Stonehouse's Punts in Concert with Coverage

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FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- Ryan Stonehouse has always been able to boom the football.

By averaging 48.3 yards per kick in 2018 after 45.9 as a true freshman the year before, he shot to the top of Colorado State's leaderboard in average at 47.3, more than 3 yards clear of Jimmie Kaylor.

Which hasn't always meant great things for the Rams.

For instance, while he ranked second nationally in average, the coverage unit was not highly regarded in terms of net punting (88^th). While his kicks were sailing, they were getting returned to the tune of more than 10 yards difference in his average and the net.

Not good.

Jump ahead a year forward, Stonehouse is still letting it fly. His average of 48.3 would rank fifth nationally if he had more attempts, but Colorado State's net punting is sixth at 46.1.

A difference of a mere 2.2 yards.

"I think we put a focus on that. That was the No. 1 thing coach Nick Jones talked about. Well, protection is always No. 1, but No. 2 is we have to be a better coverage unit," CSU head coach Mike Bobo said. "I think that's been big for us. We're talking coverage in practice, and Stonehouse has done a better job of putting more hang time and putting it where he's supposed to put the ball, where last year we might have outkicked our coverage several times."

Stonehouse will not deny the fact, either. While he tried to work on it the past offseason, he continued the work with improved results. The addition of Jones to the staff, who is the co-special teams coordinator with Chase Gibson, has brought about a new plan.

The hang time Stonehouse can produce is just part of the equation, where at one point last year, the Rams were aiming for out of bounds. Directionality is still key, but so is the ability to cover.

Stonehouse said it's not easy, and certain parts of the field present hurdles to clear, but the results are more than encouraging.

"That was the big thing this offseason, we've been working more on hang time and direction. When Coach Jones came in, we were all about splitting the field into thirds," Stonehouse said. "It's not as much of a hang time thing, it's more of a direction thing so we can get our coverage unit into a little pocket, and that cuts so many returns off. At Arkansas, we had one on the sideline, it was a 6-yard return, but it could have been bigger if it was in the middle of the field."

Against Arkansas, Stonehouse produced a pair of fair catches, another return for no yards and put one out of bounds. But the play he was referring to came in the first quarter and it was made by true freshman Keevan Bailey.

Bobo was talking about it, too, especially since Bailey is bookended by classmate Brandon Crossley.

"Our guys are covering. We have two freshmen starting as the gunners, Keevan Bailey and Brandon Crossley, and they're what starts punt coverage and they've done a nice job," Bobo said. "That tackle Keevan made the other day, we really hadn't seen that in four years, a guy making a tackle like that."

Bailey stopped Treylon Burks dead in his tracks, and those type of plays give Stonehouse – the NCAA's active leader in punting average -- more confidence to continue with the plan. He knows if he maintains his progress, the coverage team is going to execute the plan.

It could prove beneficial this week, as Toledo's top returner, Devin Maddox, is averaging 10 yards a return, and every coach in the country will take a first down on the play.

"Keevan is awesome. The last two games, he's come out, and Brandon has been great," Stonehouse said. "Having those two guys step up in a role that hasn't been here in a couple of years is huge for us. Keevan made a heck of a play last game. That dude was massive for a returner, and for him to make a play like that – bang-bang – as a punter, you love it."

Overall, Colorado State's special teams have performed a bit better, and Bobo feels the Rams are on the brink of big plays. Anthony Hawkins had a great kick return brought back on a flag, and Dante Wright has shown promise in returning punts. The one area the Rams have lagged is in kick return coverage, ranking 126th at 31.5 yards per, and it would help if they could shore up placekicking, where three players have combined to make four of eight field goal attempts.,

"We've been working it over and over. We haven't had the breakout plays in special teams yet, but I feel like we're close," Bobo said. "I feel like we're a much better unit in special teams right now."

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