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Page address: https://web.mnsu.edu/sports/touchdownclub/news/html/2007/rodgers.html

Rodgers makes Mavs' return game truly 'special'

by Dan Myers
Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: Mens Sports

MSU FOOTBALL VS. AUGUSTANA
Saturday - 7 p.m.; Blakeslee Stadium

Every good football team is has either a good offense, a good defense or both.

Every great one also has a good special teams.

Minnesota State football coach Jeff Jamrog is trying to foster that attitude with the Mavericks, and has since the day he was hired in 2004.

By spending extra time in practice - even entire days - Jamrog is trying to shore up what most teams take for granted - a game changing special teams.

"We pride ourselves here on spending extra time on it," Jamrog said. "We led the nation in kick return yardage last season and a big part of it was the guy doing it, but also the 10 other guys that are blocking for him."

Great players make a coach's job easier, and in the tradition of solid special teams, Minnesota State has yet another gifted kick and punt returner in 2007: Kelvin Rodgers.

Rodgers, a sophomore from East St. Louis, Ill., has already returned a 99-yard kickoff for a touchdown against Northern Iowa two weeks ago. During last week's game against Peru State, Rodgers nearly broke free on at least two punt returns.

Many of the great professional return men of all time had one thing in common: confidence - a trait Rodgers has plenty of.

"I don't need a lot of blocks, I only need a couple," Rodgers said. "You give me that, I'm gonna make a big cut and I'm gonna take it all the way."

 The confidence aspect and attitude is required of many returners, because without it, they're sitting ducks. Often times, punt returners are recognized as the craziest players on the team (you stand in the open field while ten guys weighing over 225 lbs. run full speed at you).

Rodgers seems up to the task, however, to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors - Melvin Matlock and Tyrell Smith.

Matlock averaged over 31 yards per kick return last season including a 100-yard touchdown. Smith garnered over 10 yards per punt return and added a 94-yard score.

"Melvin had excellent speed, but not the speed of Kelvin," Jamrog said. "We think Kelvin is the fastest kid in the conference. He certainly is on the track. We know that if we give him some daylight, we like our chances to get great field position."Â

Rodgers' job is double tough, however, because he ruturns kicks and punts. Although they may sound similar, they are two completely different animals.

"Returning punts is tough because you have those bullets (often referred to as gunners) coming down the field to make a play on you," Rodgers said. "You don't know if the corner is making his block so you have to look at them and the ball. It's hard.

"On kick returns, you have that wedge and 10 people in front of you blocking. On punt returns, the center comes straight down the field and those bullets, they're coming, too. On kickoffs, you don't even have to look if they're blocking, but on punts it's different."

Whatever Rodgers is doing thus far in 2007, it's working. Matlock's 31.7 average on kick returns last season led the nation. Through three games, Rodgers is averaging 36.2.

Smith averaged 10.2 on punt returns in 2006 and Rodgers is at 18.7.

If Rodgers maintains his numbers the rest of the way, he will certainly lead the country in both categories. The Mavericks will also win more games as well.

"Field position is so critical," Jamrog said. "If we can get the ball out there past the 35 or 40 yard line, now we are forcing teams to do things they don't want to do."

MSU will open its NCC schedule for the final time at 7 p.m. Saturday against Augustana at Blakeslee Field.

Dan Myers is the Reporter Sports Editor