punt returners

[np_husker]

Swift, Paul are among punt returner options

BY JON NYATAWA

WORLD-HERALD BUREAU

 

LINCOLN — Nebraska coach Bo Pelini isn't in too big of a hurry to name the team's No. 1 punt returner.

 

Pelini made it sound like the decision could wait until sometime next week, while the team's in full preparation for its Aug. 30 season opener against Western Michigan.

 

"Ultimately, it comes down to our feel at the end," Pelini said. "The first thing you've got to do is catch the football and be trustworthy back there to make good decisions."

 

As of Saturday, senior Nate Swift was the leading candidate, according to Pelini. Although moments earlier, Swift said he thought sophomore Niles Paul was the No. 1 guy. And Paul's not sure either because he spends half his time on the punt coverage team when the Huskers are running those drills.

 

"We're working a lot of guys," Pelini said.

 

And most of those players are young. Other than Swift and Paul, Pelini said freshmen Tim Marlowe, Alfonzo Dennard and Khiry Cooper have all caught punts in a relaxed practice setting.

 

Cooper, an MLB draft pick who didn't sign with the Los Angeles Angels before Friday's deadline, has potential for developing into a reliable returner, according to Pelini. But Cooper has yet to have any live experience catching punts — in a team scrimmage or in a collegiate game.

 

Really, nobody has an extensive amount of game action, at least not enough to be comparable to the time Cortney Grixby spent as Nebraska's returner.

 

Grixby returned just eight punts for 50 yards in 2007, but began his senior season with 43 career returns. Last season's staff also had Terrence Nunn and his 35 career returns to fall back on.

 

Swift would be considered the veteran of this group, one of the reasons Pelini and his staff are confident with letting him return punts. His stat line says he has just five returns, a somewhat skewed figure since fair catches, touchbacks and out-of-bounds kicks aren't factored in.

 

If he's called on, Swift said he'll have no problem catching those kicks.

 

"I've pretty much been doing punt returns my whole life," he said. "It's nothing new. I've always felt comfortable back there, whatever the situation is."

 

Well, almost every situation. Swift, then a sophomore, wasn't too thrilled about calling for a fair catch during a 2006 game against Texas.

 

"There were some blizzard conditions. It was windy and swirling inside the stadium," Swift said. "They punted it like 1,000 feet in the air and those guys are all around you screaming while you're trying to fair catch it. That's the worst. No one wants to be in that position."

 

That in-game pressure is really the only aspect of the position that can't be simulated. In practices, Swift said, they've worked on catching varying lengths of punts and on reacting to different ways the ball drops.

 

Like Swift, Paul said he tends to stay pretty relaxed while returning punts, no matter what kind. At Omaha North High School, Paul recorded an 18-yard punt return average during his senior year.

 

And this season, he has an even better group of players blocking for him.

 

"I know we have a nice punt return team and they're blocking their tails off for me," he said. "I feel real comfortable back there. The coaches, they all trust me doing it this year, so hopefully, I can."

 

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=3918...;u_sid=10408939

[HuskerTrucker]

I am glad that this is getting some serious attention. What happens on the kickoff could just set the whole tone of the game.

[mitch93]

Last year we didnt get punted to alot, so hopefully this year we do! GBR

[bbhusker]

Last year we didnt get punted to alot, so hopefully this year we do! GBR

 

Good point.

[dustinl15]

It has been a few years since we have had a dangerous return man. Someone that can possibly take a few to the house in a year. Could this be the year?

[Hunter94]

sorely need to improve in special teams play........sorely.

[HuskerTrucker]

So...last year is this year's problem with catching the ball...I get it!! We didn't get much practice doing it last year, so no wonder we can't catch the friggin ball now!!

[bethelbacker]

Obviously the coaches know what they're looking for, but with all the buzz about Marcus Mendoza coming out of camp, does anyone else think that he'd be a natural fit for PR? He's got the scatback frame that works so well for the position, and judging from his high school videos, he knows how to operate well in the open field and is quick to recognize which direction to take. I'm sure Cooper is doing well, so I'll wait and see, but this just seems like a good way to get Mendoza on the field early and take advantage of his skill set.

 

And no offense to Swifty (one of my favorites), you need more gamebreaking ability at the return position than he can provide.

 

Just my two cents.

[DeathCultArmaggedon]

Obviously the coaches know what they're looking for, but with all the buzz about Marcus Mendoza coming out of camp, does anyone else think that he'd be a natural fit for PR? He's got the scatback frame that works so well for the position, and judging from his high school videos, he knows how to operate well in the open field and is quick to recognize which direction to take. I'm sure Cooper is doing well, so I'll wait and see, but this just seems like a good way to get Mendoza on the field early and take advantage of his skill set.

 

And no offense to Swifty (one of my favorites), you need more gamebreaking ability at the return position than he can provide.

 

Just my two cents.

Not sure if you saw/heard the Spring Game, but Mendoza fumbled 2 (or was it 3?) kickoffs/punts. As Bo says, you have to catch that thing first. I don't think he will be our return man.

[bethelbacker]

Ahhh, therein lies the answer to my question......wasn't aware he had put it on the ground like that.....last thing we want is more gaffes. Thanks for the info tho, that's good to know.

[real'97champs]

It has been a few years since we have had a dangerous return man. Someone that can possibly take a few to the house in a year. Could this be the year?

 

Santino Panico?

[BigRedMan]

Isnt Mendoza being considered also?

[huskerswrkhavoc]

Isnt Mendoza being considered also?

 

 

read up talking about how he couldn't handle them at the spring game.. i know that was a concern.... i doubt he'll get too many looks if he can't hold onto the ball..

[Hunter94]

Obviously the coaches know what they're looking for, but with all the buzz about Marcus Mendoza coming out of camp, does anyone else think that he'd be a natural fit for PR? He's got the scatback frame that works so well for the position, and judging from his high school videos, he knows how to operate well in the open field and is quick to recognize which direction to take. I'm sure Cooper is doing well, so I'll wait and see, but this just seems like a good way to get Mendoza on the field early and take advantage of his skill set.

 

And no offense to Swifty (one of my favorites), you need more gamebreaking ability at the return position than he can provide.

 

Just my two cents.

 

 

agree, but you also need to be able to take some big time D-1 hits and hang on to the ball......nothing worse than playing defense and going right back out after a muffed punt return and exchange of the ball...it kills defenses, keeping them on the field with no rest.

[Hunter94]

Obviously the coaches know what they're looking for, but with all the buzz about Marcus Mendoza coming out of camp, does anyone else think that he'd be a natural fit for PR? He's got the scatback frame that works so well for the position, and judging from his high school videos, he knows how to operate well in the open field and is quick to recognize which direction to take. I'm sure Cooper is doing well, so I'll wait and see, but this just seems like a good way to get Mendoza on the field early and take advantage of his skill set.

 

And no offense to Swifty (one of my favorites), you need more gamebreaking ability at the return position than he can provide.

 

Just my two cents.

Not sure if you saw/heard the Spring Game, but Mendoza fumbled 2 (or was it 3?) kickoffs/punts. As Bo says, you have to catch that thing first. I don't think he will be our return man.

 

 

no, in fact unless he has improved in that regard, he won't see the ball very often at all.