'12 AZ WR Davonte Neal (Arizona Transfer)

[BurningRiver]

Soooo muuccchhh sppeeeeddd

 

[IrishMoore1]

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

Excuse me GB, but how is this positive momentum for the program? The news is just a player being named at punt returner. Nothing has happened yet. No punts have been returned for a touchdown yet.

???

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Agreed. Hope the change in rule doesn't have too many going out the back of the endzone.

It will have less returns out of the endzone since touchbacks go to the 25 yard line.

 

[irishknight35]

Excuse me GB, but how is this positive momentum for the program? The news is just a player being named at punt returner. Nothing has happened yet. No punts have been returned for a touchdown yet.

???

Because people wouldn't be dancing in the streets if Kelly named Goodman the PR starter. It gives greater hope that punt returns will actually cause opposing teams problems instead of flat out telling opponents don't even bother practicing punt coverage against us because all Goody will do is fair catch it like last year. Blocking on returns still needs to prove itself though but putting an electrifying player back there tells me that they want to make punt returns a serious threat.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Putting a tough guy like Cam McDaniel back with GAII makes more sense to me than Davonte. The "other guy" needs to throw a block on an ordinary return and be able to catch and make some headway if he absolutely has to be the one who fields it. McDaniel seems perfect for this spot to me. Davonte at PR though, if he can catch, then whoo-who.

 

[greyhammer90]

If we don't block this means nothing. Usain Bolt would have been waving his arms last year.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Putting a tough guy like Cam McDaniel back with GAII makes more sense to me than Davonte. The "other guy" needs to throw a block on an ordinary return and be able to catch and make some headway if he absolutely has to be the one who fields it. McDaniel seems perfect for this spot to me. Davonte at PR though, if he can catch, then whoo-who.

Exactly. Collinsworth was ideal because as the second KR (and could have been a good PR) because of his toughness, fearlessness, and decent speed. Cam seems to have some of thos traits.

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

If we don't block this means nothing. Usain Bolt would have been waving his arms last year.

this ^

 

[ab2cmiller]

Our punt return blocking still stinks. Having Neal back there certainly makes it more exciting, but we are wasting his talents by basically giving him little opportunity to return anything.

 

[elboricua]

I hate punt returns. Very high risk very low reward especially with the new punting style. They should have a player back there and he should be pretty deep I think. If they kick it deep and there is no one that close, you return it. If not, you let it go and get out the way. I also wouldn't be opposed to never returning punts and trying to block it most of the time and just letting it go where it goes. The coach at Pulaski Academy in LIttle Rock(I think that's what it's called) does this and I think it's an interesting idea. I don't even think he tries to block it.

 

[BeauBenken]

I hate punt returns. Very high risk very low reward especially with the new punting style. They should have a player back there and he should be pretty deep I think. If they kick it deep and there is no one that close, you return it. If not, you let it go and get out the way. I also wouldn't be opposed to never returning punts and trying to block it most of the time and just letting it go where it goes. The coach at Pulaski Academy in LIttle Rock(I think that's what it's called) does this and I think it's an interesting idea. I don't even think he tries to block it.

Coach Kelley just doesn't punt the ball. He still returns punts to my knowledge.

 

[DillonHall]

I hate punt returns. Very high risk very low reward especially with the new punting style. They should have a player back there and he should be pretty deep I think. If they kick it deep and there is no one that close, you return it. If not, you let it go and get out the way. I also wouldn't be opposed to never returning punts and trying to block it most of the time and just letting it go where it goes. The coach at Pulaski Academy in LIttle Rock(I think that's what it's called) does this and I think it's an interesting idea. I don't even think he tries to block it.

Or the scholarship ND football player can just catch the damn ball and run with it

 

[Rhode Irish]

I don't think we can return punts with the approach that we use, which I don't understand but results in a a bunch of ND players just standing around the line of scrimmage not trying to block the punt and letting the coverage team run by them. There has to be a strategic reason for why they do this, but I haven't the foggiest idea what that reason could be.

 

[Junkhead]

Nothing against Neal, but I am anxious as hell when he is back there. No pressure on the punter, no blocking, and a new guy back there catching in traffic. Our special teams aren't
very special right now.

 

[stlnd01]

Nothing against Neal, but I am anxious as hell when he is back there. No pressure on the punter, no blocking, and a new guy back there catching in traffic. Our special teams aren't
very special right now.

It's funny, because I think we actually do pretty well on kick returns (and I don't think it's all Atkinson). But, yeah, we never block punts and yet we never block for the punt returner. Not a winning strategy.

 

[gkautz10]

I don't understand what is so damn hard about blocking someone. If nobody is going to block for the punt returner, then why are they not blocking the punt. So far punt returns have been a huge let down and all the talk about getting some elite punt returning talent back there was pointless. Can someone explain to me what is so hard about blocking on the punt team?

 

[jimmymac]

To be fair, almost all of our punt returns yesterday were close to the goal line, which involves different blocking strategy than a punt for the middle of the field.

 

[Rhode Irish]

To be fair, almost all of our punt returns yesterday were close to the goal line, which involves different blocking strategy than a punt for the middle of the field.

That may be generally true, but unless I am really missing something we do the same exact thing on every punt return for the last three years. I am hardly ever critical of this coaching staff, but it baffles me to see the ball snapped to the punter and 10 guys stand at the line of scrimmage as the punter has all day to punt and the coverage team runs down the field untouched.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

My thoughts on the matter?

Let's just find ways to give Davonte 5-10 touches a game... He'll do something, that much I know.

 

[pkt77242]

My thoughts on the matter?

Let's just find ways to give Davonte 5-10 touches a game... He'll do something, that much I know.

As long as you don't include the punt returns (with their lack of blocking) in that 5-10. That would be a waste of touches.

 

[GUknights75]

I believe it's because he doesn't want to get faked on again....unless it's 4th and 10 + we will probably do it every time and force Neal to fair catch the ball. Could be different week to week, i really don't know but as long as we don't turn it over i'm fine with it.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

As long as you don't include the punt returns (with their lack of blocking) in that 5-10. That would be a waste of touches.

5-10 non punt returning touches is what i meant.

 

[Cackalacky]

That may be generally true, but unless I am really missing something we do the same exact thing on every punt return for the last three years. I am hardly ever critical of this coaching staff, but it baffles me to see the ball snapped to the punter and 10 guys stand at the line of scrimmage as the punter has all day to punt and the coverage team runs down the field untouched.

+1. Fair Catches all day and the possibility of a muffed catch. It does not matter where you are on the field. This needs to change.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

That may be generally true, but unless I am really missing something we do the same exact thing on every punt return for the last three years. I am hardly ever critical of this coaching staff, but it baffles me to see the ball snapped to the punter and 10 guys stand at the line of scrimmage as the punter has all day to punt and the coverage team runs down the field untouched.

Maybe the Kelly staff is more worried about getting holding calls that would result in an automatic first down (for the other team). If you watched the game Saturday, there are two things relevent to this conversation: the way that game was fought was the dirtiest bloodiest game I have seen in a long time, and the refs were obviously blind; can you imagine if we had held in any one, let alone several of the fourth down situations we held them in? We would have lost the game.

And watching the tape of the game I am now one hundred percent convinced Dave Casper is right!

 

[elboricua]

Or the scholarship ND football player can just catch the damn ball and run with it

Yeah but that's not the point. The point is that it may be counterintuitive to do so, but it also might be more efficient to just not return. And as to the other poster, no, I think he does not return them at all. Not positive, but I think that's what he does.

 

[Irishbounty28]

I am not sure that most on this board know the rules in relation to punt return, and I am part of this crowd as well. I do however know that most punt returns that get taken to the house are more because of over-pursuit, or out kicking the coverage. During these plays a dynamic returner will make a few miss, and then take it to the house. Say what you will but Davonte has some brass ones, which gives me reason to believe he will be okay back there.

 

[NDinMich]

I don't understand what is so damn hard about blocking someone. If nobody is going to block for the punt returner, then why are they not blocking the punt. So far punt returns have been a huge let down and all the talk about getting some elite punt returning talent back there was pointless. Can someone explain to me what is so hard about blocking on the punt team?

The guy you're trying to block isnt going to let you block him (not trying to sound like a jerk, just stating fact)

 

[irishfan]

Pretty awesome to see him go over to Rees right after the game ended and lift him up real quick. Good to see a good relationship between a frosh WR and a JR QB.

 

[cody1smith]

I realize that neal is short and most likely not a mismatch against most corners size wise but is he not our fastest wr? Golden tate stretched the field often just running routes down the sideline. Now i know that neal is no tate or at least not yet. But zero? I feel like other than a couple poorly executed reverses kelly is not even giving him a chance. I am no coach by any means but i feel like if neal runs a fly route down the sideline the corner will most likely get beat and draw at least a little help form the saftey. Opening up a little bit of the other side of the field. I know its early and Golsen is still green, i just see so much potential its driving me crazy.

 

[Ironman8]

I realize that neal is short and most likely not a mismatch against most corners size wise but is he not our fastest wr? Golden tate stretched the field often just running routes down the sideline. Now i know that neal is no tate or at least not yet. But zero? I feel like other than a couple poorly executed reverses kelly is not even giving him a chance. I am no coach by any means but i feel like if neal runs a fly route down the sideline the corner will most likely get beat and draw at least a little help form the saftey. Opening up a little bit of the other side of the field. I know its early and Golsen is still green, i just see so much potential its driving me crazy.

If we are going to do a fly right, get C Breezy on the field. The veteran players rave about him, and from all we have seen (albeit in small practice video doses), the kid has serious wheels and good ball skills.