The Penn State special teams players don't get much attention, but they deserve a lot for what they've done already this season.

Whether it's the punts by ever-improving junior punter David Royer who is averaging more than 41 yards per punt or the constant threat of Bruce Branch returning one for a touchdown, the Nittany Lions are solid in all facets of their special teams play.

Rich Gardner and Tony Johnson have excelled as the gunners, running down field during a punt trying to pin the opposing offense deep in their own territory. Freshman placekicker Robbie Gould has passed David Kimball and now is responsible for field goal kicking.

The Lock Haven native is 6-for-9 kicking field goals and a perfect extra point kicker so far, hitting 13 straight.

But the most crucial area of the Penn State special teams this season has been the punt block team. Led by Larry Johnson, who has blocked punts and also returned them for touchdowns, the Lions have shown that special teams play a crucial role on the field.

Not only does it play a point scoring and good field position role, it gives the team an emotional lift.

"Every time you get a big play on special teams, it's really going to uplift the team," Larry Johnson said. "When I'm on the punt block team it is the only time I play on defense, so I like doing it."

Pride has gone a long way in the success of the Penn State special teams too. From the coaches who constantly harp on the importance of the special teams to the players who give it their all for the few seconds they are on the field, the Lions special teams' success has paid dividends for the team.

Whether it's setting up a punt block or running back a kickoff, the special teams for Penn State has not been unnoticed this season.

The punt block team not only takes a lot of pride in what they do, they also take a lot of time to study their opponent. They look for weaknesses like if they are soft on the inside or outside.

Tapes show where offensive linemen go and if there are possible holes that they can slip through to get to the punter. Anything that can give the special teams an advantage, they will look at to use.

Much more than just getting on the field and running at the punter takes place for the Lions punt block unit.

"It gives us a lot of pride," gunner Tony Johnson said about the special teams play. "And it gives the defense a lot of momentum."

Larry Johnson said the credit to the success of the special teams cannot only go to the players who block a punt or run back an important kickoff. Every player, he said, plays a key role on special teams.

Unlike any other facet of the game, Johnson said, for the special teams to be successful, every single player on the field must be exact. Every player must do what is required of them to have a successful special teams core.

"Our punt block team is very good," Larry Johnson said. "It's a function of everybody. As a whole, we work together."