Kentucky and Mississippi State Share Similar Special Teams Problems

All too often the third phase of the game is omitted from the equation when handicapping a football game. Special teams struggles are no stranger to either Kentucky or Mississippi State, particularly in what’s perceived as the easiest to execute: extra points.

After burying a 53-yarder against Bowling Green, Mississippi State kicker Ben Raybon has missed field goals in consecutive games. This fall the Bulldogs have failed to convert a pair of PATs. Mike Leach attributes it to a combination of mistakes from the snapper, holder and kicker.

“I don’t think they’ve finished in the right spot,” the Mississippi State head coach said Monday. “And I think you know, it’s like if you throw the ball, your arm’s over here, the ball’s probably going to go over there, you know? And I think it’s about as easy as that. I think we need to start hitting those. Otherwise, we’ll just go for two all the time.”

Kentucky had similar issues in the kicking operation at Ole Miss. Matt Ruffolo missed a 49-yard field goal and failed to convert a pair of PATs with a reserve longsnapper in the game. Ruffolo also doinked a field goal in the first half against South Carolina. Leach has never been too shy to publicly criticize his kicker, but Mark Stoops takes a different approach.

“He hit the upright, right? Again, just fractions off. What’s it, six inches, eight inches? I believe in Ruff and he’ll hit them,” Stoops said after the loss to South Carolina.

Two Game-Changing Special Teams Plays by Mississippi State

Mississippi State can thank an excellent special teams play for propelling them to a win. There was also a grave special teams mistake that quickly caused the Bulldogs to fall apart in a loss.

Mississippi State had a 16-10 lead at LSU in the third quarter when Austin Williams muffed a punt inside his own 10-yard line. The Bulldogs completely unraveled after that special teams mistake. Three plays later the Tigers scored their first of 21 unanswered points to win 31-16 in Death Valley. Since then Zavion Thomas has handled all of Miss. State’s punt return duties.

Two weeks later the Bulldogs turned the tide on No. 17 Texas A&M with a spectacular special teams play. Leading 14-3 in the third quarter, the Bulldogs blocked a field goal and Decamerion Richardson returned it 50 yards for a touchdown. Instead of becoming a one-score game, it got out of hand and Mississippi State pulled away with a 42-24 win.

Thanks to defensive heroics, Kentucky was fortunate that a blocked punt did not give South Carolina an early 14-0 advantage. The Wildcats do not need special teams heroes to secure a top 25 victory this Saturday at Kroger Field, but they cannot let mistakes give the Bulldogs game-changing momentum.