NIU wide receiver and punt returner P.J. Fleck said he knows the most important factor in winning -field position.

“If you start from your own 20-yard line and have to drive 80 yards every time, you won’t win many games,” Fleck said. “But if you start at the 50 and don’t have to go far to score, that helps a lot. Field position is the biggest part of the game.”

Last season, Dan Sheldon led the nation in punt return yardage (20.2 ypr). Cornerback Randee Drew was the best in kickoff return yardage in the MAC (26.1 ypr). Steve Azar was 16th in the nation in points per game (7.9 ppg).

The Huskies suffered a big loss to their special teams on Oct. 4 when Sheldon was lost for the year after dislocating his left elbow.

Fleck is Sheldon’s replacement and is sixth in the MAC in punt return yardage (9.1 ypr).

Last season, Fleck began the year as the punt returner, but got injured in the first game of the year, giving Sheldon a chance to shine.

“Danny’s the best punt returner in the nation,” Fleck said. “He has handled the situation very maturely. I was in his situation last year. He’s always coaching me from the sidelines about punt returning and helping me out.”

Against Western Michigan, it looked as if the Huskies’ special teams had a touchdown when Drew returned a kickoff 86 yards for a score, but holding was called, nullifying the touchdown.

“I was so tired after that,” Drew said. “I’m not going to blame my teammates, though, for busting their [butts] throwing a block.”

Azar said special teams, especially kicking, usually seem secluded from the rest of the team, but not for the Huskies.

“We do what we need to do to keep the game going,” Azar said.

Punter Anthony Gallagher has taken the reins from Jimmy Erwin, who graduated after last season. Gallagher is averaging 39.8 yards per punt, 1.5 yards better than Erwin’s average last season.

“I figured he’d probably struggle the first two games or so,” said Drew, of the Huskies’ first-year punter. “He’s gotten better quickly, and he’s done a great job for us.”

Azar knows punters and kickers need a short memory. In last year’s last-minute loss to Toledo, he missed a 62-yard field goal to tie the game. And in this year’s opener against Maryland, he had his game-winning 43-yard attempt blocked, sending the game to overtime.

“All everyone remembers is what just happened,” Azar said. “We don’t get a lot of opportunities, so if you mess up once, you have to redeem yourself so everyone forgets about the one you messed up on.”

Fleck knows that a lot of things have led NIU to its 9-1 record, but special teams might not be something everyone thinks of.

“It’s a huge part of why we’re 9-1,” Fleck said. “The special teams are so underrated. When we start fast, it’s usually because the special teams make a play.”