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LINCOLN — Even on Adi Kunalic's best day, the strong-legged junior isn't going to boot every kickoff into the end zone.

Kunalic would certainly like to pile up the touchbacks, but kicking the football roughly 75 yards isn't easy to do consistently. And when he fails, those long kicks that don't quite make it deep enough tend to provide prime return opportunities.

Field position often can go unnoticed, but it plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of the opposing offense. Kunalic knows that.

That's why the Nebraska kickoff specialist has spent the offseason tinkering with his pre-kick routine, hoping the alterations to his technique help create more hang time. The longer the ball stays in the air, the easier it is for the 10 other Huskers to tackle the return man.

“Everything has to come together,” Kunalic said. “No matter how good my kick is, we should always be able to get down there. It's my fault if I don't give them the best opportunity.”

The simple act of changing his footwork has increased height and depth on kickoffs. He's been noticing a difference throughout preseason camp.

“I've been working on it this whole summer,” he said. “You switch your steps up, and you see what works better. Then you hit a ball, you see how high it goes, and you just kind of go off that.”

He hopes his new approach leads to better kick coverage figures.

Nebraska ranked fifth nationally in touchbacks last year, thanks to Kunalic's 29. But opponents took advantage when they got a chance to return. The Huskers allowed 23.9 yards per kickoff return, 10th worst in the conference and 103rd worst in the country.

There wasn't much of a problem early last year. The coverage team was spoiled during the first two games as Kunalic recorded nine touchbacks on 16 attempts.

Kunalic's touchback rate slowly declined as the season wore on. Fatigue played a role. Kunalic admitted he might have kicked too often during the season's first few weeks.

By November, Nebraska was varying its kickoff strategies after almost every score. Pooch kicks. Deep balls. Right hash mark, left hash. Alex Henery subbed in and kicked off five times against Kansas State.

“Last year definitely wasn't one of my good years,” Kunalic said. “I was nicked up here and there toward the end of the season. I'm taking a lot more precautions this year.”

It helps to have a more experienced coverage unit.

Senior Rickey Thenarse, senior Matt O'Hanlon, junior Anthony West, junior Prince Amukamara and sophomore Mathew May are among those on the first-team unit. They're all more comfortable in their roles. Another year with this staff can make a difference, even on special teams, according to O'Hanlon.

“I think we'll be a more solid group than we were last year,” he said.

The unit has more depth, too, according to John Papuchis, who oversees the special teams. He hasn't had a problem finding willing players to buy into kickoffs, even though there's not necessarily a lot of glory involved with covering kicks.

Players run at full speed, only to get blocked, shoved or chipped. But for Thenarse, recording the tackle makes it worthwhile.

“It's just a want-to thing,” Thenarse said. “I want to do it. I want to go down and hit someone, throw my body into someone. It's fun.”

Contact the writer:

402-473-9585, jon.nyatawa@owh.com

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