Special Teams Not Special

[HerdBot]

Last year we were possibly the best in the nation. The net punt average was mind boggling good. Field goals have been solid. Punt return game has been weak, don't remember any td returns for TDs. Kickoff coverage has been horrible this year and played a big role in the UNI loss. The season highlights seem to be penalties and more penalties. Kickoffs were being boomed out of the endzone early in the season but now it's a weakness. Much to work on

[Bisonator98]

I'm betting on some personnel changes this week. Lots of time for better players to heal up from bumps and bruises if we win, and even more if we lose. We need to go all in the next two games.


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I agree. Pretty sure we'll be seeing some of our best players out there on KO's and punts. I'd let Crockett return kickoffs and Dudzick return punts.

[cbline]

I agree. Pretty sure we'll be seeing some of our best players out there on KO's and punts. I'd let Crockett return kickoffs and Dudzick return punts.

Big E predicted just the opposite on the Bison Media post-game show. His view: you put your best players out there, and you increase the risk of injury and wearing out players with more rep's. His conclusion, which I agree with, is you deal with what you have and do some more coaching this week.

[Bisonator98]

Big E predicted just the opposite on the Bison Media post-game show. His view: you put your best players out there, and you increase the risk of injury and wearing out players with more rep's. His conclusion, which I agree with, is you deal with what you have and do some more coaching this week.

We'll see. I don't think Klieman was too happy with CJ's punt returns yesterday. And like CAS said if we win you have 3 weeks to recover, lose and well who cares!

[natstar1]

Although again, if they throw on that 3rd down and don't get it they leave CC with a TO.

If the main reason you run in on 3rd down is to make them use a TO, you should be be passing. If they have no TO's and you can run 40 seconds off the clock you should run it.

[1st&TennBison]

Ryan Smith and Bryan Shepherd have been sorely missed this year on special teams. Not sure why punt returners CJ and Christian are staying next to the ball when they don't fair catch or catch the ball and return it. They need to just get away from the ball.

For the most part in my opinion if they are not going to fair catch it they should just run off the field to get away from it. I just about went nuts when Dudz (if I remember correctly) tried to return that one punt that went bouncing around a few times before he picked it up and came very close IMO to losing the ball. But I agree, last year it seemed like every game we had at least one very good return 35-50 yard kind, and 4-5 returns on punts and kick offs for a TD. I honesty can't think of any off my head this year returned for a TD, and when was the last time we flipped (with a 50 yard return) the field with a return.

[1st&TennBison]

Although again, if they throw on that 3rd down and don't get it they leave CC with a TO.

Kind of like a double edged sword, you can get cut either way. If you run and don't make it, people say why not pass. Or pass and it goes incomplete and then people ask why do that. Teams are taught to go with their strength and for us it is the run. That down and yardage were not out of the possibility of running for a first down and forcing CCU to use their last TO was a good idea to me. Also, god forbid if we passed/tried to, and it was picked off. IMO and not using the benefit of hindsight I agree with the call.

[MAKBison]

For the most part in my opinion if they are not going to fair catch it they should just run off the field to get away from it. I just about went nuts when Dudz (if I remember correctly) tried to return that one punt that went bouncing around a few times before he picked it up and came very close IMO to losing the ball. But I agree, last year it seemed like every game we had at least one very good return 35-50 yard kind, and 4-5 returns on punts and kick offs for a TD. I honesty can't think of any off my head this year returned for a TD, and when was the last time we flipped (with a 50 yard return) the field with a return.

If your talking about Dudz last week, Dudz was right to do what he did.....ball touched the other team so he gets a free recovery attempt.

[1st&TennBison]

If your talking about Dudz last week, Dudz was right to do what he did.....ball touched the other team so he gets a free recovery attempt.

I am talking about yesterday.

[Gully]

Kind of like a double edged sword, you can get cut either way. If you run and don't make it, people say why not pass. Or pass and it goes incomplete and then people ask why do that. Teams are taught to go with their strength and for us it is the run. That down and yardage were not out of the possibility of running for a first down and forcing CCU to use their last TO was a good idea to me. Also, god forbid if we passed/tried to, and it was picked off. IMO and not using the benefit of hindsight I agree with the call.

Yep, I completely agree.