P.J. Fleck has seen improvement from Gophers special teams after the unit struggled mightily last season, but the coach still described last week's performance in a victory against Nebraska as "just inconsistent."
Too many mistakes in any phase of the game can be difficult to overcome for a Minnesota team with a small margin for error, but special team plays can also be the difference in close games.
"It wasn't our best performance," Fleck said about special teams in the 30-23 win against the Cornhuskers. "We need to be better in that area, and I know we will be."
This Saturday's matchup vs. Maryland will remind Gophers fans of a missed extra-point attempt in overtime that cost the team a 45-44 road loss against the Terrapins.
After the Gophers watched special teams cost them games in 2020, there have been moments this season where the unit has been highlighted for its success.
Punter Mark Crawford was named Big Ten special teams player of the week after the 20-13 victory at Purdue on Oct. 2. A sophomore from Perth, Australia, Crawford averaged 51.3 yards on six punts, including four that pinned the Boilermakers inside their 15-yard line.
Crawford was the first Gophers special teams player to win the Big Ten's weekly honor since holder Casey O'Brien in 2019. Crawford has improved his punting average from 37.8 yards last year (second-to-last in the Big Ten) to 42.7, which still ranks 13th in the conference.
But Crawford has punted 27 times this season, and 12 have resulted in the opponent starting from inside its 20. His 46-yarder against Nebraska led to a safety after the Huskers took over at the 11-yard line late in the fourth quarter. And a shanked punt in the third quarter that went only 32 yards didn't end up hurting the Gophers.