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The punt return game gives me the sads
Posted on 10/8/23 at 4:20 pm
Posted on 10/8/23 at 4:20 pm
Returning punts hasn't been a highlight of the Kelly era but that stretch of events yesterday was a real stinker...
LSU finally sacks a QB and forces a punt from Missouris 11 yard line. Fair Catch Clayton vacates the area and let's it roll for a 73 yard punt and then a hold was tacked on for another 8 yards. The ball went from the Missouri 11 to the LSU 8. An 81 yard change of field position. I understand Clayton's task is the most basic instruction of field the ball and don't screw up the possession for our high scoring offense.
Nonetheless it would be a welcomed change if the return game could ever add positive yardage to the starting field position. Between this year and last, Clayton has returned 13 kicks for 86 yards.
LSU finally sacks a QB and forces a punt from Missouris 11 yard line. Fair Catch Clayton vacates the area and let's it roll for a 73 yard punt and then a hold was tacked on for another 8 yards. The ball went from the Missouri 11 to the LSU 8. An 81 yard change of field position. I understand Clayton's task is the most basic instruction of field the ball and don't screw up the possession for our high scoring offense.
Nonetheless it would be a welcomed change if the return game could ever add positive yardage to the starting field position. Between this year and last, Clayton has returned 13 kicks for 86 yards.
10
Posted on 10/8/23 at 4:24 pm to Lsuhoohoo
quote:how many has he muffed? He’s the only person I trust fielding punts because everyone else has put the ball on the ground.
Between this year and last, Clayton has returned 13 kicks for 86 yards.
Posted on 10/8/23 at 4:29 pm to Jim Hopper
quote:
how many has he muffed
He largely hasn't done anything stupid in his tenure as punt catcher (returner seems too generous). He had the near whiff against Florida State and yesterday's questionable decision to clear out.
But you're right he largely doesn't screw it up which is why's he's there. But it does suck that punt returns are basically treated as a formality to do the minimally acceptable baseline and get it over with.
Aaron Anderson was supposed to be our threat. BK hyped him up in camp as an explosive returner. He got 1 chance, admittedly he botched it but that was the first and last chance he got. Right back to Clayton and the non-return game.
This post was edited on 10/8/23 at 4:33 pm
Posted on 10/8/23 at 4:31 pm to Jim Hopper
Pretty sure has has let at least one go over his head. But that’s from a small sample size because teams score on 70% of their drives.
Moral of the story, special teams aren’t good.
Moral of the story, special teams aren’t good.
Posted on 10/8/23 at 4:32 pm to Lsuhoohoo
quote:
But you're right he largely doesn't screw it up which is why's he's there. But it does suck that punt returns are basically treated as a formality to do the minimally acceptable baseline and get it over with.
Why? It doesn’t really matter where you put the ball with this offense. They’re still going to score. So why should we take unnecessary risks?
Everyone is longing for the special teams of the miles era isn’t realizing that those teams didn’t have a choice. You had an offense that was lucky to get two first downs. If you didn’t light it up on special teams and defense you were going to lose.
We don’t need to beat the world with the damn punt returner these days. We have an offense capable of doing that and it’s much more reliable than waiting for that big punt return.
Posted on 10/8/23 at 4:33 pm to Lsuhoohoo
With as many athletes as the Tigers have on the roster, someone has to be a game changer on the team. I’m looking forward to who will be the youngster that steps up.
Posted on 10/8/23 at 4:34 pm to Lsuhoohoo
I get it and I’d like a more dynamic return game as well
But, with how good the offense is playing and how bad the defense is playing, I’m ok with a fair catch every single time. Secure the catch and don’t risk a muff that will take a possession away from the offense and give the other team what is basically an automatic score.
I’ll edit to add: as we start playing better defenses and may not be able to score at will, each possession becomes more critical.
But, with how good the offense is playing and how bad the defense is playing, I’m ok with a fair catch every single time. Secure the catch and don’t risk a muff that will take a possession away from the offense and give the other team what is basically an automatic score.
I’ll edit to add: as we start playing better defenses and may not be able to score at will, each possession becomes more critical.
This post was edited on 10/8/23 at 4:37 pm
Posted on 10/8/23 at 4:35 pm to Lsuhoohoo
quote:
Clayton has returned 13 kicks for 86 yards.
I was actually shocked by this number. That's more than I expected. I can't even recall a time we didn't fair catch it.
Posted on 10/8/23 at 4:36 pm to Lsuhoohoo
I’m not too concerned about punts. It will be rare for opposing teams to do it.
Posted on 10/8/23 at 4:44 pm to Lsuhoohoo
I'm disappointed that Anderson didn't work out. Was hyped about his potential.
Posted on 10/8/23 at 4:47 pm to OJsLifeCoach
He had a nice return against Grambling this season, other than that one return, has he not fair caught every other punt???
Posted on 10/8/23 at 4:50 pm to CottonWasKing
quote:come on, now. It's better for ANY offense to start with the best field position possible.
Why? It doesn’t really matter where you put the ball with this offense. They’re still going to score
quote:catching a punt to prevent a big roll is an unnecessary risk?
So why should we take unnecessary risks?
Posted on 10/8/23 at 4:58 pm to atltiger6487
Just fair catch every one of them. Sort of like Middle school football.
Posted on 10/8/23 at 5:11 pm to atltiger6487
quote:
catching a punt to prevent a big roll is an unnecessary risk?
We scored that drive. Clayton was going to have to make an over the shoulder catch to keep it from rolling. It was a good punt and there was no reason to take a risk in trying to field it.
Posted on 10/8/23 at 5:12 pm to CottonWasKing
quote:
Why? It doesn’t really matter where you put the ball with this offense. They’re still going to score. So why should we take unnecessary risks
Haha, one of the worst takes I've ever heard. Risk? There's no excuse you can't find one guy out from the whole team to catch a punt cleanly
Posted on 10/8/23 at 5:20 pm to Jack Crevalle
quote:
I'm disappointed that Anderson didn't work out. Was hyped about his potential.
I'm more disappointed that they anointed him the answer to the problem then completely scraped him after he made a mistake. That he wasn't fielding every punt against Grambling, where even if he muffs one we're still gonna win, was a boneheaded.
Posted on 10/8/23 at 5:22 pm to atltiger6487
quote:
So why should we take unnecessary risks?catching a punt to prevent a big roll is an unnecessary risk?
I don’t think people realize how big of a weapon having a solid punt returner is.
Posted on 10/8/23 at 5:26 pm to Jack Crevalle
quote:.
I'm disappointed that Anderson didn't work out. Was hyped about his potential.
They were hyping up Anderson like he was going to do what Zachariah Branch is doing at USC.
Posted on 10/8/23 at 5:42 pm to Jim Hopper
quote:
how many has he muffed? He’s the only person I trust fielding punts because everyone else has put the ball on the ground.
And that is ridiculous that a D1, P5, SEC, supposedly top tier program can't find a player capable of fielding punts and netting positive yardage. We are also bad on KR and KR coverage.
This is not an absence of talent. It's an absence of competent ST coaching. Our kicking game is solid so it's not a total failure.
Posted on 10/8/23 at 5:46 pm to Doby
quote:
teams score on 70% of their drives.
new strategy to cover for our bad special teams on punt returns - we are betting that they miss come extra pts.
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