special teams in the 'ship

[clashmore_jon]

since i'm just trying to kill time until the 7th, i thought this could make an interesting conversation:

in BK's dec 29th press conference he said special teams will be "all hands on deck", whereas previously this year he has said we've been using walk ons, etc to help protect some of the guys where we're a little thin. BK said on the 29th that he doesn't have to worry about his guys getting overworked since this is a one game scenario.

I don't think anyone would be too surprised about that as this is the title match. Who do you think we will see playing on ST that hasn't already been there? Nix returning punts maybe?

 

[yankeeND]

since i'm just trying to kill time until the 7th, i thought this could make an interesting conversation:

in BK's dec 29th press conference he said special teams will be "all hands on deck", whereas previously this year he has said we've been using walk ons, etc to help protect some of the guys where we're a little thin. BK said on the 29th that he doesn't have to worry about his guys getting overworked since this is a one game scenario.

I don't think anyone would be too surprised about that as this is the title match. Who do you think we will see playing on ST that hasn't already been there? Nix returning punts maybe?

Lightning in a bottle!

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

I could see Cierre returning kickoffs and Riddick returning punts, but I don't claim to be in the know

 

[ryno 24]

GAIII is a pretty good returner. Davonte is good and as much as I love Theo I dont want to see him returning punts. This is going to be starters working as blockers on Kick and Punt return

 

[Buster Bluth]

GAIII is a pretty good returner. Davonte is good and as much as I love Theo I dont want to see him returning punts. This is going to be starters working as blockers on Kick and Punt return

This and only this.

 

[PANDFAN]

agreed buster...i don't want anyone back in the punt return other than neal...i know we keep wanting something special to happen but i prefer someone who has been repping it throughout the year....i think a change spells trouble...i know some will point to mike floyd but it is the blocking that needs to be changed not the returner

 

[chicago51]

Kickoff and punt coverage have been pretty good so I don't know if we will see too much with that. Maybe a starter or to will cover kicks and/or punts maybe.

No change in returner. Guys repping all year should be back there.

Yes I see starters being used as blockers for the return game.

 

[Irish#1]

GAIII is a pretty good returner. Davonte is good and as much as I love Theo I dont want to see him returning punts. This is going to be starters working as blockers on Kick and Punt return

I think you'll see some in on coverage as well.

Dingy used the same formulas when the Colts won the SB. Put a number do starters on ST. Paid some dividends in the end.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

GAIII is a pretty good returner. Davonte is good and as much as I love Theo I dont want to see him returning punts. This is going to be starters working as blockers on Kick and Punt return

Exactly.

 

[chicago51]

I think you'll see some in on coverage as well.

Dingy used the same formulas when the Colts won the SB. Put a number do starters on ST. Paid some dividends in the end.

Hester still ran one back. Though throughout the course of that game it did help them some.

 

[Mr. Larson]

I'm not convinced we have a better punt returner on the roster than Neal. The kid is electric. He hasn't had a chance to do much up to this point, but if starters are blocking for him watch out.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

This is smart. I wish he wouldn't have said anything in the presser.

 

[scUM Hater]

This is smart. I wish he wouldn't have said anything in the presser.

Gives Alabama something else to think about.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

Right. I'd rather them not think about it. I'd love for 'Bama to spend little to no time on our ST, then when they come out to punt after their first 3 and out we have starters in and give Neal at least 10 yards cushion to catch it. Then - see ya.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

This is smart. I wish he wouldn't have said anything in the presser.

Can't imagine how Saban's preparation or scheme will change because of it.

 

[Riddickulous]

Use Nix as a blocker on returns.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Kelly is a master at tossing generalities out there without pre-playing his hand with any specifics that give the opponent anything extra. He was asked about something specific in the presscon and immediately remarked "I'm not going to get into specifics", and shifted to a general response. Saban's getting nothing out of this and doesn't expect to.

As to starters vs. subs on special teams: the majority of these uses in college tend to be starting D-Backs going down on coverages as they are the combination of fastest and best tacklers --- probably smarter too. Recall McCarthy and Bruton. Also, sometimes a special set will occur with a "best blazer" lined up to try to block a kick. Return blocking is more mysterious to me [and obviously to our team as well] but seems to require a different skill set than other areas of football other than WR blocking downfield. Troy Niklas can't seem to figure out which guy to block at the line of scrimmage all the time, but he has the exact physique to bash SOMEBODY in space, and in my watching of kickoff returns a few decleaters are what it takes to release the GAIII Kraken.


And, oh yes... let Goodman field a punt and then hand it to Lou or Stephon standing alongside --- not sure I want the big one trying to catch it.

 

[phgreek]

Can't imagine how Saban's preparation or scheme will change because of it.

...yea, I think he'll run the same thing regardless of what ND does...

I also worry this hurts us. You have a guy back there expecting daylight now, and a bunch of guys who've not practiced "return"...and who will be going against crazy speed...speed you likely can't duplicate in practice. This adds up to Neal being less cautious, and getting waxed...

This to me is equally as likely to produce a turnover as a big return...maybe both. It'll be exciting either way...

 

[clashmore_jon]

...yea, I think he'll run the same thing regardless of what ND does...

I also worry this hurts us. You have a guy back there expecting daylight now, and a bunch of guys who've not practiced "return"...and who will be going against crazy speed...speed you likely can't duplicate in practice. This adds up to Neal being less cautious, and getting waxed...

This to me is equally as likely to produce a turnover as a big return...maybe both. It'll be exciting either way...

I think it's just a matter of coaching Neal. He's a smart kid, and has done this stuff already so I dont think it will be a big issue. Now...say he sees 15 yards of space, which he hasn't seen all year, i could see that maybe he gets a little ahead of himself and forgets to catch the ball. (with that much room he should get it back though i hope)

 

[phgreek]

I think it's just a matter of coaching Neal. He's a smart kid, and has done this stuff already so I dont think it will be a big issue. Now...say he sees 15 yards of space, which he hasn't seen all year, i could see that maybe he gets a little ahead of himself and forgets to catch the ball. (with that much room he should get it back though i hope)

...that too

 

[Shawn Barry]

I'm hoping for what happened last year in the bowl against FSU. Floyd returned a punt for a big gainer and that was something like 90% of our return yardage for the year :| but hey that type performance from Neal or whomever is returning punts will be appreciated.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

I'm hoping for what happened last year in the bowl against FSU. Floyd returned a punt for a big gainer and that was something like 90% of our return yardage for the year :| but hey that type performance from Neal or whomever is returning punts will be appreciated.

Yes, that 37 yarder was the longest of the past 2 or 3 years I believe...

I already have GAIII pegged to return a kick. Hopefully we can get one off ST also.

 

[We_Are_ND]

My take on this is......

All year we have set up as Punt safe/return. I think in the title game we will actually see some all out Punt block, something we have not seen all year.

 

[Irish#1]

Hester still ran one back. Though throughout the course of that game it did help them some.

He did and I remember Manning's funny comment after the game. But Dungy did this for all the playoff games, not just the SB.

The biggest changes were adding starting LB's to kick coverage.