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Special Teams...

CGCANE

CGCANE

@Hurricane_Eddie
Joined
Nov 2, 2011
Messages
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I am not a football know-it-all. But wanted thoughts on Special Teams play, specifically on kick returns. Do you think it's coaching/scheme or talent/depth? Why can't JT get it passed the 25 yard line? It seems that we only return it along the right sideline straight into a scrum.
 
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Not a **** thing special about any aspect of this team! That punter is straight garbage, and a wasted scholarship ( if he is on scholarship). No one returns punts anymore in college or NFL.
 
Was watching the blocking schemes on kicks, and either the schemes aren't very good or our returners are running the wrong way. Every time a returner turns up field, there a 4-5 unblocked coverage guys to stop them.
 
A punter who can't punt. J-turning and wedging the wrong direction on KRs. A cluster.
 
This absolutely has to change. Special teams are 1/3 of the game and in virtually every aspect Miami was abysmal. Kick returns and punt returns should present a threat to the opponent and force them to kick away from players, leading to mistakes (ball out of bounds). Hidden yards. And return TDs are back breakers. We could not block a field goal (maybe one this season?) or even pressure kickers. The botched onside at GT (players watching the ball instead of jumping on it) reflects a team that has poor coaching on special teams responsibilities. With the speed on this team we should have had at least 5 returns (kr/pr) for touchdowns. Blocking was completely non existent. Elite miami teams have ALWAYS had dynamic special teams. Has to be fixed before 2018.
 
Papa Feagles better spend the spring working with his son on getting whatever hiccup he has in his motion because he was god awful this year....

I know hes a true frosh and I expected a few shanks or balls in the end zone a ton where he just booms it because of nerves but holy **** did he look like a walk on try out kid from campus who showed up the friday before the 1st game of the season
 
I'm so tired of the He's a freshman punter BS. My HS punter averaged 45 yards a punt. Either you can kick or you cant
 
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CGCANE said:
I am not a football know-it-all. But wanted thoughts on Special Teams play, specifically on kick returns. Do you think it's coaching/scheme or talent/depth? Why can't JT get it passed the 25 yard line? It seems that we only return it along the right sideline straight into a scrum.
Click to expand...

First, because blocking isn't very good. Second, he looks like he doesn't get how fast the coverage is moving. I see him trying to hit holes that (from home) obviously won't be open when he gets to them. As for which side the return is on, I assume that's mostly up to the other team. It has crossed my mind that we should put him on the other side and see if they'll kick to Dallas.
 
The kick return thing is crazy. Thomas is too good for this **** to be the normal. Figure out how to block or find a coach that can.

While we're here, we don't block punts anymore either, despite all our speed.
 
Its depth, a lack of elite returners, and a awful punter, right?

Its not like the Radio years where teams ran kickoffs back to the 50 everytime, AGAINST US

Clarification
 
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It's not just Feagles. EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF OUR SPECIAL TEAMS WAS BAD!!

Opposing kickers never missed! They made every extra point and field goal.
We blocked one punt all year (not sure if there was a partial block or two).
Our kickoff coverage and return teams were pathetic. Jeff Thomas never made it past the 35 yard line.
Berrios - loved hims as a slot WR - but he fair catches if the gunner is within 10 yards of contact.

The good news is that we will be better in 2018....

becases there is no way we could be any worse.
 
Gables Cane said:
It's not just Feagles. EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF OUR SPECIAL TEAMS WAS BAD!!

Opposing kickers never missed! They made every extra point and field goal.
We blocked one punt all year (not sure if there was a partial block or two).
Our kickoff coverage and return teams were pathetic. Jeff Thomas never made it past the 35 yard line.
Berrios - loved hims as a slot WR - but he fair catches if the gunner is within 10 yards of contact.

The good news is that we will be better in 2018....

becases there is no way we could be any worse.
Click to expand...


Bingo! Its every aspect of our special teams. Football outsiders has our special teams ranked 93rd overall (FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Innovative Statistics, Intelligent Analysis | 2017 FEI RATINGS, SPECIAL TEAMS for those interested).
These are our ncaa rankings:
Kick return yards allowed (average): 107th.
Kick return average: 46th (better than I thought)
Punting net yards: 106th
Punt return yards allowed (average): 14th on 8 total returns- (how many Feagle punts have been unreturnable?)
Punt return average: 5th! (we only attempted 13 total returns)

Idk if its right to place the blame on our special teams. But the fact that opposing kickers still haven't missed any kicks against us certainly fits the theme here. I cant tell if its all luck or if we're not getting enough pressure on opposing kickers. Something needs to be done though. We have too much talent and speed on special teams to be THIS bad.
 
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Begins and ends with the ST coach. But watching JT4 struggle to reach the 25 all season has been painful. Say what you will for Berrios being overly cautious -- he picks his spots and makes very few mistakes back there -- but PR has been one of our best special teams units... and that says something.
 
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