DPE punt returns

[zoogs]

Yeah, DPE needs to start returning punts.

 

It's been two games, so I wouldn't sweat "trends". It'll come, though his confidence does bear watching. 

 

Really it was just this last punt that stands out. He could've made something happen there, or at least picked up a decent chunk of yards with a free timeout at the end.

[BigRedBuster]

3 minutes ago, MichiganDad3 said:

We are still paying Bo. Bring him back and make him coach special teams

Ummm....no.  I remember one hell of a lot of his tenure here where we didn't have good punt returns.

[knapplc]

You guys have already forgotten the Bo Pelini era, haven't you?  We had this same problem with Bo.

 

Our punt return game is nonexistent, because we make no attempt whatsoever to block the punt or the opponent's defenders. This has to be the single most bizarre thing in the Bo Pelini Era - what the hell are they thinking with a punt return game like this?

 

Perfect example:

 

 

Bell has seven unblocked defenders within 18 yards of him, and he has yet to catch the punt. It is impossible that he could make any kind of return, and this possession is going to start inside the 15 yard line. If he fumbles (as has been known to happen), it is without question going to be a turnover - there are no other Huskers to corral a loose ball.

 

Penn State was able to get these guys downfield because we don't block them, and they know based on years of film that the majority of our defenders make zero attempt to block the punt. On the snap they move a yard or two upfield toward the punter, then stop. Every single team we play knows we're 1) not going to block their punt and 2) they can send everyone downfield to tackle the returner.

 

Here's what's supposed to happen. Ohio State knows that Penn State will make every attempt to block the punt, aggressively, so they have to keep defenders home to protect the punter. There are 10 Ohio State blockers behind the line of scrimmage at the time of the kick, or at most a yard past. There are eight Penn State players at or near the line of scrimmage, meaning the one Ohio State player not on screen here has to face two blockers before he can get to the returner.

 

 

Our scheme is clearly not an accident, it's clearly designed to work this way, and it is clearly not effective. Nebraska ranked 121st out of 123 teams in punt return yardage last year. On 23 punts returned (not counting those not fielded or fair caught), we gained a total of 70 yards.

 

 

 

You want to talk about field position problems? There's your problem, right there. It's in the scheme, 100%.

[Mavric]

 

We were absolutely terrible that one year.  Other than that, we were pretty decent.

 

But what we're seeing this year looks exactly like that one year.  And I think it's been similar to this for three years now.

[LaunchCode]

31 minutes ago, Mavric said:

 

The other problem with that is not only watching for the fake but if they're punting from near mid-field a lot it doesn't lead to much chance for returns because they can kick it near the end zone or hang it up high enough for the coverage to get there.

Excellent point, every punt situation is different.  Not all situations are perfect for setting up a return and against at team with the speed Oregon has, it's that much more difficult when the right situation does present itself.    

[MichiganDad3]

13 minutes ago, BigRedBuster said:

Ummm....no.  I remember one hell of a lot of his tenure here where we didn't have good punt returns.

Bo took over special teams his last year because ST were poor previously. Bo turned ST around, especially punt returns. Just imagine how upset Bo would be if it was possible to make hime come to NU and coach ST or give up his fat paycheck.

[knapplc]

8 minutes ago, Mavric said:

 

We were absolutely terrible that one year.  Other than that, we were pretty decent.

 

But what we're seeing this year looks exactly like that one year.  And I think it's been similar to this for three years now.

Year - National Rank Punt Return Yards

2008 - 21st

2009 - 5th

2010 - 28th

2011 - 72nd

2012 - 38th

2013 - 112th

2014 - 1st

2015 - 90th

2016 - 60th

 

Pretty mixed bag there through the Pelini Era and into the Riley era.  DPE's Freshman year we were amazing, we were good in 2008 & 2009 with Niles Paul, but we've been in the bottom half of punt returns four out of nine years, including both Riley years.

[Mavric]

Twice in the Top 5.  Two more in the Top 30.  One mediocre.  One bad.  One horrific.

 

Mixed, yes.  But more good than bad.  Really only two years that stand out as being poor.

[knapplc]

At 16-12, "More good than bad" can adequately describe Mike Riley's tenure at Nebraska. 

[GBRFAN]

2 hours ago, Mavric said:

He has also not really had much room to work with.

 

I'd have to look again but I don't think there have been any where he was completely wrong to take the fair catch.  The last one vs. Oregon seemes bad but there was a guy close by, he just ran by by the time the ball got there.  And you shouldn't fair catch at your own 5 yard line but that wasn't going to be a return.

 

If our defense would make people punt more, we'd have a larger sample size to look at.

 

Not sure if it was the last against Oregon or not however DPE shock his head after he did it and the replay shows that he was one on one with a guy (currently 8/10 yards away)- if that tackle is missed he is 50/50 to take it to the house.

[BigRedBuster]

27 minutes ago, Mavric said:

Twice in the Top 5.  Two more in the Top 30.  One mediocre.  One bad.  One horrific.

 

Mixed, yes.  But more good than bad.  Really only two years that stand out as being poor.

 

Not good enough to want him back for this reason.

[Mavric]

1 minute ago, GBRFAN said:

Not sure if it was the last against Oregon or not however DPE shock his head after he did it and the replay shows that he was one on one with a guy (currently 8/10 yards away)- if that tackle is missed he is 50/50 to take it to the house.

 

That was the last one against Oregon.  The defender was closer when he waived for the fair catch but DPE didn't realize he was getting blocked and had more room than he thought.

 

[Mavric]

Just now, BigRedBuster said:

Not good enough to want him back for this reason.

 

No argument from me on that. 

[knapplc]

He probably gets jumpy after catching two or three punts with guys right in his face. If he's consistently getting blocking and has room to make a first step or two, he'll consistently look to return those rather than fair catch them.

 

That's blocking and scheme, not DPE's fault.  We have to have a consistent block or he won't work his magic.

3 minutes ago, BigRedBuster said:

 

Not good enough to want him back for this reason.

 

1 minute ago, Mavric said:

 

No argument from me on that. 

 

Yeah, I didn't take from this thread that anyone really wanted Bo back. That was just a stat nerd tangent.

[BigRedBuster]

1 hour ago, MichiganDad3 said:

We are still paying Bo. Bring him back and make him coach special teams

I'm hoping it was a joke.