LSU went with an unorthodox approach on special teams in 2017.
Coach Ed Orgeron made the decision to have five different coaches take charge of one special teams unit, and he brought in Greg McMahon — who was the New Orleans Saints special teams coach from 2008-2016 after serving as the assistant in 2006 and 2007 — to oversee everything as an analyst.
The coaches implemented McMahon’s schemes and had weekly meetings with him as well. However, due to his role as an analyst, McMahon was not allowed to have contact with players on or off the field.
This led to a game of telephone, according to redshirt sophomore punter Zach Von Rosenberg.
Now, that game is over.
Once the NCAA allowed for teams to add a 10th assistant coach to the field starting in 2018, Orgeron was decisive on using that the extra spot on McMahon.
“You don’t have that situation [of telephone] going on because the message can get lost in translation or the technique could be wrong,” Von Rosenberg said. “Any of those things can happen, but with Mac it’s a ‘do it this way, the correct way, my way’ without interference from having to say anything to anybody else.
“There’s clarity in what we are doing.”
That clarity has paid big dividends for the Tigers through two games in 2018.
Junior wide receiver Jonathan Giles’ two punt returns have both gone for 20-plus yards, sophomore running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire has topped his longest kick return from last season, and five of Von Rosenberg’s nine punts have been downed inside 20 compared to 11 of 36 downed inside the 20 in 2017.
Von Rosenberg said McMahon had the coaches install the basics and fundamentals of what he was trying to do last season, but now that the former NFL coordinator has full control, he’s taking it to the next level. 
“It’s pretty analytical,” said Von Rosenberg now that McMahon is installing more in-depth schemes and has the players working more on timing compared to the previous year. “We’re just more precise in everything that we do on special teams.”
But the biggest difference for LSU has been in kicking game with graduate transfer Cole Tracy and walk-on freshman Avery Atkins, who were both recruited to LSU by McMahon.
Tracy has been perfect on field goals (5-for-5 with a long of 54), and Atkins has 11 touchbacks on 13 kickoffs. His 64.8 yard average on kickoffs is 1.6 yards better than the average last year.
Atkins leg was even strong enough to get the ball into the stands at Tiger Stadium on one of his kickoffs against Southeastern last Saturday.
“He’s got a freakish leg,” said Von Rosenberg of the Auburn, Alabama, native. “I’ve been to a lot of football games in Tiger Stadium as a player and a fan, and I’ve never seen a player hit a ball in the stands in person.”

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Courtesy of LSUsports.net

Zach Von Rosenberg