Just saw the Sumrall quote about waking the beast and it's the exact mentality we've needed. But you know what truly wakes a sleeping giant? Dominant special teams. It's the most overlooked analytical edge in the game.
Our kickoff coverage unit last season ranked 98th nationally in average return yardage allowed. That's a hidden drive starter for every opponent. Field position is a silent killer, and we've been volunteering for a slow death. A ten-yard swing per possession changes everything.
If Sumrall wants to be the physical identity guy, it starts there. Forcing touchbacks and pinning teams inside the 20 isn't just luck, it's a scheme and effort stat. Our punt return game averaged 6.1 yards, which was 78th. That's leaving yards and potential points on the field every single week. Fix those two units, and the whole beast stirs without the offense needing to be perfect.