Special teams...

[GoAndRunIsGoneAndDone]

We've been pretty bad in the aspect of the game. We've had a few good moments, but we'll lose games on special teams this season. Our kicker seems to have a short range, and we can't seem to consistently kick the ball long on kickoffs, either. Coverage has been decent at best.

Punts are short and we aren't good on punt coverage. It's hurting us by giving the other team solid field position. Gotta kick longer and cover better. If not, I'm ok with going on 4th more than we already are. At least going for it, might keep a drive going vs netting 25 yards, giving the other team the ball by punting.... Just throw the ball!

4th and short, with this o line..go for it most of the time. Every situation is different, though.

Going for 2....Well, the more touchdowns ya score, the more this matters. We're solid on extra points though, so far.

FWIW, I loved the call to go for 2 the other night. Our D was worn out and we didn't have many stops left in the tank. It was still a ballsy call, though. Stein knew we were gassed and had a solid chance to end the game right then. It worked, this time. Glad it did! I woulda done the same at that point.

 

[theKybluedude]

What? Unless I’m wrong 90% plus of our kickoffs are not returned and in the end zone. I don’t remember SC returning 1. No big run backs

 

[MidseasonTweak]

Our punter is bad, but I feel like overall punt coverage has been fine

 

[LongliveWildcatDon]

We need open tryouts for a punter. 30yd punts won’t cut it.

 

[bigblueinsanity (the real)]

We need open tryouts for a punter. 30yd punts won’t cut it.

Our punter is atrocious. Im very pleased with the special teams operation but I have no idea how we have a punter so atrocious.

 

[theKybluedude]

We need open tryouts for a punter. 30yd punts won’t cut it.

Averaged 41 yards with one 49 and pinned them down on the goal line on one. Thats not bad.

 

[DonAndy]

I've always wondered if on fourth down instead of punting..you just act like you are throwing it and chunk a hail Mary to the goaline hoping the other team intercepts it. I get they are taught to swat it down but i bet a lot of players would want that interception without thinking it through all the way until maybe after.

 

[DonAndy]

Our punter is atrocious. Im very pleased with the special teams operation but I have no idea how we have a punter so atrocious.

I thought Duffy was gonna keep our Australian connection strong with punters lol

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

We've been pretty bad in the aspect of the game. We've had a few good moments, but we'll lose games on special teams this season. Our kicker seems to have a short range, and we can't seem to consistently kick the ball long on kickoffs, either. Coverage has been decent at best.

Punts are short and we aren't good on punt coverage. It's hurting us by giving the other team solid field position. Gotta kick longer and cover better. If not, I'm ok with going on 4th more than we already are. At least going for it, might keep a drive going vs netting 25 yards, giving the other team the ball by punting.... Just throw the ball!

4th and short, with this o line..go for it most of the time. Every situation is different, though.

Going for 2....Well, the more touchdowns ya score, the more this matters. We're solid on extra points though, so far.

FWIW, I loved the call to go for 2 the other night. Our D was worn out and we didn't have many stops left in the tank. It was still a ballsy call, though. Stein knew we were gassed and had a solid chance to end the game right then. It worked, this time. Glad it did! I woulda done the same at that point.

Zouagui is 6 of 7 with a long of 52 and he has a high percentage of touchbacks (74%) on kickoffs. O'Hara is averaging 40.7 per punt.

Kentucky Wildcats 2026 College Football Team Stats - ESPN

Get the full Team stats for the 2026 Kentucky Wildcats on ESPN. Includes team statistics for scoring, passing rushing and offense.

www.espn.com

Adam Zouagui - Kentucky Wildcats Place Kicker - ESPN

View the profile of Kentucky Wildcats Place Kicker Adam Zouagui on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

We need open tryouts for a punter. 30yd punts won’t cut it.

He's averaging 40.7 yards per punt. Why just pull numbers out of your butt when it is easy enough to look it up?

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/thomas-ohara-1.html

That average places him 11th of 34 UK punters since 1976. While a better average would obviously be nice I'm guessing the chance of landing a better punter through open tryout is virtually non existent.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kentucky/punting.html

For the season we have given up 36 return yards on 17 punts through 5 games.

 

[bigblueinsanity (the real)]

He's averaging 40.7 yards per punt. Why just pull numbers out of your butt when it is easy enough to look it up?

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/thomas-ohara-1.html

That average places him 11th of 34 UK punters since 1976. While a better average would obviously be nice I'm guessing the chance of landing a better punter through open tryout is virtually non existent.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kentucky/punting.html

For the season we have given up 36 return yards on 17 punts through 5 games.

Whatever his stats are, his performance is unacceptable. We are constantly losing field position because his counterparts always out punt him.

Thankfully our excellent offensive scheme generates enough drives to offset it, but at some point it will hurt losing 10+ yards every punt exchange.

 

[LongliveWildcatDon]

He's averaging 40.7 yards per punt. Why just pull numbers out of your butt when it is easy enough to look it up?

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/thomas-ohara-1.html

That average places him 11th of 34 UK punters since 1976. While a better average would obviously be nice I'm guessing the chance of landing a better punter through open tryout is virtually non existent.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kentucky/punting.html

For the season we have given up 36 return yards on 17 punts through 5 games.

You're correct...I didn't look up the stats because I didn't need to. Stats are great but can be misleading, a few bad punts here and there that role a country mile can inflate those numbers. So a few rolling 50 yarders against FCS schools negates his 30yd clunkers. Doesn't inspire me...no matter what the official stats say.

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

Whatever his stats are, his performance is unacceptable. We are constantly losing field position because his counterparts always out punt him.

Thankfully our excellent offensive scheme generates enough drives to offset it, but at some point it will hurt losing 10+ yards every punt exchange.

You're correct...I didn't look up the stats because I didn't need to. Stats are great but can be misleading, a few bad punts here and there that role a country mile can inflate those numbers. So a few rolling 50 yarders against FCS schools negates his 30yd clunkers. Doesn't inspire me...no matter what the official stats say.

All you guys are saying is you don't like reality being identified because it does not agree with your exaggerated agenda.

 

[KYAnywhereEverywhere]

Our punter is inconsistent. The stats may say that his punts average out to being okay, but anyone watching the games can see that he lays some bad eggs. Not sure what to think about the field goal kicker. Is he really someone you can trust when you need some points. History says no, but he's been good this year.

I miss return after kick plays. I understand why they're rare now, but that was an exciting part of the game.

 

[Lameguy]

To be fair, I looked up the stats of punters and he’s next to last in the SEC and when looking at the power conferences he would be bottom 1-3 in all of them.

 

[Get_over_it]

He's averaging 40.7 yards per punt. Why just pull numbers out of your butt when it is easy enough to look it up?

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/thomas-ohara-1.html

That average places him 11th of 34 UK punters since 1976. While a better average would obviously be nice I'm guessing the chance of landing a better punter through open tryout is virtually non existent.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/kentucky/punting.html

For the season we have given up 36 return yards on 17 punts through 5 games.

Thomas O'Hara 2026 Nationwide Baseline Rankings

Metric	Stat	SEC Rank	National FBS Rank
Gross Average	40.73 Yds	16th (Last)	91st out of ~112 regular starters
Total Punts	11 punts	14th	94th (Tied)
Total Yards	448 yards	14th	96th

 

[LongliveWildcatDon]

All you guys are saying is you don't like reality being identified because it does not agree with your exaggerated agenda.

And all you are saying is that you read stats and don't watch the games. Stats are great but they dont tell the whole story. This guy has had way to many garbage kicks for you to die on that hill. But we all can't agree on everything I guess.

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

Thomas O'Hara 2026 Nationwide Baseline Rankings

Metric	Stat	SEC Rank	National FBS Rank
Gross Average	40.73 Yds	16th (Last)	91st out of ~112 regular starters
Total Punts	11 punts	14th	94th (Tied)
Total Yards	448 yards	14th	96th

These stats must be a week behind as he has 17 punts on the year not 11. I never said it was great but the 30 yard average claimed above was obviously false and way off. An average return of just over two yards is not the catastrophe that was presented either.

We are 4-1 with two SEC road wins with our only loss to a powerful Alabama. Why the need to always find something to fret over? I can rest assured the coaching staff is working to improve all aspects as much as possible and message board worrywarts are not necessary to facilitate the work they are putting in.

 

[Get_over_it]

These stats must be a week behind as he has 17 punts on the year not 11. I never said it was great but the 30 yard average claimed above was obviously false and way off. An average return of just over two yards is not the catastrophe that was presented either.

We are 4-1 with two SEC road wins with our only loss to a powerful Alabama. Why the need to always find something to fret over? I can rest assured the coaching staff is working to improve all aspects as much as possible and message board worrywarts are not necessary to facilitate the work they are putting in.

Well if the stats are a week behind then maybe he moved up from 91st out of 112 to like 89th? Yeah the 30 yard average was off, but our punter stinks.

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

And all you are saying is that you read stats and don't watch the games. Stats are great but they dont tell the whole story. This guy has had way to many garbage kicks for you to die on that hill. But we all can't agree on everything I guess.

Your contention is actually that I don't watch the games? You claimed a 30 yard average based on just watching the games. Facts do matter.

 

[paulcalhoun_rivals397471]

To be fair, I looked up the stats of punters and he’s next to last in the SEC and when looking at the power conferences he would be bottom 1-3 in all of them.

This is true but not the same as claiming a 30 yard average and giving up a bunch of huge returns. I don't see the value in nitpicking to find negatives about the team. He is apparently the best we have on the roster and he and the coaches are working to improve it I'm sure. I trust our coaching staff can identify areas for improvement without negative exaggeration and complaining from message board posters.