…So afraid to return punts. Seems like we haven’t had a good punt return(er) in several years. Demornay Pierson-El?? I realize we no one wants to fumble, but seriously, why are we so afraid? We can have a turnover on any given play. We used to run back punts for touchdowns at least 2-3 times a year. I don’t get it.
When did we become…
- Thread starter regoratsginrom
- Start date
I thought Rhule said we had blocks called on two of those Saturday so that necessitated fair catches. They had really good coverage on several of those punts.
Santino Panico ruined college football.
I have noticed that we have been VERY close to blocking quite a few punts this season. I think special teams have been majorly improved over what we saw during Frost's tenure.
Santino saved us hundreds of yards of field position just by catching the ball. People critical of him forget how many times teams either got an extra 20 yards of roll or we muffed the catch. The guy had great hands.
It's amazing how these same irritating problems have wafted through different seasons and coaching staffs. Giving in on punt returns, idiotic amounts of turnovers, losing in the last few minutes of a game etc.
Kick and punt coverage have been better. Field goals have been better. Buschini had struggled at times but I don’t think that’s on Foley.
You think dropped it cuz he is white or cuz he was a walk-on?
I doubt a black walk-on would drop a punt.
Billy Kemp is a good returner and probably has the best hands on the team but he’s not near 100%. He was in the game to catch punts Saturday deep in our territory because the other guys aren’t as sure handed. Catching and returning punts is an adventure for other teams too.
There’s several on the team now I’m pretty sure. Barron Miles Jr for a current guy.
FFS, they punted 7 times. Not 2. You really try to spin the narrative from the truth and make excuses for bad choices. It was dumb choice by the staff. Rhule even said he should have done it differently. Do you disagree with Rhule?
And even if they had put on a punt block on the 6 Kemp was back there, it’s still a dumb coaching decision when you don’t block a single punt or force a shank. Even the announcers were basically saying it was dumb. Bruce Read 2.0 had an awful plan. Just own it and hope he does better later
That’s why I said “2 of those”. MSU’s punter though had good hang time and they were covering well. I wasn’t as incensed about it as some of you though. I didn’t like the fair catches at the 6 but I also realize that is in fact pretty common in college and pro ball. We always were told to put our heels on the 10 and not back up.
Fair catches may be boring but at least we’re not fielding the ball at the 1 and falling backwards (yeah I know it should have been a touchback).
We’re making extra points.
Our kickoffs are going forward.
Baby steps.
JD Spielman.
Hopefully that JUCO return specialist commits and lives up to his tape.