Kenny Perry talks penalties, new starting punt returner
With plenty of positives to take away from the first two games of the season for Texas Tech, one area of growth is the multiple penalties that eliminated some big runs during punt and kickoff returns.
Special teams coordinator Kenny Perry has expressed how much his group still needs to improve in that aspect, and they are working extra hard in practice to try to get those penalties cleaned up before Oregon State this weekend. He spoke to the media on Tuesday to discuss how he’s approaching the penalties in practice and more.
Perry’s emphasis in practice
Although the penalties that have been called haven’t affected the course of the game in the past two weeks, the coaching staff knows those big runs will be huge against the Beavers and when they start conference play.
“They were calling a lot tighter. So if they’re calling it tighter, we’ve got to do a better job… I think we’ve given up probably about 90 yards because of penalties. So just got to get better at that,” Perry said. “In practice, just moving their feet, not grabbing… we’re getting like where we don’t let the guy go, which is an aggressive deal. So just gotta move their feet, stay involved. I’m not gonna change being aggressive. I mean, I’m gonna keep doing that. You get two choices: you’re either soft and you’re not good on punt return, or you’re aggressive and you’re good. So we’ll get it.”
Newest starting punt returner
For the first two games, Roy Alexander was listed on the depth chart as the starting punt returner. Alexander was the starting returner against UAPB, but had none against Kent State. It has been all Tristian Gentry, as well as one appearance from Coy Eakin. With Gentry showing lots of good things from his returns, Perry feels good about him being the primary punt returner going forward.
“Yeah, right now he (Gentry) is. I mean, he’s kinda winning the job,” Perry said. “He’s pretty electric, as long as he possesses the football and does what he’s supposed to do, he’s going to be really good. I’m excited with what he’s done so far.”
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