Battles ongoing for jobs on special teams

There is only a little more than a week to go before preseason football camp ends and the Golden Flashes start their preparation to face Ohio University on Aug. 30. That means the battles for positions on the depth chart leading into week one are in the home stretch.

The one thing Paul Haynes and his coaching staff have repeated to their players since day one is the idea that if you are not on a special team, “don’t even talk about a position.”

That mantra is designed to impress upon every player the importance of special teams. Based on the fact that Haynes keeps hearing players repeat it themselves, he believes they are buying in.

There are still several jobs on those special teams units to be determined due to the fact that the Flashes have had very little live work. Some spots could become a little more settled after Saturday when the Flashes hold a situational scrimmage at Dix Stadium. 

Until now, they’ve broken up groups like their “Recon” unit for drills, and while players look like they understand concepts and are working hard, the coaches won’t have a true evaluation until they get some full-go looks.

Two of the jobs that are set belong to Anthony Melchiori, who will handle the punting and kickoff duties. Melchiori is a weapon as a punter with his ability to change the field. He also has a big leg on field goals, but as of Friday Haynes was not yet sure if he will add placekicking to Melchiori’s duties for a second consecutive year. Sophomore Brad Miller and freshman Shane Hynes, who missed a few days early in camp to injury, are also in the mix for the job, “if they can keep coming on,” Haynes said.

The coaching staff likes the potential of young players in the coverage units. Sophomore brothers Nate and Nick Holley are both good coverage men. The Flashes also love the athleticism of freshman linebacker Marques Moore, and kick coverage will give him one more way to get him on the field in his first year. 

According to Haynes, the return game is still pretty much wide open with three sophomores in wide receivers James Brooks, Ernest Calhoun and RB-WR Nick Holley battling a group of freshmen that includes running back Miles Hibbler, Zaquon Tyson and cornerback Eldin Anu. Everyone in that group is in the mix for both punt and kick returns. 

The snapping duties are also in good shape with Chad Bushley back for his third season.