'12 AZ WR Davonte Neal (Arizona Transfer)

[phgreek]

I would like to see him as the day 1 punt returner.

...tough call, but I'm going to hope we put Goody or Chris Brown back there...They've got a couple inches on Neal, and on the rare occasion we don't fair catch they can fall forward for 3.5 yards to Davonte's 3...by the end of the year, that adds up

...just needs to be somone who is a little shifty, and doesn't choke...if thats Neal...awesome.

 

[phgreek]

i just hope they have him catching as many punts as they can legally kick to him!!!!!!

...Hell I'd quit everything to go punt to him if they'd let me...we need a little production there this year.

 

[UmphreakDomer]

...tough call, but I'm going to hope we put Goody or Chris Brown back there...They've got a couple inches on Neal, and on the rare occasion we don't fair catch they can fall forward for 3.5 yards to Davonte's 3...by the end of the year, that adds up

...just needs to be somone who is a little shifty, and doesn't choke...if thats Neal...awesome.

please, not goody.

and maybe i'm naive--but you dont exactly need height as a returner, right? i'd think the ability to take a hit, i.e. a tad more muscle mass would be a prerequisite. our most prolific returners in a more recent era*, that were effective, were zibby, golden, and julious--if i'm not mistaken. all under 6'.

*excluding michael floyds handfull of touches.

 

[Irishnuke]

He better be shifty because if punt return blocking is anything like last year, he might get killed on any/every punt return.

 

[phgreek]

please, not goody.

and maybe i'm naive--but you dont exactly need height as a returner, right? i'd think the ability to take a hit, i.e. a tad more muscle mass would be a prerequisite. our most prolific returners in a more recent era*, that were effective, were zibby, golden, and julious--if i'm not mistaken. all under 6'.

*excluding michael floyds handfull of touches.

totally agree with you...I had the italics font on...was being a wisea$$, and making fun of how horrible our return unit was, and how low our expectations have gotten...

 

[NDdomer2]

The goal of punt return is a first down. Get the offense one first down before they even step on the field. Anything over is just gravy.

Generally, if you run hard and make one guy miss, ten yards is in reach.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

The goal of point return is a first down. Get the offense one first down before they even step on the field. Anything over is just gravy.

Generally, if you run hard and make one guy miss, ten yards is in reach.

Point return, what is this, tennis? JK. On another note, what is that poster?

 

[UmphreakDomer]

totally agree with you...I had the italics font on...was being a wisea$$, and making fun of how horrible our return unit was, and how low our expectations have gotten...

i didnt even notice that!! lol!!

carry on people--nothing to see here!!

 

[phgreek]

The goal of point return is a first down. Get the offense one first down before they even step on the field. Anything over is just gravy.

Generally, if you run hard and make one guy miss, ten yards is in reach.

I'd pretty much take 10 as an average. I gotta say though...I read this and all I can think of is Mora and "PLAYOFFS"...

10 YARDS...10 YARDS...YOU GUYS TALKING ABOUT 10 YARDS...SHEESH!

10 yards...man you'd need to actually do more than fair catch or fall forward...which means someone would need to get a block, and someone would need to not fumble...tall order.

Yea I'm a little pissed about the '11 team turning what should be something that strikes fear in the hearts of their enemy, and using it to strike fear in the hearts of their fan base, and ellicit ridicule from players starting at pop warner all the way through the NFL, and finally pitty from rival fan bases.

Not saying Kelly did wrong by force fair catching everything...but somebody better take punt return and fix it this year. You can have all the speed and agility in the world but you need to catch the ball and get a block.

...like I said I'll take 10 for sure.

 

[NDdomer2]

Point return, what is this, tennis? JK. On another note, what is that poster?

Stupid Swype:embar:

The poster is pretty cool if you display it flat it's a fighter plane shooting a missle. If you display as shown its a reminder that what goes around, comes around.

I got to tell something to the most interesting man!

 

[NDPhilly]

Kid will be the starter by the end of the year IMO

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Point return, what is this, tennis? JK. On another note, what is that poster?

That is a heat seeking missle flying up the @ss of a fighter plane. Don't believe NDdomer2 he always makes things up.

What goes around, comes around; what kind of shiit is that?

 

[NDdomer2]

Haha I try to not make things up but it's a hard habit to kick. My hours on here aren't helping. Thankfully for Bog I get called out once in a while.

 

[STLDomer]

“@azc_obert: Word out of South Bend is that Davonte' Neal has very good shot starting on offense as true freshman at Notre Dame. Slot receiver.”

 

[NDPhilly]

He was one of three players tunnel vision hears came into camp in very good shape. The other two were Elijah Shumate and Keivarae Russell.

 

[NDdomer2]

He was one of three players tunnel vision hears came into camp in very good shape. The other two were Elijah Shumate and Keivarae Russell.

Awesome. Coach's look into this a lot. It shows who cares and is determined. Not that the others were out of shape, but those three clearly had one goal in mind all offseason.

 

[clashmore_mike]

After being on campus for 4 full days? SMH.

 

[Chris P. Bacon]

“@azc_obert: Word out of South Bend is that Davonte' Neal has very good shot starting on offense as true freshman at Notre Dame. Slot receiver.”

STLDOMER

Sorry, don't do the Tweeting thing or follow, who tweeted that message above ?

Tx

 

[RuntheBall]

“@azc_obert: Word out of South Bend is that Davonte' Neal has very good shot starting on offense as true freshman at Notre Dame. Slot receiver.”

Hope its more of Davonte stepping up than the other guys not doing so...

 

[STLDomer]

Richard Obert an Arizona reporter, has followed Davonte very closely.

 

[Chris P. Bacon]

Richard Obert an Arizona reporter, has followed Davonte very closely.

Ahh,

Appreciate it, thanks.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Hope its more of Davonte stepping up than the other guys not doing so...

If the staff is leaning towards keeping Riddick at RB, Neal won't have much competition at Z WR. Toma's reliable, but Neal's athleticism is untouchable. It's going to be hard for the staff to keep him off the field this year.

 

[IrishLax]

Toma is not an every-down player, although he is quite good in a specific role. I always expected either TJ Jones to get slid inside or someone else to step up and split some snaps there.. especially with Alford coaching both RB/Slot and the talk of the two positions being interchangeable at times.

Would be nice if Davonte can work his way into about 5-10 all-purpose touches a game this year.

 

[IrishLax]

If the staff is leaning towards keeping Riddick at RB, Neal won't have much competition at Z WR. Toma's reliable, but Neal's athleticism is untouchable. It's going to be hard for the staff to keep him off the field this year.

Why do I even bother posting... if I wait long enough you'll say what needs to be said haha

 

[NDBoiler]

After being on campus for 4 full days? SMH.

^This...This reminds me of a phrase my high school baseball coach used to use about getting psyched out by watching how good the opposing team looked in warm ups - "everybody looks good when they're practicing". The bottom line is, the original statement is quite a leap IMO. No doubting he's extremely talented and may very well be a first year starter, but I find it hard to believe that anyone can say that with any degree of certainty at this point since we don't even know for sure yet if he'll be able to fully digest the offensive playbook that quickly (see Ochocinco, Chad). Don't get me wrong, I am one of the most excited fans to see Davonte on the field especially after last season's punt return issues, but maybe just wait like a full week before throwing that out there?

 

[GBdomer]

Told you guys earlier that Neal might start against Navy and you all thought i was crazy. And that's no disrespect to Robby Toma.

 

[Riddickulous]

I'd be surprised if he wasn't starting by the end of the season, barring injury. There isn't another player on the team with his skill set.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

Told you guys earlier that Neal might start against Navy and you all thought i was crazy. And that's no disrespect to Robby Toma.

Haa, dude you love to lump everyone in your "told you so" statements. I certainly did and do not think that idea is crazy and I believe most people agreed this kid would be special right away.

 

[IrishLion]

Haa, dude you love to lump everyone in your "told you so" statements. I certainly did and do not think that idea is crazy and I believe most people agreed this kid would be special right away.

Same, I think saying "Neal might start against Navy" is not necessarily going out on a limb. I'm in the group that thinks/hopes he starts from day one. And I agree with GB, not a knock on Toma at all, but Neal already has superstar athleticism. If he can pick up the playbook quick enough, he's in the slot for the first offensive play of the season.

 

[Irish YJ]

This kid is fire. BK will figure out how to get him the touches. Start, or 2 deep, he'll be playing O game 1.

Honestly, I'm more excited about his return skills this year. Thinking the over/under should be 3 in terms of him taking it to the house! Book it.