2013 Alabama Crimson Tide Preview: Special Teams
Sep 1, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide kicker Cade Foster (43) celebrates with defensive back Vinnie Sunseri (3) after hitting a field goal against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half at Cowboys Stadium. Alabama won 41-14. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
HEADLINER: Cade Foster (SR.)
WHO TO WATCH: Cyrus Jones (SO.)
Alabama’s special teams returns most of the contributors to the 2012 team, but gone are two of the more experienced members of the team. Jeremy Shelley, who made all 11 of his field goal attempts and all 69 of his extra point attempts in 2012, has graduated and four-year long snapper Carson Tinker has also graduated.
Senior Cade Foster returns this year with the chance to finally be Alabama’s primary kicker. Over the last three years as the long-range field goal kicker for Alabama, Foster attempted primarily 40-plus-yard field goals. Last year he made four of nine attempts, with all of them being over 40 yards.
From 50 yards or more he was three for five. Foster has only attempted two field goals in his entire career under 40 yards (and made both in 2010). Consistency in shorter-range field goals is going to be the biggest factor in whether or not Foster is finally made the primary field goal kicker for Alabama in 2013.
Foster has also been on kickoff duty for Alabama, with 46 touchbacks last year Foster and an opponent starting field position on the 24-yard line in 2012. Foster is an aggressive tackler on kickoffs at times as well, and at 6-foot-1, 224 pounds, he’s the size of many linebackers.
On kickoff coverage, freshmen linebackers Reuben Foster and Derrick Henry will likely make an impact.
Senior punter Cody Mandell is back, having averaged 44.3 yards per punt last season, with 19 placed inside the 20-yard line. Mandell’s long punt last year was 61 yards, and he had 14 punts that went over 50 yards.
Long snapper Carson Tinker may be the most underrated member of the special teams, but he was also one of the most experienced and consistent members. True freshman center Cole Mazza will likely get the chance to start out his Alabama career at long snapper, where he was extremely impressive in high school at various football camps.
Kickoff and punt returner is going to be an interesting position to watch this year. Wide receiver Christion Jones was the primary return man in both kickoffs and punts in 2012. He averaged 10 yards per punt return and 26.6 yards per kickoff return with a single touchdown. He was very consistent returning kickoffs, but on punt returns he had a few bobbles and fumbles, and tended to make dangerous decisions in returning punts.
Wide receiver/cornerback Cyrus Jones led the team in kickoff return yardage with 250 yards, also returning some punts. He’ll likely get a shot there again this year. Running back Dee Hart was averaging over 12 yards per punt return before his knee injury last year, and if he’s able to get back to 100 percent, could be the most dynamic returner for Alabama.
Amari Cooper is another that could potential get a shot at returning punts, though that’s a long shot. Cooper was an excellent return man in high school and Nick Saban has not shied away from allowing star players to return kicks for Alabama. Julio Jones returned punts and kickoffs both during his career at times primarily because of his sure handedness. Cooper is easily the most sure-handed player on Alabama’s team at this point.