2002 TCU Football: The Special Teams
8/13/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 13, 2002
Gary Patterson: "Obviously it's a strength when you have your punter, place kicker and long snapper all coming back. We are very excited because we were in the top 15 in the nation in punting last year. We also have our returners coming back with Jason Goss on punt returns and LaTarence Dunbar on kick returns. We feel very good about the special teams being one of our strong suits."
With all the key ingredients back, TCU should have one of the top special teams units in the conference and maybe in the nation this season. Both punter Joey Biasatti and place kicker Nick Browne were selected by Dave Campbell's 2002 Texas Football magazine to the All-Texas College team at their respective positions.
Senior punter Joey Biasatti, who Patterson refers to as "one of the best punters in the conference," helped the Frogs to a 38.4 net punting average, 15th in the country. The left-footed kicker overcame a broken right leg suffered mid-way through the 2000 season to turn in a fine season.
Two-sport standout Nick Browne was the Frogs' leading scorer both on the gridiron and on the soccer field last fall. Also a left-footed kicker, Browne hit on 14-of-20 field goal attempts, including six-of-eight from 40 yards or beyond.
Dependable junior Andy Boerckel returns to handle the deep snapping duties. Boerckel not only does a solid job with the snaps, but hustles down the field, often causing havoc for the opponents' punt return units.
Shane Hudnall did an excellent job handling the kickoff duties a season ago until suffering a broken right leg in practice.
John Braziel and Ed Johnson are a pair of backup punters who the TCU coaches feel could be starters on many other collegiate teams. Reeves Dalton provides depth.
Tommy Taylor and Mike Wynn will continue to push Browne for the placekicking duties. Taylor had a good spring, while Wynn may possess the strongest leg of the group.
Clif Alexander will battle Boerckel for the deep snapping duties.
The Frogs are solid in their return units with Jason Goss handling the punt returns and LaTarence Dunbar drawing the assignment for kick returns. Goss was one of the league's top returners last season, averaging 11.5 yards per return, including a 50-yard score at Tulane. Dunbar led the nation in kick returns in 2000 with a 33.7 yards per return average, including two that went the distance. The Frogs coverage units have not surrendered a touchdown since Sept., 1999.
