LINCOLN — One of the secrets behind Nebraska's four-game winning streak? Sneaky-good special teams play.

It's OK if you haven't noticed.

Assistant coach John Papuchis understands. Evaluating the kicking game's success goes beyond crunching numbers and weighing statistics. Papuchis also looks at intangible elements, like reversing momentum and building NU's confidence and shaking opponents.

And in the last four games, Nebraska has scored high in the mental swings, even if they've lacked highlight-reel moments.

“We want to do the ordinary things better than any of the other teams out there,” said Papuchis, who oversees the Huskers' special teams units. “That means be fundamentally sound in our techniques and execute in a sound way. Explosive plays will come.”

It happened against Baylor, when Eric Martin blocked a punt and Justin Blatchford returned the loose football 25 yards for a touchdown. That was a rare instant game-changer.

The accuracy of kicker Alex Henery is obvious. He's hit seven of his last eight field goals.

But for the most part, Nebraska's special teams have been influential in less-noticeable ways.

Coming into its game against Nebraska, Oklahoma ranked 14th nationally in punt return yardage, averaging 14.7 per chance. But on 11 NU punts, the Sooners' Ryan Broyles only had six opportunities — and if you exclude his 35-yard return in the first quarter, he averaged 13.4 return yards.

NU kickoff returns set up two critical touchdowns in the Kansas game. Tim Marlowe's 40-yard return led to Nebraska's opening score. And in the fourth quarter, after the Jayhawks stole the lead and the momentum, Niles Paul took the ensuing kickoff back 44 yards. The Huskers scored the go-ahead touchdown four plays later.

A week later, the Huskers had to deal with Kansas State's Brandon Banks, who'd returned four kickoffs for touchdowns this year. But on his three chances against Nebraska Saturday, he never gained more than 19 yards.

“Obviously, field position the other night was a huge key,” Papuchis said.

Field position has been extremely important, since an inexperienced offense has had trouble aiding its dominating defense.

On 19 kickoffs during that past four weeks, opponents' average starting field position is the 22-yard line.

“It's definitely something that we take pride in,” said senior Matt O'Hanlon, who's been on the kickoff coverage unit for four years. “We have some guys that are flying around and making plays. On that unit especially, we've kind of been a dominating force, helping our team get great field position.”

Meanwhile, Nebraska's offense, on average, has been taking over at its own 33-yard line after kickoffs during the winning streak. And it's made a difference, according to Papuchis.

“It gets us out of the shadow of our own end zone,” he said. “It gives coach (Shawn) Watson freedom to call the plays that he wants to call. And it allows us to gain an edge in terms of field position overall.”

There are other things that can make Papuchis smile, too.

Opposing teams have made just four of their 10 field goal attempts against Nebraska in the last four games. Could it be they are cognisant of NU's proven ability to block kicks?

Henery has landed six of his last 28 punts inside the opponent's 10-yard line. On the season, Henery has placed 22 punts inside the 20-yard line, a figure that leads the Big 12.

But despite the successes, Papuchis knows there are plenty of areas to improve.

“Things have gone well, but the reality is, there's always things that you can get better at,” he said. “We are not even anywhere close to being as good as I think we can be on special teams. I think our guys understand that.”

Contact the writer:

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

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