a big hit. He's really impressive, he's a ball player," added Meeks.
His nasty hit in the TCU game was Mack's favorite defensive special teams play of the season. The linebacker also logged his first-career interception against Nebraska in the fourth quarter.
The Red Raider kickers have also had a busy season. Reyes currently ranks second in the Big 12 conference and 16th nationally. He is averaging 42.4 yards per punt and has placed four inside the 20-yard line. His 62-yard punt against New Mexico is the second longest punt in the conference this season.
Trlica continues to hold a perfect extra-point record with his 29-of-29 performance on the season and Keith Toogood directs kickoffs.
"Keith Toogood has had some adversity this year and has come back to fit his role as our kickoff guy, and I'm pleased with his return," said McNeill.
Toogood has blasted 12 kickoffs into the end zone this season, including six touchbacks against the Cornhuskers. He averages 62 yards per kick.
"Every game I try to put it as deep as I can, put it in the corner so it limits their ability to go right or left whichever way they want to go. Just try to go deep and get the best field position we can. Coach Ruff tells us kickoff is the first play of defense," said Toogood.
McNeill mentions that his goal for the team is steady improvement and their last game should be the best game.
"We're still not anywhere close to where we can be as a special teams unit, but we're making progress. I like the kids on special teams, they can take coaching, they want to be good, and they take a lot of pride in our specials teams," he said.
Mack claims the special teams unit has a goal of being the top unit in the nation this season.
"We take special teams real serious around here. In a game, it's always a key situation where special teams can change the whole game around. You got to love special teams."
The secret is out. The Red Raider special teams don't just talk, they deliver the goods. That's just the way it's done out here in West Texas.
