SB Nation Los Angeles: All Posts by Steven Muma

Special Teams Performance: Get Better In The Margins, Get Slightly Richer

2013-05-23T16:45:22Z

Toward the end of Bill Connelly's Vanderbilt preview, there is an interesting tidbit about special teams--the top nine teams in special teams F/+ last year each won at least nine games. Connelly estimates that special teams makes up only 10% to 15% of the outcome of a game, so obviously poor performance in that area can be overcome, but as he points out, this is a good example of how teams can squeeze a little extra out of the margins and cover up some weaknesses elsewhere.

So how did NC State's special teams unit rank over the last five years? You can probably guess.

2012: 64th
2011: 92nd
2010: 54th
2009: 117th
2008: 35th

Tom O'Brien's teams never leveraged this phase of the game, despite some fine efforts from return man T.J. Graham throughout most of those years. Graham was pretty much the extent of the marginal gains the football team could count on in any given game. The punting, well, let's not talk about the punting. Let's pretend there is no punting. There is no punt, only pain. You're thinking of the 2010 Clemson game right now aren't you. I'm sorry, everyone.

Can Dave Doeren's staff find more success here? With such a short coaching track record, it's tough to guess. NIU finished 71st in special teams F/+ in 2011 and moved up to 19th last season. One thing is for sure though--with a new quarterback and a new offense, 2013 would be a good time for the Wolfpack's special teams to take a step forward.

Henry Hynoski injury: Giants FB will have surgery to repair left MCL

2013-05-23T15:25:58Z

New York Giants fullback Henry Hynoski will undergo surgery to repair a damaged left MCL as well as a chip fracture to the lateral plateau, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. Hynoski suffered the injury in an apparent collision with running back Andre Brown during OTAs on Wednesday.

While there is no official timetable for a return, the two-year veteran is hoping he'll be ready for the start of the regular season. "I am going to set my mind to being ready for the first game of the regular season," Hynoski said in a statement. "[The Giants] said that is not an unrealistic goal, and I will do everything in my power to be ready for the start of the season."

Hynoski appeared in all 16 games for the Giants last season and made 11 starts. He finished the year with five carries for 20 yards and also had a touchdown reception.

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Chris Ivory works toward being Jets' feature running back

2013-05-23T14:40:49Z

Chris Ivory has never been the primary ball carrier for a team in the NFL, but that may change now that he is a member of the New York Jets. Ivory, who was acquired via trade from New Orleans, is impressing in workouts this offseason, and he is very much in the mix for the starting job.

Gang Green Nation: QBs struggle at Jets OTAs

In three seasons with New Orleans, Ivory had a total of just 256 carries, though he averaged an impressive 5.1 yards per rush. His best season was his first -- he ran for 716 yards and five scores.

Ivory was stuck behind the likes of Mark Ingram and Pierre Thomas in New Orleans, but the path to the top of the depth chart in New York appears to have considerably less resistance. Shonn Greene, who started 29 games for the Jets over the last two seasons, signed a deal with Tennessee earlier this offseason. Mike Goodson, who was also acquired by New York during the offseason, is dealing with legal problems that could put his career with the Jets in jeopardy. While Goodson remains out of action, Bilal Powell and Joe McKnight represent Ivory's only competition.

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QB Steven Bench transferring to USF from Penn State

2013-05-23T14:33:06Z

Former Penn State quarterback Steven Bench announced Thursday on Twitter that he's on his way to South Florida, where he can compete for the starting job immediately thanks to the NCAA sanctions levied against the Nittany Lions. Bench played sparingly behind Matt McGloin as a true freshman last season and has three years of eligibility remaining.

The move ends USF's long wait for a transfer quarterback, which had SB Nation's Voodoo Five closely following each QB on the move. The Bulls reportedly missed on Florida State's Clint Trickett (to West Virginia) and Arkansas' Brandon Mitchell (to N.C. State) and weren't in the running for Oklahoma State's Wes Lunt.

When he announced his intention to transfer, three schools emerged as potential destinations: N.C. State, South Florida and Mississippi State. The Bulldogs return incumbent Tyler Russell, but both N.C. State and USF have been looking for replacements for starters who graduated after last season.

Bench appeared in two games for Penn State, completing two of eight passes for 12 yards. He was competing for the starting job with junior college transfer Tyler Ferguson this spring, but it sounds as though he wasn't going to be the coaching staff's choice for 2013 and beyond.

Coming out of high school, Bench was a consensus three-star recruit with good speed -- 247Sports lists a 4.68 40-yard dash time. He originally committed to play for Rice before being given the opportunity to play for the Nittany Lions.

Bench on the move:

"I want to get my face in the play book and get ready to go," Steven Bench said. "Coach (Willie) Taggart is a real confident guy...."
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) May 23, 2013

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Kansas lands transfer from top-10 national returning wide receiver

2013-05-23T13:42:48Z

Wide receiver Nick Harwell, who was dismissed from Miami (Ohio) this spring, is transferring to Kansas, where he could provide a significant jolt to an offense that struggled considerably last season. Harwell was the Mid-American Conference's leading receiver in 2012 and stands as one of the most prolific receivers in Redhawks history.

More: MAC blog Hustle Belt Kansas blog Rock Chalk Talk

While his talents are evident enough, Harwell brings a troubled past to Lawrence. He was arrested in late March and charged with criminal damaging, theft and unauthorized use of a vehicle/vehicle trespass in an incident that apparently involved an ex-girlfriend. That led to a suspension and his eventual dismissal. He pleaded guilty to attempted theft -- a second-degree misdemeanor -- on May 9 and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, though 89 of those were suspended.

Despite the legal issues, Kansas was willing to take a chance on him, and the reason for that is clear enough -- the Jayhawks' offense needs all the help it can get after finishing last season ranked 113th among FBS schools in passing yardage per game and 120th in passing efficiency. Harwell had more touchdown receptions (8) than the entire Kansas team (7) in 2012. KU also lost its leading receiver to graduation.

Harwell is reportedly close to graduating, and if he indeed does earn a degree, he would be eligible to play in 2013 as a graduate transfer. For now, though, his status is uncertain:

It is unclear whether Harwell, who is close to graduating thanks to a year of prep school in 2009, will be eligible for the upcoming season. KU officials said the following Wednesday night: "Nick Harwell's eligibility is to be determined as the Compliance and Academic staff work through the process."

Harwell finished his Miami career with more than 3,100 yards receiving.

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Hakeem Nicks contract: Is the Giants WR seeking a new deal?

2013-05-23T12:56:48Z

UPDATE: Jason Cole now reports that his source took an "educated guess" that Hicks' absence was due to a contract issue. That source has now walked that back and says the real reason is unknown.

New York Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks was a no-show at OTAs Wednesday, implying to the team that he is not pleased with his contract situation, according to Yahoo! Sports' Jason Cole. While OTAs are voluntary by definition, players are expected to attend them, and head coach Tom Coughlin wasn't happy about the absence. Nicks has one year remaining on his current deal.

Big Blue View: Can the Giants pay Cruz and Nicks?

According to Nicks' agent, Peter Schaffer, the wide receiver didn't skip workouts because of his contract situation. But Schaffer also didn't do anything to quell speculation on that count because he refused to elaborate on the real reason for the absence. He said that only he and Nicks are aware of that reason at this point.

Nicks is coming off a season in which he caught 53 passes for 692 yards and three scores. He was a 1,000-yard receiver in both 2010 and 2011, but a knee injury nagged him in 2012, forcing him to miss three games. He has yet to play all 16 games in a single season.

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Brandon Mitchell Plays All Sports

2013-05-21T11:25:32Z

NC State added Brandon Mitchell to the quarterback mix on Monday, giving the Pack a much-needed option beyond Pete Thomas and Manny Stocker, who apparently have done everything to not convince the coaching staff that they are capable of running the new offense.

It seems a fair bet that Mitchell will end up winning the job because he will no doubt unlock his inner Heisman Trophy talents now that he has made the move to Raleigh. Yeah let's go with that. But given that we know he caught 17 passes last year, he provides some extra depth in that area as well--if nobody is open, he can just throw the ball to himself for a first down. There's no stopping that.

He also played basketball at Arkansas. Maybe he can help out Mark Gottfried next spring. Basically there's no limit to what and where Brandon Mitchell can help NC State. I bet he's a good pitcher too. He will end up playing 13 varsity sports before leaving.

Brandon Mitchell transfers to N.C. State

2013-05-20T23:44:18Z

Former Arkansas quarterback Brandon Mitchell announced Monday that he will enroll at N.C. State, according to Joe Schad. As a graduate transfer, he is eligible to play in 2013 and he has one year of eligibility remaining. Mitchell found himself stuck behind Ryan Mallett and Tyler Wilson on the depth chart during his three seasons with the Razorbacks. After losing Arkansas' quarterback competition this spring, he decided to move on.

More: Visit NC State blog Backing The Pack for additional coverage of this story.

New Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema suggested that Mitchell should play wide receiver, but he wasn't interested. Mitchell actually spent most of his time at receiver in 2012 and finished the year with 17 grabs for 272 yards, but he wants to play quarterback this year, which clearly wasn't going to happen in Fayetteville. Over the course of his Arkansas career, he appeared in 21 games but threw just 43 passes.

He walks into an advantageous situation at N.C. State. The Wolfpack is thin at the position and new head coach Dave Doeren has been seeking additional options throughout the offseason, which says plenty about how the two guys already on hand -- Colorado State transfer Pete Thomas and true sophomore Manny Stocker -- performed this spring.

Thomas came to Raleigh expecting to run Tom O'Brien's pro-style offense; Doeren is going to run a spread offense, and that adjustment could be a tough one for him. Stocker has minimal experience, as he only played in garbage time as freshman, and while he possesses the mobility that Doeren wants, he is completely unproven. Mitchell doesn't have a ton of experience himself, of course, but at the point N.C. State needs all the additional help it can get.

Mitchell had this to say about his decision:

"I like the culture, coaches, expectations within the program all the way at the top, and most importantly chemistry," BMitchell said.
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) May 20, 2013

Mitchell: "Bottom line is I want to win, and I want to win now. They have the best opportunity for success and just had one missing piece."
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) May 20, 2013

This move almost certainly takes N.C. State out of the running for Penn State transfer quarterback Steven Bench, who recently visited the school. Bench is also considering Mississippi State and South Florida.

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