'12 AZ WR Davonte Neal (Arizona Transfer)

FightingIrishLover7

FightingIrishLover7

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I say Theo deserves another chance, Kelly has said multiple times that the PR has to make people miss. I don't think anyone on this team is as good at cutting as Theo is.

With that said, Cierre, Davonte, and Prosise all seem like good candidates too.
 
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Bogtrotter07

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Old Man Mike said:
Kelly said several times last year that the good hands people, as far as catching punts was concerned, were John Goodman, Harrison Smith, and Robbie Toma. He probably would have said Mike Floyd too, except that he didn't want to play him there.

Everybody wants to see some production out of punting returns. But if we have good quarterbacking, the Kelly Offense can score from anywhere on the field. (just like we did last year when there were no Interceptions, sacks, or fumbles [or fifteen yarders]). It takes something spectacularly bad [and usually self-inflicted] to stop Kelly's offense --- run or pass.

So, we MUST CATCH THE BALL. I'd love it if one of the new guys like Neal could catch the ball. I'd love it if we'd try to regularly attempt blocked punts to create returnable semi-flubs. But NOTHING supercedes catching the ball. With our defense it's really tough to score against us, unless we give them most of the field for free.

An aside: in high school GAIII returned the Kickoffs, but Josh returned the punts. Why hasn't Josh gotten a look here? Or has he?
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One of Kelly's most memorable mea culpas was when he admitted that a smarter head coach would have put Floyd back there earlier. He said something since Floyd last played to the effect that you need to put the playmaker there, and if he had it to do again, he probably would do it differently.
 
IrishLax

IrishLax

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You put Davonte back there day 1. He has lots of experience as a return man and a prototypical skillset for PR. No more John "I'm supposed to have sure hands but muff a crucial punt against MSU" Goodman or RBs trying to learn how to play PR. Use the natural that you've got.
 
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Cackalacky

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IrishLax said:
You put Davonte back there day 1. He has lots of experience as a return man and a prototypical skillset for PR. No more John "I'm supposed to have sure hands but muff a crucial punt against MSU" Goodman or RBs trying to learn how to play PR. Use the natural that you've got.
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Some downfield punt blocking and coverage would be great too... It always seemed the other team was on top of our PR before he could attempt to catch the ball. I may be alone there but it did seem that way to me.
 
Riddickulous

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Cackalacky said:
Some downfield punt blocking and coverage would be great too... It always seemed the other team was on top of our PR before he could attempt to catch the ball. I may be alone there but it did seem that way to me.
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You're not.

Until the blocking improves, it won't matter who's back there. He'll never get an opportunity to make something of it.
 
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ab2cmiller

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Riddickulous said:
You're not.

Until the blocking improves, it won't matter who's back there. He'll never get an opportunity to make something of it.
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I also agree, but I also think it's probably human nature to give that little bit of extra effort if you know you got a guy returning who has the ability to take it to the house every time he touches the ball. I suspect you put someone back there who is more dynamic, the blocking will probably improve as well. It shouldn't be that way, but I suspect it is.
 
phgreek

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ab2cmiller said:
I also agree, but I also think it's probably human nature to give that little bit of extra effort if you know you got a guy returning who has the ability to take it to the house every time he touches the ball. I suspect you put someone back there who is more dynamic, the blocking will probably improve as well. It shouldn't be that way, but I suspect it is.
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I think thats true... to some extent. Human nature. You want guys to blindly go do...but sometimes things creep in...if you doubt the returner is going to make it to the second level...do you work as hard? Mybe...do you work as hard everytime...probably not.
 
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Bogtrotter07

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Who was in charge of preping the punt return team for blocking last year? I don't mean Elston, either.
 
Irishman77

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There were times nobody was within 10yds of goodman and he was signaling fair catch. I believe he did what he was told to do.
 
ChiRish

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I think it worked out for Oregon last year with DeAnthony Thomas. Neal is a freak athlete. You put him back there and live with little miscues for the electric possibilities on any play.

DAT - 10 YPC, 13 YPR, 2 return touchdowns.

If Neal can even come slightly close to numbers like that, our offense should be pretty explosive. Not to mention it will inject ANY kind of life into our nonexistent return game.
 
yankeeND

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ChiRish said:
I think it worked out for Oregon last year with DeAnthony Thomas. Neal is a freak athlete. You put him back there and live with little miscues for the electric possibilities on any play.

DAT - 10 YPC, 13 YPR, 2 return touchdowns.

If Neal can even come slightly close to numbers like that, our offense should be pretty explosive. Not to mention it will inject ANY kind of life into our nonexistent return game.
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That's exactly how I feel. Sometimes you just gotta play the shiny new toy! Either you got it or you don't!
 
irishandy

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All of the video clips I've seen of Davonte Neal have been impressive! Get this kid on the field. Number 19 was special on defense last year and I think #19 can be special on offense this year. He would be a good candidate at punt returns, but I'd like him better at kick off returns- he or Atkinson to kick off to. He was also impressive interviewing with the media.
 
PLACforever

PLACforever

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FYI:
Returning for his senior year, Neal wins the Heisman, even after missing the final two games of the season with a bruised elbow.
He also goes for 100+ with 1Rcv TD and 1Rsh TD in the BCS Championship against Oregon.
(Stats courtesy of my NCAA 2012 Dynasty)
 
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GBdomer

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This is the best day BK has had since he beat USC. Finally some positive momentum for the program
 
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GBdomer

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Neal isn't as fast as DAT. but he is very shifty and has all the tools. Let's not get ahead of ourselfs
 
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Bogtrotter07

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Cam McDaniels was announced with GAIII. Haven't heard any changes in that.
 
rtrn2glory

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i apologize if i'm late to the party...i've read most of the articles on the front page, but i was just wondering what all the positive buzz is about??
are we just excited about the golson news and neal at PR?? or did i miss something??

thanks
 
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