Nebraska’s Special Teams Woes Continue
Ed Foley, the Nebraska Cornhuskers special teams coach, has his work cut out for him this fall. The concern surrounding Nebraska’s special teams continues to grow, and the open practice held earlier this week did nothing to quiet those concerns. Previously, we reported on the issue with kicker Tristian Alvano and his absence from the 120-man fall camp roster. The instability at the kicking position is significant, but many overlook the significance on the punter position. No, Brain Buschini isn’t hurt (that we know of) but he did cause some chatter on social media after his performance in the open practice.
Boomchini No More?
The focus has now shifted to the Cornhuskers’ punting situation. Nebraska’s punter, Brian Buschini, who was affectionately referred to as “Boomchini” during and after the 2022 season due to his strong leg and ability to flip field position, is now under the spotlight for less flattering reasons. Last season, his performance took a noticeable dip, and the trend doesn’t seem to be reversing. Concerns peaked earlier this week during Nebraska’s open practice where fans and media could witness Buschini’s inconsistent performance firsthand. He was seen consistently shanking punts, and his struggles fueled further anxiety about Nebraska’s special teams. This has led many to wonder what exactly is going wrong with a player who once showcased so much promise. The Montana transfer and FCS punter of the year was good, or shall I say great during his 2022 season with the Huskers. He averaged 44 yards a punt, including multiple over 50 and even a 65-yard punt versus Georgia Southern. Then came the 2023 season, where he seemed to take a step back. He averaged 40 yards a punt but was also inconsistent much of the year. In some moments he flipped field position with 50-yard bombs but in other moments shanked punts.
Field Position: A Crucial Factor
Field position is a crucial aspect of Big Ten football, a league that games are often decided by 7 points or less similar to the NFL. A reliable special teams’ unit is essential for flipping field position and scoring field goals. With both the kicking and punting games in question, Nebraska’s 2024 season could be overshadowed by it. In a year where Nebraska desperately needs to make a bowl game, and many would argue win at least 7-8 games, the special teams could be a problem. Now, enter two freshman kickers, Hohl and Ottomanelli. One of them could end up being good and consistent enough to start, even over a healed Alvano. Also enter freshman punter Koch, who was one of the top punters in his recruiting class. Could he get the nod over Buschini?
As the Huskers continue to go through fall camp, the spotlight in my mind is firmly on the special teams.
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