Just My Imagination?

[mmboys07]

Is it just my imagination, or has it really become hard to return punts? It seems almost every punt for either team is a fair catch? I don't know, I have been following college football (ND) for over 50 years and it just seems to me the punt return was a big part of the games. If it has become harder to return punts, why so? Are the punters these days just so much better at getting hang time? Or, is there something else going on. I heard a lot about this ND player who was a dynamic punt return specialist, and not one chance yesterday.

Just a note. I feel for Folston. I hope he gets a medical red-shirt and has the kind of career he is capable of.

 

[theskibro]

Is it just my imagination, or has it really become hard to return punts? It seems almost every punt for either team is a fair catch? I don't know, I have been following college football (ND) for over 50 years and it just seems to me the punt return was a big part of the games. If it has become harder to return punts, why so? Are the punters these days just so much better at getting hang time? Or, is there something else going on. I heard a lot about this ND player who was a dynamic punt return specialist, and not one chance yesterday.

Just a note. I feel for Folston. I hope he gets a medical red-shirt and has the kind of career he is capable of.

Great post. Been a problem for us for a long time. Kelly does not focus on it and even has made a comment to that effect. Not sure why. We should be able to block their gunners better

Other teams also have a problem so it is a trend. But BD seems to be the worst

This bugs me big time so I feel your pain. Think Zibby vs USC. Rocket. Etc
It can be exciting. Shame

 

[IrishHerb]

Great post. Been a problem for us for a long time. Kelly does not focus on it and even has made a comment to that effect. Not sure why. We should be able to block their gunners better

Other teams also have a problem so it is a trend. But BD seems to be the worst

This bugs me big time so I feel your pain. Think Zibby vs USC. Rocket. Etc
It can be exciting. Shame

Zibby & Rocket are "recent" punt return greats. I can remember Hornung, Nick Rassas, Tom Schoen, Angelo Dabiero, Tim Brown, and a few others whose punt returns were electrifying.

 

[Grotto_22]

I have been saying this for years and it my only gripe with Kelly.
Our bumpers do not make any contact with the runners. It football 101 I have no idea why we let them run free every single time.

 

[D_Master]

could be a couple things aside from just emphasis on ND's part. 1) improved punting, hang times improving. 2) better/ faster athletes on special teams. just throwing these out there, i have nothing to actually back it up with

 

[topdecktiger]

Is it just my imagination, or has it really become hard to return punts? It seems almost every punt for either team is a fair catch? I don't know, I have been following college football (ND) for over 50 years and it just seems to me the punt return was a big part of the games. If it has become harder to return punts, why so? Are the punters these days just so much better at getting hang time? Or, is there something else going on. I heard a lot about this ND player who was a dynamic punt return specialist, and not one chance yesterday.

Just a note. I feel for Folston. I hope he gets a medical red-shirt and has the kind of career he is capable of.

Yes it has. A couple of reasons. More teams are using these rugby-style punters. Those kicks are a lot harder to field that spiral punts, so coaches want the returners to either fair catch or just get out of the way to avoid a fumble, which leads to the other point. With the prolific offenses nowadays, some coaches deem it more important to secure possession that to get return yards. For example, if you're Oregon or Baylor with this high-octane offense, you don't want to fool around with a return and risk a fumble. You want your offense to have as many chances as possible, so just secure the punt, get the hell out of there, and let your offense do its thing.

 

[HRC08]

Unlike the nfl, every player is allowed to run down the field at the snap of the ball if they wish to. Punt returns are down 20% over the past 15 years. It's not just ND.

 

[IrishBlooded]

Kelly idea on punts / kickoffs

Make sure they are caught, and mitigate any possible damage. He doesn't put his best personal on the field for them, and he doesn't spend much time working on them. He just wants to make sure he doesn't lose any yards on them.

 

[deadirishpoet]

Kelly idea on punts / kickoffs

Make sure they are caught, and mitigate any possible damage. He doesn't put his best personal on the field for them, and he doesn't spend much time working on them. He just wants to make sure he doesn't lose any yards on them.

Evidently

 

[Sock Monkey]

Don't forget Allen Rossem.

 

[artemis gordon]

Don't forget Allen Rossem.

Don't forget Totie Fields.

 

[mmboys07]

Yes it has. A couple of reasons. More teams are using these rugby-style punters. Those kicks are a lot harder to field that spiral punts, so coaches want the returners to either fair catch or just get out of the way to avoid a fumble, which leads to the other point. With the prolific offenses nowadays, some coaches deem it more important to secure possession that to get return yards. For example, if you're Oregon or Baylor with this high-octane offense, you don't want to fool around with a return and risk a fumble. You want your offense to have as many chances as possible, so just secure the punt, get the hell out of there, and let your offense do its thing.

Ok. Interesting. The game has changed. Your points make sense to me.

 

[BGI User 1596]

Unlike the nfl, every player is allowed to run down the field at the snap of the ball if they wish to. Punt returns are down 20% over the past 15 years. It's not just ND.

But at ND they are down 100%.

 

[perseverare]

Don't forget Totie Fields.

damn! I had forgotten her! now I have to start all over!