Derek...Let's talk special teams

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Last year, both the Aggies’ punter and placekicker received all-conference mention, while the team ranked among the national leaders in punt average, net punt average and field goal accuracy. The Aggies led the SEC with a 86.7 percent success rate on field goal and hit all 59 of their extra point tries. A&M ranked No. 11 nationally with a 40.7 net punt average.

The highlight of his first season with the Aggies was the development of punter Drew Kaser and placekicker Josh Lambo. In 2013 Kaser broke the A&M record with a 47.4 punt average while being named a first-team All-American and being a finalist for the Ray Guy Award. Lambo steadied the Aggies’ inconsistent FG and PAT attempts after taking over the placekicker duties in game four by connecting on 80 percent of his field goal kicks and 50-of-51 PATs. The Aggies also blocked an SEC-high three kicks, ranked third in net punting (39.4) and second in KO return defense (18.3).

Banks has deep connections to one of head coach Kevin Sumlin’s coaching mentors, Mike Price, both as a player at Washington State and an assistant coach at UTEP. Banks was at UTEP from 2004 to 2012 where he served as special teams coordinator and also coached the running backs and punters.

During his time in El Paso, Banks oversaw one of the top special teams units in Conference USA as the Miners led the league in special teams statistics in 2011 and 2012. In 2012, UTEP led the conference in net punting with a 40.1 average (No. 11 nationally) and punt return defense (No. 4 nationally) with a 3.1 yard average. The Miners allowed just 65 yards on 21 opponent punt returns. The Miners also ranked No. 3 in kickoff returns (23.8 average) and No. 4 in punt returns (10.1 average). UTEP blocked four kicks (two punts and two field goals) and returned a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns.

In 2011, UTEP led C-USA in punting (40.5 avg.) and ranked second in kickoff returns (26.3 avg.), third in kickoff coverage (44.4 avg.) and seventh in punt returns (10.0 avg.). The Miners rated fourth nationally in kickoff returns and sixth in net punting, and the team blocked three punts and also executed successful fake kicks for first downs in road games against New Mexico State, USF and UCF.

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Last season, McMahon guided a special teams unit that set an NFL record by allowing just 156 kickoff return yards, as the Colts ranked third in the NFL in opponent kickoff return average (19.5). Indianapolis also set the highest touchback percentage (87.0) since the modern Super Bowl era in 1970. Kicker Adam Vinatieri registered 107 total points to mark the 18th 100-point season of his career, which extended an NFL record. Vinatieri ranked fourth in field goal percentage after converting 25-of-27 attempts (92.6%) and was the only kicker in the NFL to connect on all of his kicks from 40-49 yards (8-of-8). Punter Pat McAfee ranked second in the NFL in punting average (47.7) and fifth in net punting average (41.7). McAfee led the league with a 90.5 kickoff touchback percentage and his 67 total touchbacks ranked third. Vinatieri was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November, while McAfee earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors in Week 3. McMahon was also instrumental in the development of undrafted rookie Quan Bray, who spent the first seven weeks of the season on the team’s practice squad before being signed to the active roster on Oct. 27 and inserted as the Colts primary kickoff and punt returner. Despite playing in only nine games, Bray finished the season ranked sixth in the NFL in kickoff return average (27.1) and 11th in kickoff return yards (570). Since taking over the duties in Week 8, Bray ranked fourth in the league in kickoff return yards (570) from Weeks 8-17.

In 2014, McMahon coached two Associated Press First Team NFL All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections in McAfee and Vinatieri. McAfee converted a career-high three onside kicks and set single-season franchise records for punts pinned inside the 20-yard line (30), net punting average (42.8) and kickoff touchbacks (70). Vinatieri made 30-of-31 field goals and at one point made 35 consecutive attempts, which was the fourth-longest streak in NFL history. In addition, he scored the third-highest single-season point total (140) in team history. The Colts special teams unit held opponents to the third-lowest punt return average (5.9) in the NFL in 2014.

In 2013, McMahon coached Vinatieri, who set a career-high with 35 field goals made while recording 139 points, the third-highest total of his career. He also tied a career-high with four field goals made from over 50 yards. McAfee set a then-franchise single-season record with 27 punts pinned inside the 20-yard line and also set the team single-game record with six such punts in Week 7 against Denver. McMahon also guided Andy Studebaker, who recorded a career-high 18 special teams tackles, and Sergio Brown, who posted nine special teams tackles and helped down seven of McAfee’s punts inside the 10-yard line, including six inside the five-yard line.

With the Chiefs in 2012, McMahon guided AFC Pro Bowl punter Dustin Colquitt, who ranked second in the NFL with 45 punts pinned inside the 20-yard line while averaging 46.8 yards per punt and a net average of 40.8.

McMahon joined Kansas City following three seasons (2009-2011) as the special teams coordinator for the St. Louis Rams. In 2010, the Rams posted the league’s third-best net punting average at 40.0 yards per punt. In addition, Rams punt returner Danny Amendola led the NFL with 12 returns of 20-plus yards in 2009 and 2010 combined.

Prior to his time in St. Louis, McMahon spent two seasons (2007-08) as an assistant special teams coach for the Atlanta Falcons. He was crucial in the development of kick returner Jerious Norwood, who tallied 2,628 kickoff return yards, which ranked third in the NFL over that two-year span.

Before joining the Falcons, McMahon coached outside linebackers and special teams at the University of Louisville (2006). Under his guidance, kicker Art Carmody earned the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top kicker.

McMahon spent 11 seasons coaching at Utah State University (1995-2005), including eight campaigns as a full-time assistant. He served as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator from 2001-05 after coaching linebackers and special teams from 1998-2000. McMahon joined Utah State in 1995 as a graduate assistant, helping coach defensive ends.

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How do we feel about Bobby April?

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