Special teams are a tricky business. An extremely vital part of any football team, they go largely unnoticed except when a spectacular play is made or when an anything-but-spectacular play is made. One week the kicker is heralded as \Mr. Dependable,"" the next week he misses an extra point for the first time since 2001 and is reamed from goalpost to goalpost by Green Bay fans everywhere as his team loses 17-16. After Jos?? Cortez of the Dallas Cowboys missed an extra point Sunday, one of his offensive lineman actually attacked him.
It's a dangerous business on special teams. Just ask Mike Allen, a name that still strikes fear (and possibly some other emotions) into the hearts of many Badger fans. This season is a different story, however, as sophomores kicker Taylor Mehlhaff and punter Ken DeBauche have solidified their positions through clutch performances, especially in the Michigan win.
""I don't know how [the special teams] could be any better,"" head coach Barry Alvarez said. ""We've had some tremendous performances.""
Although he does not have much experience, Mehlhaff, who was only used for kickoffs in 2004, has successfully made the transition to kicking field goals. Coming into the Michigan game, Mehlhaff had only made one field goal and attempted two in his career (his miss was a 51-yarder against UNC), but still came through to drill all three of his field goal tries and two extra points. If he had missed even one of those field goals, the Badgers would have lost a lot of momentum and would have had to go into overtime at the very best.
""Whatever situation I'm put in, I want to make it count,"" said Mehlhaff. ""Especially against a team like that and [in] a big game, it couldn't have felt any better.""
Not only has Mehlhaff hit clutch field goals, he has done a fantastic job of starting opposing teams deep in their own zone as the kickoff specialist. Mehlhaff and DeBauche have combined to force opponent possessions to an average start at the 21-yard-line, and 13 of Mehlhaff's 29 kickoffs have been touchbacks.
Mehlhaff was able to neutralize one of the Wolverines' big-play threats in Steve Breaston, as he only averaged 16 yards per kickoff return and was not able to key a comeback with 24 seconds left as Mehlhaff booted the ball out of the end zone.
""When I get the opportunity I try to drill it out of the end zone,"" Mehlhaff said. ""I got under a couple of them, and our coverage team did a good job tackling.""
Punting, meanwhile, may not be the most glamorous of tasks on the football field, but in close games it can be the subtle difference between a win and a loss. Against Michigan, DeBauche hit six punts for 276 yards (a 46.0 average) including a monstrous 59-yarder out of his own end zone. Putting three punts inside the 20 and two inside the 5-yard-line, DeBauche was instrumental in the win. Most important may have been his punt with 5:11 left in the game that put Michigan on their own 3-yard-line, indirectly giving the Badgers great field position for their winning drive.
""It's a great feeling knowing I can help the team,"" DeBauche said. ""It's nice to help the defense out and see how I am affecting the game, seeing the changes in field position. It keeps me in the game knowing I am making a difference.""
People have taken notice of the difference DeBauche has made in Wisconsin's games. Named Big Ten Special Teams player of the week after the North Carolina game, he has also been placed on the Ray Guy Award (best collegiate punter) watch list. DeBauche is even drawing comparisons to UW great Kevin Stemke, who won the inaugural award in 2000.
""I always thought Stemke was special and I think Kenny is getting closer,"" Alvarez said.
""It's humbling,"" DeBauche said. ""It's nice to hear.""
Whether facing perennial powerhouses like Michigan or teams on the rise like Indiana, one facet of Wisconsin's game that can always be counted on seems to be special teams.
