John Jancek Details LSU's Important Changes To Special Teams
John Jancek has the SEC pedigree and coaching experience it takes to get it done in Baton Rouge with LSU. After being promoted to special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach, Jancek has had a hands-on approach with his position groups.
Specifically with special teams, he’s stepped up to the plate in order to make adjustments. It’s no secret this unit struggled in 2022, and as he transitions to an on-field role, Jancek has the vision to make things right this fall.
Through spring, he’s made a few changes, but emphasizing the little things has been his main message over the last few weeks.
Special Teams Changes
With Brian Polian moving to an off-field role and Jancek taking over special teams duties, there’s been some movement in this area. We’ve seen Jancek be vocal during practice, getting the most out of his players on a routine basis.
“We tweaked a few things but not a lot and really it’s not about what we did, it’s about how we did it and that’s been our emphasis. I think the players have responded very well and I like the effort,” Jancek said. “I like the finish and that’s a big part of special teams. You’ve gotta have guys out there who do the little things right, have attention to detail but they strain and they finish.”
Saturday’s spring game will give a better understanding of what has changed within this group. After a season in 2022 where it all went wrong, special teams is of the utmost importance ahead of this year.
What Went Wrong In 2022
From injuries to mental mistakes, the special teams unit had people shocked at the consistent mishaps. Fast forward to now and it’s all about focusing on the details in order to improve day by day.
“I just think overall, we had guys who got injured, we were playing with guys that didn’t have a lot of experience,” Jancek said. “You drop a couple of kicks, stuff happens. It’s not any one person’s fault. I think it’s a collective look at our special teams as a whole and we’re working hard to continue getting better. We’re moving forward in a positive manner and that’s been the message to the team."
Return Game
The Tigers have several players capable of stepping in and returning kickoffs for this squad. We’ve seen Gregory Clayton, who took over as the punt returner towards the backend of 2022, and Kyle Parker handle returns this spring with Jancek hinting at a few others also getting an opportunity.
“We have a variety of guys back there catching punts and kickoffs. It’s an ongoing evaluation. We feel good with the guys we have back there,” Jancek said. “We have Gregory Clayton and then Kyle Parker back there, Sage Ryan, Noah Cain so there’s a number of guys who are getting work and the reps that they need to get so that we have a comfort level as punt returners.”
Another player to monitor will be Alabama transfer Aaron Anderson who almost instantly fills the void as a kick returner. With sheer speed and athleticism, Anderson has the chance to step up immediately to take on a role in some capacity on special teams.
