Florida hired Special Teams Analyst Joe Houston this offseason in an effort to turn around the Gators’ special teams unit, which has suffered from concerning communication errors under Head Coach Billy Napier. While Florida felt like their specialists were good, they wanted to add another layer in Houston to help clean up some of the organizational issues within the unit.
With the new NCAA rule allowing analysts to provide technical and tactical instruction to their players on game day, there should be a more clear and concise line of communication on Saturday’s.
“It changes the dynamic of in-game communication,” Houston said on the rule change. “The direct line of communication is paramount. That’s the biggest rule change. Instead of coaching the coaches, now we get to coach the players directly. So that’ll be good for us in handling substitutions, calls. It’s just one less bridge of communication that happens during a game.”
Houston broke down one of the ways he hopes to improve Florida’s communication next year.
“We’re constantly working for ways to improve,” Houston said. “We’re going to implement a launch pad for substitutions and communication relative to the block team and the punt team, on the field and the field-goal unit. There’s going to be issues that you come into as you go through the landscape of the season, and we put in measurements to improve those miscommunications.”
“It’s essentially like a mat with the width of these hashes here and it has like 10 circles on it. And then the 11th one’s the specialist,” Houston added on the implementation of the launch pad. “And so it’s a way for us to confirm who might be in the game, any adjustments that need to be made. It’s essentially a sideline huddle, if that makes sense.”
The launch pad is something that about half the NFL teams use, according to Coach Houston.
“It just depends on the philosophy of the coordinator and whether they believe in having a moving huddle,” Houston said. “Sometimes you have to move the launch pad, too. You’re backed up, you’re not going to meet at the 50-yard line. It’s really helpful when the ball’s in between the 30-yard lines. You can just find a space to where you can get direct communication with as many players on the sidelines as possible. And it’s like a home base for them. They know where to find me. They can come. It’s like an area where we can make any kind of calls or communications.”
“When you’re dealing with 135 players. You guys have been at The Swamp on third down. It’s not quiet,” Houston said. “Having an area where you can communicate directly with the players, just like offenses from our opponents have trouble communicating at The Swamp on third down, you can run into that issue in the kicking game if you don’t have a home base for the guys on the sideline.”
Florida has also not fielded a dangerous return team under Napier. While the averages weren’t exactly poor last year, the Gators didn’t rank in the top 30 in kick or punt return and failed to record a touchdown in the return game in 2023.
The good news is the list of Gators working as returners is filled with speed and playmaking ability, including Eugene Wilson, Chimere Dike, Jadan Baugh, Aaron Gates, Elijhah Badger, Aidan Mizell, Trey Webb, and Ja’Kobi Jackson.
“We have a lot of depth,” Houston said on the players working as returners. “Just like any other position on our football team, we’re going to build trust through that starter, whoever we name through practice repetition, and gain the confidence of the coaches and the team.”
“It’s going to be competitive. We have a lot of depth on this roster. I’m excited for it,” Houston added. “Anytime you have that many playmakers with depth to get them the ball in the open field and space, we’re drooling at the fact that we have so many names I can give you that can compete for that those two roles.”
Florida blocked one punt and two field goals in 2023, a step in the right direction for Billy Napier’s squad. Houston is hoping to build off that and create havoc on the block teams this season.
“We are always looking at ways to change the game,” Houston said on blocking kicks / punts. “Those two units, the unique thing about field goal block is it’s the only time in football where you have an opportunity to double the other teams’ points, so you’re defending points at all times on field goal block. When they’re trying to kick an extra point you can block it and score two points. When they’re trying to kick a field goal for three points you can block it and score six points. We’re going to gameplan that unit, we’re going to put our best players in position to be at that unit. On punt block, you’re always trying to find ways to change the game. There’s a lot of correlation with winning and opportunities when you can block a punt. We’re going to get creative and try to make a play.”
There’s little doubt that Joe Houston understands the importance of special teams in college football. Houston is looking to not only clean up Florida’s communication issues but create game changing plays in all areas on special teams in 2024.
“The standard here is the standard. When I was going to college in 2006, 2007 2008, Florida was the standard. And we look forward to having high standards here. That’s why you come to University of Florida. That’s why you come compete in the Southeastern Conference. You want expectations. That’s why we’re all here.”