Pretty short and sweet discussions here, I'll basically address the key specialist spots and not so much the blocker/gunner spots as I'd tackled a lot of those guesses about ST contributors in my other position by position discussions. One thing that Griz fans usually dread is that time every four years when we lose a kicker to graudation, usually the next season is a very rough one as the team works in a brand new freshman kicker, we saw this from 08-09 with McKnight, 03-04 with Carps as well as with Snyder before that and Heppner before him. This year though... may be different, Pflu has brought both a punter and kicker on the team this prior year to red-shirt and ramp-up to the position, addidionally he's got a few other walk-ons coming here as well.
So lets get this going, Pflu lists all of the players as K/P practically on the roster but I'm really going to address where I think we'll be seeing them the most.
Kickers/Punters:
Chris Lider (Rs-Frosh) 6-1 195: Lider should enter spring ball as the starting kicker, he's got a pretty strong leg and has shown good power on his kickoffs. While I didn't see a ton of his fieldgoal attempts until scrimmage specific stuff in the fall he was pretty consistant from 30 yards away or closer, after that it got a little erratic. He can punt pretty well too, his high school resumee touts his punting skills as well, however he's not had as good of hangtime and distance as other punters on this team. One other thing about him, on kickoffs and live drills, he doesn't shy away from contact, I've seen him put a few real hard hits on players.
Stephen Shaw (Rs- Frosh) 6-3 218: Shaw is a big dude and he follows that up with some monster punts. As fall camp went on he showed to be the better punter and even having days where he was consistantley out-kicking Wren who traditionally had strong showings in camps when he wasn't being pressured. Shaw I'm assuming is working on consistant play, he'd have some major smashes of punts and then shank a few. His catch/wind-up/kick motion is a little slow, but not as slow as Wren's. Obviously one has to wonder since Pflu fell in love with Brody's rugby-style punt if they'll ask Shaw to do this, he's a more traditional punter, I've not seen any rugby-style punts from him.
Caleb Walden (Sr) 5-9 185: Caleb is a backup punter option behind Shaw. He can actually punt pretty well but his physical nature, speed, and head-hunter attitude on special teams has him better suited as a missle/gunner and a guy you want down the field first. Walden will probably rotate in on some punts in spring camp but I don't know if the staff is going to seriously give him a run at starting punter.
Harrison Greenberg (Frosh) 5-8 155: A little guy, so to say, I don't know if the walk-on kicker is here yet or not, but I'd suspect he isn't. His accolades coming out of Oregon are strong and his highlight reel is a good one however it only shows just 1 fieldgoal attempt at 35 yards.
Snappers:
Jordan Tripp (Jr) / Greg Hardy (Sr): Our two long-snappers, Tripp has had the job for a few years and Hardy's been the backup, once Tripp went down with the shoulder injury Greg stepped up and did pretty well as the main guy. I'm assuming these two will be the main guys again, both are very consistant and quick with it - Tripp seems to have had a bit of a quicker/more accurate long-snap but as the season went on Hardy improved as well. Both are solid in this spot.
Brett Brauer (Sr) / Jesse Ginn? (Rs-Frosh): Brett is the main short-snapper and up until his injury Ginn was also getting some looks at the spot as well. Oiland and Takai also have had some short-snap chances with little success. Brauer seems a lock although if he doesn't win the #2 center spot I expect the staff will give plenty of other guys a look as well, mostly for the reason of the travel roster, if they could give the #2 center or guard, or #2 DT the job that'd free up a roster spot for the travelling team. Personally I think Brett's the only consistent guy of the group right now, why mess with that when you're working in new kickers?
Returners:
Peter Nguyen (Sr) 5-8 182: I'm assuming Peter is going to be the main guy for both PR/KR duties at the start. He's the only player returning with experience returning at this level. Peter was usually back with Jabin on kickoffs. Naturally the concern is still there on punt returns as Peter had big issues in 2010 and then took the very 1st punt return of the year in 2011 off his facemask, after that he only fielded a few punts.
Ellis Henderson (Rs-Frosh) 6-0 180: Ellis was mentioned by Pflu as one of the main guys they'll give a look at in the returning game. His highlight reel shows some good potential, but honestly I've not seen a lot of freshman usually make a splash in the return game. I'm glad he's here for spring ball, we'll have to see how he looks out there.
Other options that the team has used before have been Jordan Canada, Kevin Berland, Josh Dennard, and I believe also Nathan Harris. I assume a wide range of guys will get some chances here.
So lets get this going, Pflu lists all of the players as K/P practically on the roster but I'm really going to address where I think we'll be seeing them the most.
Kickers/Punters:
Chris Lider (Rs-Frosh) 6-1 195: Lider should enter spring ball as the starting kicker, he's got a pretty strong leg and has shown good power on his kickoffs. While I didn't see a ton of his fieldgoal attempts until scrimmage specific stuff in the fall he was pretty consistant from 30 yards away or closer, after that it got a little erratic. He can punt pretty well too, his high school resumee touts his punting skills as well, however he's not had as good of hangtime and distance as other punters on this team. One other thing about him, on kickoffs and live drills, he doesn't shy away from contact, I've seen him put a few real hard hits on players.
Stephen Shaw (Rs- Frosh) 6-3 218: Shaw is a big dude and he follows that up with some monster punts. As fall camp went on he showed to be the better punter and even having days where he was consistantley out-kicking Wren who traditionally had strong showings in camps when he wasn't being pressured. Shaw I'm assuming is working on consistant play, he'd have some major smashes of punts and then shank a few. His catch/wind-up/kick motion is a little slow, but not as slow as Wren's. Obviously one has to wonder since Pflu fell in love with Brody's rugby-style punt if they'll ask Shaw to do this, he's a more traditional punter, I've not seen any rugby-style punts from him.
Caleb Walden (Sr) 5-9 185: Caleb is a backup punter option behind Shaw. He can actually punt pretty well but his physical nature, speed, and head-hunter attitude on special teams has him better suited as a missle/gunner and a guy you want down the field first. Walden will probably rotate in on some punts in spring camp but I don't know if the staff is going to seriously give him a run at starting punter.
Harrison Greenberg (Frosh) 5-8 155: A little guy, so to say, I don't know if the walk-on kicker is here yet or not, but I'd suspect he isn't. His accolades coming out of Oregon are strong and his highlight reel is a good one however it only shows just 1 fieldgoal attempt at 35 yards.
Snappers:
Jordan Tripp (Jr) / Greg Hardy (Sr): Our two long-snappers, Tripp has had the job for a few years and Hardy's been the backup, once Tripp went down with the shoulder injury Greg stepped up and did pretty well as the main guy. I'm assuming these two will be the main guys again, both are very consistant and quick with it - Tripp seems to have had a bit of a quicker/more accurate long-snap but as the season went on Hardy improved as well. Both are solid in this spot.
Brett Brauer (Sr) / Jesse Ginn? (Rs-Frosh): Brett is the main short-snapper and up until his injury Ginn was also getting some looks at the spot as well. Oiland and Takai also have had some short-snap chances with little success. Brauer seems a lock although if he doesn't win the #2 center spot I expect the staff will give plenty of other guys a look as well, mostly for the reason of the travel roster, if they could give the #2 center or guard, or #2 DT the job that'd free up a roster spot for the travelling team. Personally I think Brett's the only consistent guy of the group right now, why mess with that when you're working in new kickers?
Returners:
Peter Nguyen (Sr) 5-8 182: I'm assuming Peter is going to be the main guy for both PR/KR duties at the start. He's the only player returning with experience returning at this level. Peter was usually back with Jabin on kickoffs. Naturally the concern is still there on punt returns as Peter had big issues in 2010 and then took the very 1st punt return of the year in 2011 off his facemask, after that he only fielded a few punts.
Ellis Henderson (Rs-Frosh) 6-0 180: Ellis was mentioned by Pflu as one of the main guys they'll give a look at in the returning game. His highlight reel shows some good potential, but honestly I've not seen a lot of freshman usually make a splash in the return game. I'm glad he's here for spring ball, we'll have to see how he looks out there.
Other options that the team has used before have been Jordan Canada, Kevin Berland, Josh Dennard, and I believe also Nathan Harris. I assume a wide range of guys will get some chances here.
