Special Teams Discussion

[phgreek]

I was at a loss for the lack of block on 4 or 5 men coming downfield unimpeded unless you consider that The Plan IS to Fair Catch. Is so, why risk a hold or block in the back when you have no intention of returning the punt? Think about it.

This is exactly where I was with it...in addition why risk injury. Pretty needy in terms of depth, why risk it.

I will say I am a proud member of the testosterone crowd...but in this case, I'd have bailed on punt returns too...although probably in a more stinging and epic fashion by asking the cheerleaders and band to step onto the field at home games for punt returns.

 

[PLACforever]

From an ESPN blog:

The 6-foot-3, 207-pound Goodman has 28 catches for 315 yards, including seven for 65 this season. He has also been Notre Dame's primary punt returner, averaging a team-high 0.6 yards per return this season (that's not a typo). Last season, Goodman, who played quarterback his senior year of high school, tossed a 32-yard touchdown pass to Michael Floyd against Western Michigan

 

[IrishLax]

I don't know why we don't bring the punt block every time. Might get lucky or rush the punter and we're not getting returns anyways so......

 

[Grahambo]

Seems that ever since MSU did their fake FG, BK has been ultra conservative in the special teams game. I could be very wrong but just seems like that to me.

 

[Dizzyphil]

Said it once, saying it again; Mike Elston needs to go to the Frank Beamer school of special teams.

that is all


Diz

 

[Old Man Mike]

My brother, a 6'4" 275lb D-Tackle at ECU when he played 30 years ago, said that he blocked, even the gunners sometimes, on punt returns. Now he was a great athlete for his size [4.7 forty and NC state weight-lifting record holder] but he said that punt return blocking was largely "attitude"... did you REALLY want to get at the other guy the same way you did on everyday plays.

I believe him because his view of college football has always been moderate and insider-sharp, but if that is true, why wouldn't ND blockers have more aggressive attitudes?, and does our special teams coach not put the best potential blockers on the field for those plays? Are we resting our studs? Or, to take a different tack, does our defense bend-not-break in ways that almost always gives the opponent a good punting situation, and not being rushed, the punter can loft it way up there consistently?

SOMETHING must be explaining this rather than poor effort.