Tag: Blake Ochsendorf

Grading LSU’s special teams in 2024 after Week 5

LSU special teams under Brian Kelly are a mixed bag. How is the 2024 unit?

Special teams were an issue in Brian Kelly’s first year at LSU. 2022 was filled with blunders in the third phase of the game and the Tigers finished the year ranked 92nd in special teams. The result led to staff changes, including the exit of special teams coordinator [autotag]Brian Polian[/autotag].

In 2023, LSU took a committee coaching approach to its special teams. LSU finished the season ranking 82nd in the SP+ special teams metric. This is an improvement from 2022, but not where LSU aims to be.

2024 has come with another jump for the special teams unit, with the Tigers up to 59th in SP+ special teams. If this continues, it’ll be LSU’s first above-average special teams unit under [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag].

LSU’s strong kick return unit is the place to start. Returner [autotag]Zavion Thomas[/autotag] leads the SEC in kick return yards with 242 and the Tigers rank above average nationally in FEI’s kick return efficiency.

Thomas’ special teams impact was a big factor in LSU’s decision to recruit him out of the portal and it’s making a difference so far.

On the other side, LSU’s fared well with kickoffs too. Kickoff specialist [autotag]Aeron Burrell[/autotag] has kicked off 25 times and 24 have been touchbacks. That’ll do.

An area of concern entering the year was the punt team. It remains a concern five games in. Punter Peyton Todd’s punting grade ranks last among qualified SEC punters, according to PFF. [autotag]Blake Ochsendorf[/autotag] hasn’t proven to be that effective either, but he has a small sample size with just three punts on the year.

Hopefully for LSU, an effective offense will limit the punt team’s exposure, but if LSU gets in a field position battle, questions arise about LSU’s ability to compete.

The most obvious aspect of any special teams unit is the kicker. [autotag]Damian Ramos[/autotag] is in his third year with the Tigers and continues to provide a competent presence there. Ramos is 5/6 on the year and is yet to miss an extra point. Just one of those field goals was for 40+ yards, but it was a make.

After the last two years, it’s hard to complain about LSU’s special teams unit. Outside of the punt team, this can be one of the stronger groups in the SEC.

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Brian Kelly says LSU will use two punters vs. USC

LSU is set to use two punters vs. USC, per Brian Kelly.

Position battles take center stage in fall camp, but LSU’s most contested battle has flown under the radar. The punter position.

With kickoff just two days away, LSU hasn’t settled on one. [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said the Tigers plan to use two punters.

A few weeks ago, Kelly said they were looking for more consistency from that spot.

LSU didn’t have to punt much last year, but [autotag]Jay Bramblett[/autotag] was effective when he was needed. Bramblett was one of the SEC’s top punters over the last two years and was a critical part of LSU’s 2022 win over Alabama.

Kelly said LSU believes it has “two talented punters” that can both impact the game.

Ochsendorf is a rugby punter, which gives LSU a different look at the position. [autotag]Peyton Todd[/autotag] will take on the more traditional punts.

Todd is entering his fourth year with LSU and has yet to make a punt, but he’s worked as LSU’s holder on field goals. [autotag]Blake Ochsendorf[/autotag] arrives after posting an All-Conference USA season at Louisiana Tech last year.

https://twitter.com/glenwest21/status/1828117762566390170

https://twitter.com/KokiRiley/status/1829288709201834238

LSU will hope to keep its punters off the field, but they’ll be needed at some point. LSU doesn’t need an all-conference player at the position, but it needs to avoid costly mistakes that lose the field position battle.

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LSU lands Louisiana Tech punter Blake Ochsendorf in transfer portal

The Tigers have seemingly found their replacement for Jay Bramblett in the seventh-year transfer punter.

LSU seems to have found its successor for punter [autotag]Jay Bramblett[/autotag].

On Monday, the Tigers added Louisiana Tech punter [autotag]Blake Ochsendorf[/autotag] via the transfer portal. A native of Savage, Minnesota, who is entering his seventh season of college football, Ochsendorf began his career at Minnesota State University Moorhead before transferring to Eastern Michigan.

After not appearing in any games in his three seasons with the Eagles, he joined the Bulldogs in Ruston, where he became one of the top punters in Conference USA this season. His 45.72 punt average led the league and ranked 16th nationally.

That mark also set a program record for the all-time career lead at Louisiana Tech (minimum of 50 punts).

Ochsendorf is a solid replacement for Bramblett, who followed [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] from Notre Dame. Bramblett ranks fourth in LSU history for career punting average despite seeing very limited action due to how explosive the offense was the last two seasons.

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