Fort Collins – For punters, kickers and special-teams coaches, playing indoors is the next best thing to being in a vacuum.
“There’s no wind, no rain, just perfect weather,” Colorado State punter Jimmie Kaylor said of the Rams’ game Saturday against Minnesota at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. “I’ll live with the no elevation.”
For one game, Kaylor and CSU kicker Kevin Mark can do their jobs under ideal conditions. If the wind isn’t blowing at the start of a game along the Front Range, it usually picks up.
CSU special-teams coach Dave Arnold, who was on the Seattle Seahawks’ coaching staff for three years and knows the advantages of playing in a dome, said indoor football removes an entire set of rituals.
“It was a great deal. I don’t have to try to pick up artificial grass and see which way the wind blows,” Arnold said. “If we defer a kickoff, it’s only because we want to get the ball in the second half.”
The kicking part of the Rams’ special teams went reasonably well last week as Kaylor averaged 45.2 yards per punt against Colorado. Mark missed his first career field-goal attempt, but converted all four extra-point attempts. He didn’t allow a kickoff return until the ill-advised squib kick toward the end of the game.
CSU’s kickoff returns were productive with Robert Herbert and Damon Morton combining for a 26-yard average. But the Rams managed to return only one punt. Coverage collapsed on the ill-fated squib kick and one punt attempt went unblocked.
No personnel changes are in store for Saturday, but Arnold wants to see improvement.
“We’re not where we need to be,” Arnold said. “We have to get better at everything. … We’re not content with where we are now.”
Footnotes
CSU running back Jimmy Green will start in place of Nnamdi Ohaeri (sprained ankle). Offensive coordinator Dan Hammerschmidt said he hopes to have Ohaeri back for the Mountain West Conference opener against Air Force on Sept. 29. … Hammerschmidt said he hopes to get reserve running back Gartrell Johnson his first carries of the season. … Cornerback Darryl Williams (concussion) didn’t practice this week and Brandon Cathy, the starter a year ago, will start in his place.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
