What was up with return game?

[vollen]

Good day all. I would like to spark a conversation about the kick return game against Mizo. Did anyone else think it looked weird? Ok D. Williams had several returnable kicks that were either let go or fair caught, Then the kicks that he had no chance on he tried to return. CRAZY?

 

[GAVol]

Between rugby kicks and the way punters hit it so much higher now, it's just hard to generate returns nowadays. I think Dee just gets frustrated sometimes and tries to make things happen. I'm sure that's why he tried to return the kickoff from 8 yards deep in the endzone.

 

[Hbg]

Good day all. I would like to spark a conversation about the kick return game against Mizo. Did anyone else think it looked weird? Ok D. Williams had several returnable kicks that were either let go or fair caught, Then the kicks that he had no chance on he tried to return. CRAZY?

I said the same thing, it was very noticeable. The question is why?

 

[AndyMizunogolfer]

I think he was trying to spark something. He looked kind of indecisive though on his lane choice once he got moving.

 

[AlsaceFreak]

Good day all. I would like to spark a conversation about the kick return game against Mizo. Did anyone else think it looked weird? Ok D. Williams had several returnable kicks that were either let go or fair caught, Then the kicks that he had no chance on he tried to return. CRAZY?

Completely saw the same thing. It made me think "did something change since he started practicing during the week at receiver?" He did not look the same.
We could have really used a spark of offense from him, especially when he downed the two kickoffs that did not go into the end zone. He is so good the rule should be any kickoff you can get that is not over the end zone line return it.
He also did not look as elusive when he returned the punts either. Was he tired from getting more reps since he is practicing at receiver? Did running WR routes cause him to lose his shiftiness? I am totally speculating here but do agree with your point that something was different with D. Williams in that game.

 

[wmcovol]

KO returns haven’t been worth the risk (penalties, poor return, etc) last two yrs. Just take the touchback.

 

[CINCYVOL]

Good day all. I would like to spark a conversation about the kick return game against Mizo. Did anyone else think it looked weird? Ok D. Williams had several returnable kicks that were either let go or fair caught, Then the kicks that he had no chance on he tried to return. CRAZY?

Not body blocked anyway, no chance of any type of return.

 

[KTrain]

KO returns haven’t been worth the risk (penalties, poor return, etc) last two yrs. Just take the touchback.

This^ & I think Dee is a great punt returner but not so much on kick-off returns. They are totally different in their dynamic.
Kickoff returns should be used in desperate situations or at the end of half try for a big run back with around 1 minute or less. If you get stymied just knee & run the clock out. Other than that, the risk reward is not good.

 

[wmcovol]

This^ & I think Dee is a great punt returner but not so much on kick-off returns. They are totally different in their dynamic.
Kickoff returns should be used in desperate situations or at the end of half try for a big run back with around 1 minute or less. If you get stymied just knee & run the clock out. Other than that, the risk reward is not good.

Dee is a great punt returner, not so much as a KO guy. Evan Berry was a great KO returner but never returned punts from what I recall. They’re different kicks. Some can do both. Some can’t.

 

[CAVPUT]

KO returns haven’t been worth the risk (penalties, poor return, etc) last two yrs. Just take the touchback.

Special teams are a joke in todays game. They aren't the potential game changing plays they once were. Honestly, I don't think the game would change much, if at all, were they to just eliminate kickoff and punt returns altogether. Just start every drive at the 25 instead of kicking off and allow 45 yards on a change of possession when it's 4th down instead of punting it.

 

[ftsandersvol]

Good day all. I would like to spark a conversation about the kick return game against Mizo. Did anyone else think it looked weird? Ok D. Williams had several returnable kicks that were either let go or fair caught, Then the kicks that he had no chance on he tried to return. CRAZY?

I think pot is legal in Missouri.

 

[wmcovol]

Special teams are a joke in todays game. They aren't the potential game changing plays they once were. Honestly, I don't think the game would change much, if at all, were they to just eliminate kickoff and punt returns altogether. Just start every drive at the 25 instead of kicking off and allow 45 yards on a change of possession when it's 4th down instead of punting it.

I think the team that is kicking off should have the choice to 1) place the ball on the 20 or 2) kick off. Almost every team would choose the ball on the 20 but it still keeps opportunity for an onside kick if a team needs it.

I’d never want to see punts eliminated. Removes chance of a block, bad snap, etc where the kicking team must execute

 

[CAVPUT]

I think the team that is kicking off should have the choice to 1) place the ball on the 20 or 2) kick off. Almost every team would choose the ball on the 20 but it still keeps opportunity for an onside kick if a team needs it.

I’d never want to see punts eliminated. Removes chance of a block, bad snap, etc where the kicking team must execute

Fair point, but in reality, the rugby style pretty much takes the block away. It really comes down to making a snap and being able to fair catch a ball. Pretty routine stuff IMO.

 

[livefaith]

Dee should be given the green light on anything outside the EZ imo. He's dangerous enough to break one or two. That's worth it for some where you lose 5 or 10nyard vs a fair catch.

 

[spyfish007]

He botched 2 ko that were deep in the end zone by bringing them out. I think he then got told what to do.

 

[Woodlawn VOL]

I think the team that is kicking off should have the choice to 1) place the ball on the 20 or 2) kick off. Almost every team would choose the ball on the 20 but it still keeps opportunity for an onside kick if a team needs it.

I’d never want to see punts eliminated. Removes chance of a block, bad snap, etc where the kicking team must execute

Dumb to change any of it in my opinion. Slowly taking the foot out of football. No way punting should ever go out of the game. The are other more pressing things to make the game better, more replays for both teams and anything can be reviewed. Each team gets 2 a quarter 8 reviews for each team. Plus, the officials booth may chose to review any plays as well inside the last 5 minutes of half and the game. Maybe not exactly like this, but something like this needs to happen to help the officials during games. GBO

 

[Carl Pickens]

The kickoff team couldn’t return a shopping cart

 

[vavolfan6]

I think Dee simply got in his own head. He first mistake is where he fair caught a ball around the 5 to 10 yard line where he could have returned it, but didn't.

He then let that mistake turn into another mistake by following it up and retirning a kick that went deeo into the endzone. After that silly mistake, he never quite got it back together mentally.

 

[wrangler]

Hard to judge without knowing exactly what his instructions were, and those could have been influenced by coaches' fear of fumbles in certain situations. Instructions may also be influenced by the look of coverage on other kicks, and plans to handle that coverage. There's a lot of pertinent information that we just don't have.

 

[spyfish007]

Dumb to change any of it in my opinion. Slowly taking the foot out of football. No way punting should ever go out of the game. The are other more pressing things to make the game better, more replays for both teams and anything can be reviewed. Each team gets 2 a quarter 8 reviews for each team. Plus, the officials booth may chose to review any plays as well inside the last 5 minutes of half and the game. Maybe not exactly like this, but something like this needs to happen to help the officials during games. GBO

They have been changing the rules in the name of "player safety". I have not heard anyone say the changes are for a better game.

 

[rocytop2624]

Special teams are a joke in todays game. They aren't the potential game changing plays they once were. Honestly, I don't think the game would change much, if at all, were they to just eliminate kickoff and punt returns altogether. Just start every drive at the 25 instead of kicking off and allow 45 yards on a change of possession when it's 4th down instead of punting it.

The Texas A&M game!

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

He botched 2 ko that were deep in the end zone by bringing them out. I think he then got told what to do.

And then he "showed them".

 

[KTrain]

Dumb to change any of it in my opinion. Slowly taking the foot out of football. No way punting should ever go out of the game. The are other more pressing things to make the game better, more replays for both teams and anything can be reviewed. Each team gets 2 a quarter 8 reviews for each team. Plus, the officials booth may chose to review any plays as well inside the last 5 minutes of half and the game. Maybe not exactly like this, but something like this needs to happen to help the officials during games. GBO

Bad thing is, the Official review booth is in Birmingham. These guys walk to the local eatery/watering hole daily were their drinks and meals are paid for. Also they hear Roll Tide so much they just roll with it. Its good to be King & the money maker for the conference.

 

[casual-observer]

Good day all. I would like to spark a conversation about the kick return game against Mizo. Did anyone else think it looked weird? Ok D. Williams had several returnable kicks that were either let go or fair caught, Then the kicks that he had no chance on he tried to return. CRAZY?

CJH said in the press conference, there were certain things they look for to determine whether to call it or go.

He said as the game started looking more desperate, they had to change the criteria and try to get something going.

 

[chiwipeterbug]

.