International Centre for Special Teams Research

We are reaching the end of the season and the first season of work for the International Centre.  As we look at the second to last game of the season, we see that this was a game with only one big special teams play, and that was the onside kick BG returned for a TD.  Other than that, there were some minor plays here and there but pretty much a non-event.

Bowling Green Positive (+8)

BG Punt to Akron 14 (+1)
Akron kickoff returned to BG 46 (+1)
BG kickoff return TD (+6)

Bowling Green Negative (-5)

BG Kickoff returned to Akron 37 (-1)
Akron Kickoff to BG 18 with penalty (-1)
BG kickoff returned to Akron 42 (-1)
BG Kickoff Out of bounds (-1)
BG missed xp (-1)

Bowling Green Neutral

BG Kickoff returned to Akron 22
Akron kickoff returned to BG 27
BG Xp
Akron kickoff 44 yard net after safety
BG punt 35 yard net
Akron kickoff returned to BG 27
BG xp
BG xp
BG xp
BG Kickoff returned to Akron 22
BG Punt, 35 yard net before penalty

Akron Positive (+2)

BG Kickoff returned to Akron 37 (+1)
BG kickoff returned to Akron 42 (+1)

Akron Negative (-8)

Akron kickoff returned to BG 46 (-1)
BG kickoff return TD (-6)
BG Punt 45 yard net with penalty (-1)

Akron Neutral

BG Kickoff returned to Akron 22
Akron 27 yard FG
Akron kickoff returned to BG 27
Akron Xp
Akron kickoff returned to BG 28 before penalty
Akron kickoff 44 yard net after safety
Akron kickoff returned to BG 27
Akron punt 30 yard net
Akron 30 yard FG
Akron xp
BG Kickoff returned to Akron 22
Akron punt 30 yard net

Looking at the season as a whole, we do see some small improvements in special teams play for BG.

It is our third straight game in positive territory, after several games of being on the negative side of the equation.  Still, our special teams play has been worse than our opponents and certainly not where they could be if we were making more plays

Conversely, Akron was -6, which is the 3rd straight week in negative territory and tied for the worst game of the season.  Akron only had two positive plays, which is by far the lowest for any BG opponent this year.