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Pope can not return another punt

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Better off to have nobody back there than Pope. I do not feel is a natural football player, nor a smart football player. Seems like a nice kid and athlete.
 
Restrepo will be our main punt return at some point this season, and we should get him back there ASAP. I know it's just high school, but his returns at DFB and STA were ridiculous, and he knows how to navigate himself in traffic as well as make good decisions
 
AlexCane said:
I think he has the physical ability to return kicks, but he lacks the decisiveness/instict/quick decision-making to be a good PR. That's why IMO he seems so much more comfortable on KOR.
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Needs to get confident and get out of his own head. Right now, the more he has to think, the worse he looks.
 
One of these times the overconfidence in him "figuring it out" is going to cost us a game. He nearly fumbled one of the kickoffs he took back as well. Nice experiment with him, but even if he does play less timid over time he just doesn't have the sure hands for it right now
 
Coach Macho said:
I don't think he's mentally weak or anything, he's just awkward.
Like somebody already said in here, returning kicks (especially punts) is about comfort. The kid just looked uncomfortable and indecisive. He barely has a clue where he's going when he does return it.

I even have friends (who don't know our players) texting me in the middle of games..."Who's this Pope kid? He's awkward!"

Restrepo is way more savvy and has much more natural confidence as a football player. And he's chomping at the bit to make some plays. That's why he picked up that punt on the hop Saturday night.
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I definitely think we’re going to start seeing Restrepo more going forward. Last week was just the beginning
 
Baba Yaga said:
I can't help but wonder if he's being coached to field the punt at all costs IOT save field position? It's obvious he's not 100% comfortable back there and I'm not bashing the kid. But even the punt when Couch collided with him, he seemed like he was in a rush to field the punt.
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He's probably instructed to field punts but there are exceptions that a player needs to use discretion. It's not like coaches are going over every possible scenario and telling him do it here but not here. A player is given the parameters and then it's simply using the old noggin.
 
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Coach Macho said:
I don't think he's mentally weak or anything, he's just awkward.
Like somebody already said in here, returning kicks (especially punts) is about comfort. The kid just looked uncomfortable and indecisive. He barely has a clue where he's going when he does return it.

I even have friends (who don't know our players) texting me in the middle of games..."Who's this Pope kid? He's awkward!"

Restrepo is way more savvy and has much more natural confidence as a football player. And he's chomping at the bit to make some plays. That's why he picked up that punt on the hop Saturday night.
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Agree 100% on Pope but on the other hand do you really want to throw a freshman in there for his first start against Clemson on the road, in prime time? Tough call.

They should have broken him in against FSU and Louisville if they were gonna make the change.
 
The sad part would be that pope is the best option we have, the coaches need to give pope just 3 assignments, fair-catch everything, no returns, if the ball goes over your head, le it go, if the ball is coming in short and you to sprint to it, leave it alone.
 
like on the OBB said (my interpretation of what they said) it was Feagles two years ago, then last year BaXa, this year its Pope. When do we brake the cycle of getting burned by giving numerous opportunities?
 
totally agree on no more pun5 returns for him, seems shaky and doesnt show much vision. But even more than that... I’d like to see a rotation at WR of Wiggins, Harley, Redding and trying Payton.... before pope. Pope seems a good kid but it’s just not there
 
RightSaidFred said:
Agree 100% on Pope but on the other hand do you really want to throw a freshman in there for his first start against Clemson on the road, in prime time? Tough call.

They should have broken him in against FSU and Louisville if they were gonna make the change.
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I hear that for sure. Very valid point.
But I also know X.

Kids got massive balls. (metaphorically speaking, I ain't Macho Sandusky)

That kid don't care who's across from him. The stage and/or opponent won't faze him.

Look at it this way...
Pope looked sketchy and timid against UAB. He might LITERALLY **** his pants on his first punt return versus Clemson.
X can't be any more nervous than Pope.
 
305to954 said:
You think that was a good decision by X tho..I get he wants to make a play. But if Pope makes that same sort of decision vs Clemson in 2 weeks ppl will shake they heads. Popes 2 mishaps came from tryna do too much. Vs UAB tryna make a play fumbles. Vs FSU tries to save FP in traffic on a tough one, muffs one he should let bounce. Rn we don’t have a Braxt, or KJ. Imo u keep Pope back there. I don’t believe in playing musical chairs at that spot unless u have sure fire heady vet to replace him. Is X ready for that vs Clem..idk about that. If I’m manny I wouldn’t make that move yet
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**** nah I don't think that was a good decision. 😆
I'm just saying that he did it because it's the only time he's had a chance to get his hands on the ball so far. There was no way he wasn't gonna return that punt.
 
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TimeB0mb said:
#1 trait to look for in a Punt Returner: doesn't fumble
#2 trait to look for in a Punt Returner: doesn't fumble
#3 trait to look for in a Punt Returner: instinctively knows when to let it bounce, fair catch, or run
#4 cajones
#5 explosive

I don't know how explosive Restrepo is, but I think it is clear that he beats Pope on 1-4 in terms of being a punt returner.
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Restrepo is a mid-4.5 kid with great lateral ability.

But it's his intangibles that are elite.
He's savvy. Knows how you set defenders up whether he's running a route or running the ball.

That's one attribute that makes a good returner.
 
Coach Macho said:
**** nah I don't think that was a good decision. 😆
I'm just saying that he did it because it's the only time he's had a chance to get his hands on the ball so far. There was no way he wasn't gonna return that punt.
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Haha yeah I feel that. Me and my boy was watching the game and I told him no matter what 7 wasn’t calling a fair catch! **** i want all The Beach Boys to eat..idk if I’m putting X back there v Clemson for the first time tho
 
Coach Macho said:
I don't think he's mentally weak or anything, he's just awkward.
Like somebody already said in here, returning kicks (especially punts) is about comfort. The kid just looked uncomfortable and indecisive. He barely has a clue where he's going when he does return it.

I even have friends (who don't know our players) texting me in the middle of games..."Who's this Pope kid? He's awkward!"

Restrepo is way more savvy and has much more natural confidence as a football player. And he's chomping at the bit to make some plays. That's why he picked up that punt on the hop Saturday night.
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I was looking for your post game thoughts after FSU. Guess we’ll get you back after clemson
 
With the way our o looks, we just need the most sure handed guy back there. Pope messed up on punt return Saturday due to the fact of him trying to catch the ball rushing in a sideways motion which caused the fumble. He didn’t even need to run over to field the ball and should have just let it bounce
 
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