Sept. 28, 2009
(2:12 p.m.): I don’t know if you remember, but against Oregon State, after a 46-yard punt from Patrick O’Donnell early in the third quarter, there was a Bearcats player who sprinted his way down the field and absolutely torched punt returner Taylor Kavanaugh.
The play resulted in a one-yard loss and forced the Beavers to begin their drive on the Oregon State 10-yard line. That player: senior receiver Charley Howard. If you’ll recall, Howard was also the player to recover that onside kick late in the Pittsburgh game last year that helped seal the victory – and, ultimately, the Big East title.
Howard and sophomore Orion Woodard are two wide receivers who would like to see the field more often on offense. But, for now, they have their roles on special teams. And so far, they’re two of the best performers on that unit.
“One of coach (Brian) Kelly’s top paradigms is ‘embracing your role,’” special teams coach Mike Elston said. “Guys that are not a top receiver or a top defensive player, their role is to get on the field for special teams. On the four running teams, we only have four starters (Mardy Gilyard, Kazeem Alli, Alex Hoffman and Jeff Linkenbach). Everybody else is a reserve or a backup.”
Howard has one catch – the 43-yard touchdown pass against Southeast Missouri State – and two special teams tackles while Woodard has a fumble recovery. But Woodard and Howard, heading into Saturday’s win against Fresno State, held the No. 1 and No. 2 positions, respectively, on the top points performer list that represents the race to win the special teams player award at the end of the season.
It is a coveted title.
“I get guys coming to me every day, wanting to get on special teams,” Elston said. “Absolutely, it’s a huge thing. You’re only starting 11 offensive players and 11 defensive players. We have 105 players out here. Twenty-two of them are getting what they want. The other 80 are wanting to play. Where are they going to play?”
|
|
 |
Said BK: “Charley has been a valuable part of what we do. He has a role. The thing with Charley Howard is that he’s accepted his role on this football team. He does not like his role. But he’s accepted it. The hardest thing in coaching is to get a young man to accept the role that has been defined for him. Then they get that chance, they take that opportunity.”
Woodard, though, still thinks he can crack the wide receiver depth chart in his final 2 ½ seasons with the squad.
“I feel like I can make an impact,” Woodard said. “I just wait for the coaches to give me that chance. When I get that chance, I’m going to try to capitalize on it. It’s tough, but it’s tough for everybody. Everybody comes out of high school as the starters on their team. They have to either sit out or the coaches decide who they want to move up. You have to take what the coaches give you.”
And he’s gunning for that season-ending award. It’s because he says he takes tremendous pride in anything he can do for the Bearcats. It’s also because you never know what other opportunity you’ll receive if you impress the coaches in the present tense.
“If you’re starting on all the special teams, you’re going to be traveling,” Woodard said. “If you look at our situation last year, when we went through five quarterbacks, God forbid anybody gets hurt, but there’s always that possibility of getting out on the field.”
