Special Teams Will Give Auburn Advantage

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http://www.accessauburn.com/story.html?1156662162017699

Special Teams Will Give Auburn Advantage

With the starting punter, field goal kicker and kickoff specialist all returning, Auburn should have the advantage if they need a big play from special teams when the game is on the line.

The play of special teams can often change the outcome of a game. A missed field goal, a bad punt, and a fumble on a punt return can all be devastating to a team that has played well enough to win but sees a victory slip away because of a crucial mistake. Special teams coach Eddie Gran thinks the Tigers have all of the ingredients to have a successful year on special teams which should help them avoid game changing mistakes.

Kody Bliss looks to be the top punter in the SEC in 2006.

Auburn's punter has a chance to be an All-American in 2006 if he performs like he did last season and during the spring. Kody Bliss was named the A-Day Special Teams MVP after averaging 46.8 yards on six punts. During his career on the Plains, Bliss is third in Auburn history with a 43.3 yard per punt average, sixth with 6,712 total punt yards and ninth with 155 punts.

Bliss was outstanding last season when he led the SEC in punting with a 44.9-yard per kick average and averaged a conference-leading 45.8 yards per punt in SEC play. The senior punter also did his job of making sure opposing offenses started inside their 20 when it was important for Auburn to control the field position part of the game.

John Vaughn is back as the Tigers' field goal kicker. The three-year starter struggled at times in 2005 but should have his confidence back after having a strong spring.

Even though he struggled last season, Vaughn still made 12-of-20 field goals and all 50 extra points attempted. Against Georgia, he nailed a 20-yard field goal with six seconds left to give Auburn the 31-30 victory.

Walk-on Matt Clark will handle the kickoffs along with Zac Kutch. In 2005, Clark kicked off 49 times, averaging 62.5 yards per kickoff and finished with 26 touchbacks. Kutch appeared in five games, made 14 kickoffs, with two going for touchbacks and averaged 61.9 yards per kickoff.

Brad Lester will give Auburn a threat to go the distance on kickoff returns. (Photo courtesy of autigers.com)

Brad Lester will be one of the kickoff return specialists for the Tigers. Lester averaged 49 yards per return on four attempts last season. Speedy Tristan Davis will join Lester as the other kickoff return man. Davis handled the position well is the spring and Gran thinks his speed could be a factor when Auburn needs a good return late in the game.

Aairon Savage and Patrick Lee could also have a chance to return some kickoffs. Both have excellent speed but lack experience at the position.

On punt returns, Robert Dunn took over for Tre Smith late in the season last year after Smith had some fumble problems. Dunn will probably get the most opportunities on punt returns but Smith along with Courtney Taylor will also have plenty of chances to make things happen.

[Draven 0]

On punt returns, Robert Dunn took over for Tre Smith late in the season last year after Smith had some fumble problems. Dunn will probably get the most opportunities on punt returns but Smith along with Courtney Taylor will also have plenty of chances to make things happen.

I am a Trey Smith fan and I hope he gets many chances to leave his mark this season just as he did in the IB. However I really hate the idea of him returning punts, he puts the ball on the ground far to often. Dunn, maybe even TD should get the chance to return punts imho.

[eagle76 1]

The return combo of Lester and Davis, and Dunn is great news. At some point this fall Courtney Taylor was talked about as a punt returner. I sure hope we can just devote him to receiver.