Breaking Down the Frogs: The Special Teams
8/12/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 12, 2003
Gary Patterson: "I feel really good about our special teams. We have both snappers and our kicker returning. We're trying to find a punter. We improved a lot in that area in the spring. John Braziel goes into the fall as the leading candidate to be the starting punter. We need to keep pushing forward, but I feel good about it because with (snapper) Andy Boerckel coming back, we have the dimension to be able to get the ball off in good shape. A big key on special teams is really for the team to step up and replace LaTarence Dunbar, who did so much for us as far as returning kicks, coming down on kickoffs and covering punts."
Solid special teams have become a source of pride at TCU. The Frogs put a lot of emphasis on their special teams and understand its importance in the game. The Frogs appear to be well-stocked at the key positions again this season, led by pre-season honorable mention all-America placekicker Nick Browne, and the return of snappers Andy Boerckel and Clif Alexander. Three-year starting punter Joey Biasatti has graduated, leaving John Braziel and Mike Wynn to battle for that duty.
Senior Nick Browne is regarded as one of the nation's top returning placekickers. A semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award last season, Browne moved to the top of several TCU placekicking charts. The left-footed kicker is deadly from within 40 yards, but has also hit on a pair of 50-yard kicks in his career.
Barefooted kicker John Braziel enters the fall as the team's top punter. Braziel lettered as a true walk-on freshman in 2000, punting 17 times for a 37.5 yard average. Braziel has an outstanding leg and only needs to improve on his consistency to be a weapon. Sophomore Mike Wynn figures to handle the kickoff duties again in 2003 and is a solid backup in both the placekicking and punting chores. Wynn showed more consistency in the spring and will push Braziel throughout the fall.
The snapping duties are in good hands with senior Andy Boerckel returning as the long snapper and junior Clif Alexander back as the short snapper. Boerckel also is excellent in punt coverage with speed and savvy.
Redshirt freshman placekicker Peter LoCoco came on in the spring and will add depth at the position. Reserve punter Reeves Dalton will challenge Cody McCarty for the holding duties.
LaTarence Dunbar, Jason Goss and Terran Williams handled the bulk of the kick return duties in the past and have moved on, leaving some holes to fill. Mark Walker may be the leading candidate for the punt return duties, while Ricky Madison, Corey Connally, Michael DePriest and Cory Rodgers, along with Walker, are candidates for the kick return chores.
