Graf: Improvement on punts, punt returns crucial to UK's 2017 success
Arguably the most overlooked part of the game of football is the area where the Wildcats have the most question marks entering the 2017 season. It's not the most flashy, but it's critical nonetheless: The punt game.
Punts are probably the least talked about plays of each game, but Kentucky has to improve on them on both sides of the ball.
The weakest link of UK's 2016 season came while punting and returning punts. Freshman Grant McKinniss was given the starting punter role last season and he performed just as you would expect from a wide-eyed first-year player.
McKinniss ranked last in the SEC in yards per punt (39.2 YPP) and was unable to generate much hang time on the majority of them. It was clear that he lacked confidence in himself last season.
He has the talent, but Kentucky's coaches say all of his problems are between his ears. Last year, McKinnis' punts left the Wildcats' defense in a bad position more times than not, with their opponents starting with very favorable field position. The Cats need a boost from him if they are wanting to be able to flip the field this season.
A new face who will be pushing McKinnis for playing time is Columbia graduate transfer Matthew Panton. As a "specialty punter," Panton will mostly be called upon to be Kentucky's short-yardage punter, trying to pin the opposing team as close to their goal line as possible. The name of his game is not a big leg, but accuracy. As a graduate transfer, Panton will only have one season to suit up in a Wildcat uniform, so his addition to the team will not solve the long-term punting problem.
For Kentucky, returning punts needs as much improvement as kicking them. Even though Charles Walker returned the Cats' first punt for a touchdown since 2010, there is definitely the need for a home run threat in the return game. Kentucky ranked 83rd in the country last season with only 131 punt return yards on 8.2 yards per return. Walker is a sure-handed return man, but is that going to be important enough to the coaches to keep the more electric speedsters off the field?
Former track star Davonte Robinson, elusive freshman Lynn Bowden, junior running back Sihiem King and senior wide receiver Garrett Johnson are all viable options this offseason and have received reps in practice. For special teams coordinator Dean Hood, it comes down to the preference of consistency or home run ability.
According to ESPN, Kentucky ranked 55th in the country in special teams efficiency in 2016. For the Wildcats to make a jump in that ranking, the need for improvement in the punt game is significant.
For the Cats to win the games that they're supposed to, as well as steal a game or two where they aren't favored, they have to be clicking in all three phases of the game. Expect for McKinnis to make a substantial improvement entering year two, as he begins to show why he was given such a lofty ranking by some recruiting sites. Also, don't be shocked if the Cats increase their yards per return average to 10-plus with the influx of talented options in the return game.