New Special Teams Coach: Ricky Brumfield

[All4SU]

Special teams seems to have changed so much in recent years. I’m not smart enough to know if it’s just at SU, or across CFB. But kickoffs are almost a non-factor. Most teams have a guy that can bang it through the end zone. It’s not as anti-climactic as the NFL, but it’s close. Fewer injuries.

I feel like we never see punt returns. Everything is a fair catch. Or a ball that SHOULD be a fair catch caught in traffic.

FGs seem to be longer, but no more consistent. Extra points are missed more.

Just seems like a dearth of big plays on ST these days.

 

[upperdeck]

Not sure how the salary offset really works. There is no guarantee that he even gets money from GT the way he stepped down. If you have an Assistant HC type position and leave to be a ball boy at another school, why would GT he on the hook for that? We dont even know what salary he would get here. Maybe at GT he got 200k for ST and 200K for the other duties tacked on and here he would make 200K again?

 

[SUFaninNJ]

Why do we need multiple threads where people complain that SU isn't getting more players from the portal?

Because the Rickie Collins thread is obviously not enough. It's not like there should be an actual thread devoted to complaining about Coach Brown's misuse of the portal. Wait a minute. Wouldn't that be a grand idea!

 

[0.2 YNdeeR]

Special teams seems to have changed so much in recent years. I’m not smart enough to know if it’s just at SU, or across CFB. But kickoffs are almost a non-factor. Most teams have a guy that can bang it through the end zone. It’s not as anti-climactic as the NFL, but it’s close. Fewer injuries.

I feel like we never see punt returns. Everything is a fair catch. Or a ball that SHOULD be a fair catch caught in traffic.

FGs seem to be longer, but no more consistent. Extra points are missed more.

Just seems like a dearth of big plays on ST these days.

That's probably fair overall, but there certainly wasn't a dearth of big ST plays against SU. Hopefully this new guy will scheme better protection for Stonehouse, instill some competency in the FG group (last in the ACC 2024), and make STs a unit to be proud of.

 

[sutomcat]

How many roster spots do we have to work with and keep in mind there is a spring portal…Fran has insinuated there would be less reliance on portal as he recruits more DARTs

Probably none, assuming the staff wants to retain a couple of walkons. One will be the long snapper.

I expect we will have a few players leave post spring ball. Some because they got beat out and do not want to wait to play. Some will get the talk. Some might have grade issues or got home sick or some of the many other things that happen when you have 100 people or so on your roster.

My guess is we add as many players as leave.

 

[anomander]

After looking into this it seems like a really solid hire who will bring a solid recruiting background with him. Not sure what happened at GT last year but he’s been successful wherever he’s been and recruited well along the way. Big upgrade.

 

[anomander]

How many roster spots do we have to work with and keep in mind there is a spring portal…Fran has insinuated there would be less reliance on portal as he recruits more DARTs

Well he had 36 HS kids commit so there isn’t much room. Before this year everyone was all about pounding the portal . I was never a portal pounder but it definitely can be used systematically to plug holes and sure up areas of concern. We have 6 transfers signed. I like Thomas, Collins, and Bertrand to an extent, as well as the need for a kicker, but the others are Fran Jr and a WR that barely played. Again, he was successful utilizing it last year. I might have reconsidered my approach seeing the success of some of the guys he was able to pull last year ended up having. Coaching is all about making adjustments. I know if i had that success i would have tried to replicate it. Then again maybe he knew he couldn’t because the financial status when it comes to NIL? Clemson is a perfect example. Dabo refused to use the portal and even with consistent top recruiting classes they have taken a step back and many fans blame it on his reluctance to use the portal. Nobody is asking to be Ole Miss or Texas Tech because we can’t compete with that. It just looks like we have a lot of holes to fill on defense and depending on young guys to fill in some of the holes left with this upcoming season is asking a lot.

Do you really think we needed 36 HS recruits? We all know there will be a portion that won’t pan out. I would have liked to see some of the more risky signees used on potential stop gap players for the upcoming season to try and pull off an upset or 2 and do our best to maintain the momentum we have going from this past season. These kids are very fickle. They aren’t going to care that we had a rough schedule.

 

[UD1954]

Fran Brown made it perfectly clear that Syracuse had to recruit and develop talent to be successful long term. He also said he wasn't recruiting out of portal for depth and last years work in the portal was necessary because of our lack of size and speed. l believe Fran will give his recruits the first opportunity to step up and grab a starting job before looking for a starter in the portal. One last thing.... if all a kid is looking for is a big bag l don't think he fits what Fran is looking for as far as DART.....JMHO

 

[SmilinBob]

It looks like you guys decided to punt on talking about Brumfield.

 

[OburgCuse]

Brumfield is from New Orleans and recruited a decent amount of Louisiana kids to Virginia (Dontayvion Wicks being one of them). It wouldn’t be surprising if we see a little uptick on some Louisiana kids seeing that Erob had a presence there while at A&M and Brumfield appears to be decent recruiter with lots of ties to the area.

 

[Qbobby]

It looks like you guys decided to punt on talking about Brumfield.

Clearly there is no one blocking this conversation either. Seems appropriate.

 

[orangefog]

Brumfield is from New Orleans and recruited a decent amount of Louisiana kids to Virginia (Dontayvion Wicks being one of them). It wouldn’t be surprising if we see a little uptick on some Louisiana kids seeing that Erob had a presence there while at A&M and Brumfield appears to be decent recruiter with lots of ties to the area.

New Orleans gets as much snow as Syracuse now, so the weather shouldn't be an issue anymore.

 

[Qbobby]

New Orleans gets as much snow as Syracuse now, so the weather shouldn't be an issue anymore.

Great, now New Orleans gets classified as a home game...

 

[PAcuse]

Luckily last year's bar was set so low for special teams that I think it will be an improvement.
He has had some great stops in his career, and I'm hoping this is next.