Say what you will
- Thread starter BKCBully
- Start date
Yeah, I am not sure what is up with Tucker Day. Man has been on scholarship for like 4 years now, and hasn't had a single useful kick to his credit. I would have said meaningful, but he did attempt that extra long LSU field goal that he shanked. It wasn't good, but it was meaningful.
The Mitchell drop on Saturday was a huge play, but the play that isn’t getting talked about nearly enough is the punt shortly after. We are on Florida’s 47 and Shanksnayder “punts” a line drive 30 yards that Florida returns to their 27. A 20 yard net punt in that situation is inexcusable, especially right after we had a huge missed opportunity with the drop.
We never got momentum back after those two plays.
We never got momentum back after those two plays.
We gotta pick up some first downs. We were averaging 1 punt per game the first 3 weeks, no it seems like we’re punting 3 times a quarter.
The biggest disappointment in our defense so far is the lack of 3 and outs. We aren't giving up a lot of points, but while our offense is usually 3 and out on 50% of its possessions, our defense normally gives up some yardage before getting off the field. That ends up flipping field position when our offense can't regain any of that lost ground.
To add insult to injury, he kicked 5 straight punts in the 30-35 yard range, so it’s not like he was just being inconsistent. He was continuously missing the ball, and that’s a big problem.
I mentioned the same thing a couple weeks ago. There’s more than just the offense that is completely broken right now
I mentioned the same thing a couple weeks ago. There’s more than just the offense that is completely broken right now
Sell
Both of UFs second half scores were not due to poor punts. Their touchdown drive started on their own 27, and their field goal drive was after us having to punt the ball from our end zone.
One of KYs touchdown drives started on their own 8 after a 59 yd punt (by T. Day), another touchdown was after an interception, and their last was after we handed it over on downs instead of punting with over 6 mins on the clock.
Both of UFs second half scores were not due to poor punts. Their touchdown drive started on their own 27, and their field goal drive was after us having to punt the ball from our end zone.
One of KYs touchdown drives started on their own 8 after a 59 yd punt (by T. Day), another touchdown was after an interception, and their last was after we handed it over on downs instead of punting with over 6 mins on the clock.
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Our offense really needs to start helping out our punters. Our punters suck, but I can't imagine how sick they have to be since our offense makes them have to do a decent punt every time.**
I did think during the KY game it would have helped our offense. But now I believe our offense could start at mid-field every possession and still not score.
Along these same lines - we really should start taking advantage of the new kickoff fair catch rule. I'm not sure we've returned one past the 25 in an SEC game... maybe not past the 20. You can fair catch now and start at the 25, there's really no reason to return one that's caught at the 2.
Along these same lines - we really should start taking advantage of the new kickoff fair catch rule. I'm not sure we've returned one past the 25 in an SEC game... maybe not past the 20. You can fair catch now and start at the 25, there's really no reason to return one that's caught at the 2.
I mean, I sort of hear you... but our team defense is 11th in the country right now. Sure, you could argue that we played 3 cream puffs, but so have a lot of teams, and you also have to consider how many times our defense has had to march right back onto the field after making a stop.
While our defense may not be as spectacular as I was hoping, they have been rock solid this year
While our defense may not be as spectacular as I was hoping, they have been rock solid this year
I was going to bring this up a few days ago, but everyone is obviously worried about the more pressing issues. If we go three and out and have to punt, then hold the other team to a 3 and out and force them to punt, we lose 10-20 yards of field position. In a low scoring defensive game (or inept offensive game) like our last two have been, that means we're consistently losing field position.
Its his sophomore year. He’s been on campus for a little over a year but keep going you’re on a roll.
We're starting with horrible field position because we have so many 3 and outs. You'll eventually end up inside your 10 if the other team can move the sticks downfield a few times before they have to punt it back. In the Florida game, 5 of our 10 drives were 3 and outs. For UK, it was 6 out of 12 (and one of the outs was a pick, so we didn't even punt). That doesn't even count our 7 play drive for negative yardage.
Besides our team punting average is 38.3 yds per punt, slightly behind the 40 yards per punt opponents have against us. It's not making that huge of an impact.
Besides our team punting average is 38.3 yds per punt, slightly behind the 40 yards per punt opponents have against us. It's not making that huge of an impact.
State drives vs Florida
Own 15 (opening kick): +7 yards and punt (47 yards)
Own 24 (punt): +59 yards and FG
Own 11 (kickoff): +67 yards and FG
Own 11 (punt): +21 yards EOH
At the 50 (int): +3 yards and punt (31 yards)
Own 25 (kickoff): +29 yards and punt (36 yards to Florida 10)
Own 15 (punt): +6 yards and punt (34 yards)
Own 6 (punt): +1 yard and punt (33 yards)
Own 19 (kickoff): +1 yard and punt (45 yards)
Own 12 (punt): +33 yards and Downs
Of the possessions, you can put maybe two of them on the punter for not switching field position.
NONE of the first half possessions were decided by our punters.
In the second half, they dropped a punt inside the 10 and Florida drives 40 yards. Their punt puts us on our 15. We do jack **** and then have a terrible punt that puts them at mid-field. They go 20 yards, punt, and put us on our 6. Another terrible punt and they have it at our 40.
The grand result of all of that was 3 points.
That was NOT the difference in the game.
Anyone who saw Joe's speech when he was on the Bulldog road show this summer knows that we aren't gonna punt and go for it on fourth down. I believe he said something to the effect that the punters are nice kids but he only expects to see the on the field in practice!
An average can be misleading. Punts under 35 yards when you're punting from your side of the field and weather isn't a factor are terrible. Our guys are just inconsistent right now. They can boom a 45-50 yarder, then next time shank it 31 yards. I'd take Baker Swedenburg and his consistent 40-42 yard punt every time vs. a guy that could be anywhere from 30 to 50 yards.
It's certainly not the main reason why we're 3-2, but our punters aren't helping much either.
It's certainly not the main reason why we're 3-2, but our punters aren't helping much either.
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