GoDutchmen.com's Football Preview Week breaks down each unit for the 2010 football team, starting with special teams. With plenty of veterans returning, the Dutchmen expect to have a solid group in place for the upcoming season.
Be sure to check out the special teams preview video by clicking the play button above!
5 Things To Watch
1. Field Goals: LVC was just 3-for-10 on field goals last year, and the Dutchmen haven't coverted more than 50% of their tries since 2005. No LVC team has produced more than five FGs in a season since clearing six in 2001.
2. Kick-Off Depth: LVC averaged 55.2 yards per kickoff in 2009, vastly improved over their 51.8 ypk average in 2008. Coach
Jim Monos feels there is even more room for improvement, but it will have to come from a new face with the departure of 2009 kick-off man Nate Fehr.
3. Kick-Off Coverage: In 2008, the Dutchmen allowed an average starting position of the 38-yard line. In 2009, that got pushed back to the 33. However, LVC's net average was still just 36.2 yards, fifth in the MAC.
4. Punting: Thanks to a strong offense, LVC punted just 40 times last year; at 3.6 punts per game, it was the fewest in a season since 1972. And when they did punt, they made it count. First-team all-MAC punter
Colt Zarilla averaged 38.8 ypp and put 13 inside the 20-yard line. Opponents had just 4.0 yards per return.
5. The Return Game: The LVC return unit was among the MAC's best last year, ranking second on kick-offs (22.4 yds) and third on punts (8.4 yds). With three experienced return men back, look for that trend to continue.
By The Numbers
0 - On-side kicks lost by LVC's hands team, in four attempts last year
1 - Kick-offs returned for a touchdown in 2009, by
Ben Guiles against Gettysburg
3 - Field goals made by LVC last year on 10 attempts
33 - Extra points by
Brittany Ryan, an LVC single-season record
35% - Percentage of times opponents were able to return punts on LVC in 2009. The Dutchmen punted 40 times, yielding just 14 returns and five fair catches.
Positional Breakdown
KICKER
2009 Starters:
Brittany Ryan (FG/XP) / Nate Fehr (KO)
2010 Preseason:
Brittany Ryan (FG/XP) /
Matt Nawracaj or
Sean Fakete (KO/FG)
Senior
Brittany Ryan made some history last year as she set the LVC single-season record for extra points with 33. Now in 2010, she can become the NCAA's all-time female scoring leader with just five more points (she already owns the D-III record). Monos expects Ryan to continue on extra points and short field goals, with junior
Matt Nawracaj and freshman
Sean Fakete competing for longer field goals and kick-off duties. Nate Fehr, who left the program over the summer, took every kick-off for LVC last year and averaged a solid 55.2 yards per kick, but Monos' goal is to go even deeper with the leg of Nawracaj or Fakete.
PUNTER
2009 Starter:
Colt Zarilla
2010 Preseason:
Colt Zarilla
All-MAC and all-ECAC punter
Colt Zarilla was a game-changer for LVC last year, booming 36 punts for a 38.8 yard average. Less than half - 14 - were returned by opponents, and his hangtime ability let the coverage unit limit returns to a 4.0 yard average. And as a quarterback, Zarilla keeps defenses on their toes for trick plays. Backing up Zarilla will be
Clay Chaney and
Kevin Greene, and
Caleb Fick could be used for the occasional situational quick kick again this season (he punted three times last year, sticking two inside the 20 and putting the other out of the end zone).
RETURNS
2009 Starters:
Ben Guiles and
Sean Donovan (KR) /
Sean Donovan (PR)
2010 Preseason:
Ben Guiles and
Tim Picerno (KR) /
Nic Shirey (PR)
True, the Dutchmen lose all-MAC returner
Sean Donovan, who averaged 7.5 yards per punt return and 22.6 yards per kick return, but bring back plenty of experience with Guiles, Shirey, and Picerno. Guiles averaged 34.5 yards per kick return in 2009 thanks to his opening-day touchdown return at Gettysburg; Picerno took back five kicks for a 22.8 yard average. On punts, Shirey returned eight for a outstanding 9.6 yard average. Coach Monos believes that behind that group, there are a number of speedy options that could get a shot, including
Jordan Senkbeil,
Pete Panichi, and
Kevin Delcalzo.
SPECIALISTS
2009 Starter:
Zach Bleiler (LS punts) and Mike Attanasio (LS kicks) /
Caleb Fick (Holder)
2010 Preseason:
Zach Bleiler (LS punts) and Mike Attanasio (LS kicks) /
Caleb Fick (Holder)
Long-snapping was reliable last year and should continue to be in 2010 with both
Zach Bleiler, who handled punts, and Mike Attanasio, who did placekicks, back.
Caleb Fick was also solid holding, and with his quarterback abilities can present an "out" on bad snaps or botched plays, as seen on his impromptu two-point conversion run against Moravian last year.