Punt return game needs work

[Dagerow]

I'm surprised there hasn't been more discussion on this issue, but apart from some defense issues, the punt return game has been a major concern. Both teams have put us right by the goal line and limited our next offensive's options the next series. In a close game, this will matter a lot.

On a side note, I think Bo has been playing a very limited play book to hide stuff for UCLA and the like. For example, Bo's secondary is known for being very physical with recievers and this affects the timing of the offense (imagine Gregory with more time as the first and second option's routes have been "altered."). However, in the first two games, they have been vertically left untouched. It will be interesting to see what happens when the receivers are pushed around.

 

[lo country]

I'm surprised there hasn't been more discussion on this issue, but apart from some defense issues, the punt return game has been a major concern. Both teams have put us right by the goal line and limited our next offensive's options the next series. In a close game, this will matter a lot.

On a side note, I think Bo has been playing a very limited play book to hide stuff for UCLA and the like. For example, Bo's secondary is known for being very physical with recievers and this affects the timing of the offense (imagine Gregory with more time as the first and second option's routes have been "altered."). However, in the first two games, they have been vertically left untouched. It will be interesting to see what happens when the receivers are pushed around.

Agree with the DB's. Last year, Joseph had them playing physical.

I really do not think we are hiding much. The past few years, I would watch us and say "Bo has got to be holding back". Then I realized that was the best we could do. I think that until we can really field punts, our limited rush probably has more to do with "covering the fumble" than actually setting a return.

 

[Enhance]

I don't remember much of Wyoming's special teams play, but Southern Miss did rugby style kicks which are very difficult to work with as a return team. The whole point of the rugby style kick is to kick the ball away from the return man at a high rate of speed so that it rolls out of bounds or gets pinned deep in enemy territory. As a return team/return man, there's really nothing you can do in those situations.

 

[HuskerfaninOkieland]

I don't remember much of Wyoming's special teams play, but Southern Miss did rugby style kicks which are very difficult to work with as a return team. The whole point of the rugby style kick is to kick the ball away from the return man at a high rate of speed so that it rolls out of bounds or gets pinned deep in enemy territory. As a return team/return man, there's really nothing you can do in those situations.

This. Wyoming did quite a bit of the rugby style kicks as well. Best way to combat this is to put two returners back there

 

[C-4]

Regarding your side note, imagine a broken-out SJB (6'3" 220) pressing receivers in man. If he has any technique in press, it will be deadly.

 

[Dagerow]

I don't remember much of Wyoming's special teams play, but Southern Miss did rugby style kicks which are very difficult to work with as a return team. The whole point of the rugby style kick is to kick the ball away from the return man at a high rate of speed so that it rolls out of bounds or gets pinned deep in enemy territory. As a return team/return man, there's really nothing you can do in those situations.

This. Wyoming did quite a bit of the rugby style kicks as well. Best way to combat this is to put two returners back there

My issue was the total lack of pressure on the kicker. The kicker actually waited back there for awhile and then kicked after all his guys got down field, making any real return impossible/very risky.

 

[The Dude]

We didn't even try to set up a return in the Wyoming game. Literally. Go back and watch, we didn't even try. At least we tried in the Southern Miss game. That's progress.

 

[MichiganDad3]

The KO return and punt coverage seem to be much improved this year. If we can stop the rolling punts we can get back to all around great special teams. I would like to see a little pressure on the kicker and two returners. Imagine a short returner catching the rugby punt and taking off before the coverage is there.

 

[huskerfan92]

As long as we don't fumble the punts I'm fine

 

[Mavric]

As long as we don't fumble the punts I'm fine

We're already ahead of last year and I'm not sure if we've caught one yet.

 

[Enhance]

My issue was the total lack of pressure on the kicker. The kicker actually waited back there for awhile and then kicked after all his guys got down field, making any real return impossible/very risky.

It's been awhile since I've seen us really pressure a punter consistently. Whether that's a scheme design or a choice, I'm not real sure. The more guys you send to try and pressure the punter, the less guys you have falling back into coverage. So I don't know, I'm not too phased by it. Blocked punts are low percentage and unless getting the block is a necessity, teams appear to defer to having more guys in coverage. Just my observation, though.

 

[Mavric]

We really need to steal Florida's punt block. I couldn't find a great replay of it but you can kind of see it at 0:15:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7-pW2xz1xE

Basically, they ran three guys through the center-guard gap. The outside two attacked the inside shoulders of the upbacks and pushed them out which left a little seam for the third guy to sneak through and get the block. Very nice.