Sometimes special teams are overlooked.
Most football enthusiasts are interested in the big play on offense or the ferocious hit on defense. However, not many people realize how important a touchback on a kickoff or a fair catch on a punt can be.
Special teams have been vital to the success of the Tigers this season, especially with the lack of consistency of the offense.
Senior placekicker John Corbello has led the charge. Coming out of St. Thomas More High School in 1999, Corbello was one of the most sought-after high-school kickers in the nation.
And after his freshman season, when he was named to the Freshman All-Southeastern Conference team, LSU fans thought a consistent kicker had finally arrived in Baton Rouge.
However, Corbello experienced a sophomore slump, when he connected on only 10-of-18 field goal tries. The jinx carried over to his junior season until he saved his best performance for the most important game of his career.
In the 2001 SEC Championship Game against Tennessee, Corbello connected on three field goals of more than forty yards and helped lead the Tigers to a comeback win over the Vols that placed them in the Nokia Sugar Bowl.
Since that game, he has not looked back. Corbello has hit on 11-of-15 field goals so far, and is 25-of-25 on extra point attempts.
He has also been a huge factor in LSU’s stout kickoff coverage, putting most of his kickoffs in or near the endzone, and helping the Tigers lead the SEC in kickoff coverage, allowing a paltry 16.6 yards a return.
Junior punter Donnie Jones has also turned in another solid effort. In 2001, Jones averaged 43.7 yards a punt and ranked third in the SEC in the very important net punting average, registering 39.6 yards a try.
This year, he has nearly matched both, averaging 42.0 yards per punt, and 35.2 net punting average.
His hangtime has been very good, as LSU’s opponents have averaged only 7.5 yards per punt return, usually helping LSU win the field position battle.
When it comes to returning kicks, the Tigers have one of the best in the business.
Senior running back Domanick Davis is one of the most exciting players LSU has had since Kevin Faulk, and he may be the best kick/punt returner LSU has ever had.
He leads the SEC in punt-return average by more than two yards, averaging 18.7 yards per return, scoring one touchdown on a 78 yard return against Mississippi State. Against Virginia Tech and The Citadel, he had two long returns for touchdowns called back because of penalties. Teams consistently kick away from him for fear of the long run back.
He has also helped bolster a kickoff return unit that ranks second in the SEC with a 28.1 yards-per-return average.
Junior Devery Henderson has been even more impressive than Davis on kickoff returns, leading the SEC with an average 33.7 yards-a-return, more than seven yards longer than the next best effort.
Special teams has been a strength all year long for the Tigers. With consistency being evident thus far, there is no reason to believe it will change any time soon.
That is why half way through the SEC slate, the special teams receives an evaluation grade of A.