Scott Satterfield Discusses Possible Returner Changes as Special Teams Mistakes Mount: 'See What we Need to do on Saturday'

If Cincinnati loses on Saturday it'll mark the program's longest losing streak since 1998.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Oct 24, 2023 5:02 PM EDT

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CINCINNATI — UC head football coach Scott Satterfield is open to changes at the returner spot after multiple crucial mistakes committed by returners in recent games.

The possible return of Ryan Montgomery could mean added special teams opportunities for the veteran running back.

“We'll see, we're getting Ryan Montgomery back this week," Satterfield said about the return game and making a change. "He’s a guy that's been back there and returned in games. He has great confidence and we've missed him in our lineup. He has missed the last three or four games. Oklahoma was the last game he played in, and he was able to practice on Sunday. Hopefully, he'll be back this week. I think he will be in the mix, (with) Braden Smith as well as Xzavier Henderson. Xzavier Henderson had a nice return on Saturday. Ryan Montgomery will be a guy who will be back there, DJ Taylor is another guy who has returned the ball in the past and will get a look as well this week. We’ll see what we need to do on Saturday.”

The return battery of Xzavier Henderson and Braden Smith is not producing great results this season.

Smith handed Baylor seven points on a muffed kick and is averaging 2.8 yards per punt return on 11 of 12 punt returns this season (3.58 as a team, 112th nationally). The kick return game isn't much better (19.2 yards per return, 82nd nationally).

Cincinnati has played five of seven games to a one-possession result, and the special teams have flipped too many of those results to Ls.

“Critical mistakes and I never would have guessed that," Satterfield said about Smith making too many gaffes this season. "I thought he played more ball than any of our team possibly. He’s been in a lot of situations, not only as a receiver, but as a punt returner, kick returner, and has played on a bunch of special teams and he made critical mistakes in a BYU game, and now in this game. He made a catastrophic mistake with a big touchdown. I think Braden is a guy who has a lot of pride. It tears him up inside, but it's something that we look at and see if somebody else gives us a better option there. I do have confidence in Braden. I'm hoping that it is a fluke. We will never see that again because I do think he's a good player and he cares, so hopefully that's just some unfortunate arrows. That won't happen again.”

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