I don’t know if is just me or others feel the same. I feel like our punter is slightly slower in punting the ball; and our blockers protecting the punter is not satisfactory imo. I feel other teams are getting too close to block the punt on several games and we will pay heavily when it counts the most. If that’s the case and we mediocre fans can see this, why not the coaching staffs. I believe we already had one punt block this season.

2nd topic- why haven’t been any good on kick returns, like we used to?

(11-19-2023 02:57 PM)UMTiger117 Wrote:  I don’t know if is just me or others feel the same. I feel like our punter is slightly slower in punting the ball; and our blockers protecting the punter is not satisfactory imo. I feel other teams are getting too close to block the punt on several games and we will pay heavily when it counts the most. If that’s the case and we mediocre fans can see this, why not the coaching staffs. I believe we already had one punt block this season.

2nd topic- why haven’t been any good on kick returns, like we used to?

Smith was a block away from taking it to the house last week.

Mixture of talent level and desire to block.

Not deep with NFL caliber players as before.

(11-19-2023 02:57 PM)UMTiger117 Wrote:  I don’t know if is just me or others feel the same. I feel like our punter is slightly slower in punting the ball; and our blockers protecting the punter is not satisfactory imo. I feel other teams are getting too close to block the punt on several games and we will pay heavily when it counts the most. If that’s the case and we mediocre fans can see this, why not the coaching staffs. I believe we already had one punt block this season.

2nd topic- why haven’t been any good on kick returns, like we used to?

We used to have a great Spec Teams Coord & the talent of Tony Pollard. Both are difficult to replace.

Kinda odd we bring this up with 2 games left.

Our kickers were decimated before the season.

(11-19-2023 02:57 PM)UMTiger117 Wrote:  I don’t know if is just me or others feel the same. I feel like our punter is slightly slower in punting the ball; and our blockers protecting the punter is not satisfactory imo. I feel other teams are getting too close to block the punt on several games and we will pay heavily when it counts the most. If that’s the case and we mediocre fans can see this, why not the coaching staffs. I believe we already had one punt block this season.

2nd topic- why haven’t been any good on kick returns, like we used to?

There is nothing wrong with the punters get off times. They are honestly probably at NFL level times or better. Blocking schemes have to adjust for whether they are in punt block, punt safe or a return. Punt block is going to have gaps that lead to the up backs to take out the rush. It will look close, but as long as everyone picks up their assignment it will be fine.

We have so few return attempts that the one long return by Smith was enough to put him first in the AAC in kick off returns.

(11-20-2023 09:04 AM)BERT56 Wrote:  

(11-19-2023 02:57 PM)UMTiger117 Wrote:  I don’t know if is just me or others feel the same. I feel like our punter is slightly slower in punting the ball; and our blockers protecting the punter is not satisfactory imo. I feel other teams are getting too close to block the punt on several games and we will pay heavily when it counts the most. If that’s the case and we mediocre fans can see this, why not the coaching staffs. I believe we already had one punt block this season.

2nd topic- why haven’t been any good on kick returns, like we used to?

There is nothing wrong with the punters get off times. They are honestly probably at NFL level times or better. Blocking schemes have to adjust for whether they are in punt block, punt safe or a return. Punt block is going to have gaps that lead to the up backs to take out the rush. It will look close, but as long as everyone picks up their assignment it will be fine.

In the past we used O-linemen as upbacks which I don't think we're doing this year ...

(11-20-2023 10:28 AM)DDrum1961 Wrote:  

(11-20-2023 09:04 AM)BERT56 Wrote:  

(11-19-2023 02:57 PM)UMTiger117 Wrote:  I don’t know if is just me or others feel the same. I feel like our punter is slightly slower in punting the ball; and our blockers protecting the punter is not satisfactory imo. I feel other teams are getting too close to block the punt on several games and we will pay heavily when it counts the most. If that’s the case and we mediocre fans can see this, why not the coaching staffs. I believe we already had one punt block this season.

2nd topic- why haven’t been any good on kick returns, like we used to?

There is nothing wrong with the punters get off times. They are honestly probably at NFL level times or better. Blocking schemes have to adjust for whether they are in punt block, punt safe or a return. Punt block is going to have gaps that lead to the up backs to take out the rush. It will look close, but as long as everyone picks up their assignment it will be fine.

In the past we used O-linemen as upbacks which I don't think we're doing this year ...

Cormonte Hamilton and Cincir Evans are our upbacks. On the block against USF it was a whiff by Simeon Blair at the LOS. That put two upbacks to three rush men. Hard to overcome that. Get off time was about 1.78. That's below NFL minimums.

(11-20-2023 09:04 AM)BERT56 Wrote:  

(11-19-2023 02:57 PM)UMTiger117 Wrote:  I don’t know if is just me or others feel the same. I feel like our punter is slightly slower in punting the ball; and our blockers protecting the punter is not satisfactory imo. I feel other teams are getting too close to block the punt on several games and we will pay heavily when it counts the most. If that’s the case and we mediocre fans can see this, why not the coaching staffs. I believe we already had one punt block this season.

2nd topic- why haven’t been any good on kick returns, like we used to?

There is nothing wrong with the punters get off times. They are honestly probably at NFL level times or better. Blocking schemes have to adjust for whether they are in punt block, punt safe or a return. Punt block is going to have gaps that lead to the up backs to take out the rush. It will look close, but as long as everyone picks up their assignment it will be fine.

Thanks for clarification. It just looks scary close man. I hope we work on it and like you said, everyone needs to know their blocking assignments.

(11-20-2023 03:28 PM)UMTiger117 Wrote:  

(11-20-2023 09:04 AM)BERT56 Wrote:  

(11-19-2023 02:57 PM)UMTiger117 Wrote:  I don’t know if is just me or others feel the same. I feel like our punter is slightly slower in punting the ball; and our blockers protecting the punter is not satisfactory imo. I feel other teams are getting too close to block the punt on several games and we will pay heavily when it counts the most. If that’s the case and we mediocre fans can see this, why not the coaching staffs. I believe we already had one punt block this season.

2nd topic- why haven’t been any good on kick returns, like we used to?

There is nothing wrong with the punters get off times. They are honestly probably at NFL level times or better. Blocking schemes have to adjust for whether they are in punt block, punt safe or a return. Punt block is going to have gaps that lead to the up backs to take out the rush. It will look close, but as long as everyone picks up their assignment it will be fine.

Thanks for clarification. It just looks scary close man. I hope we work on it and like you said, everyone needs to know their blocking assignments.

It'll definitely make ya pucker up a bit, but if it's executed properly the blockers will knock the rush off their path and it keeps the pocket safe for the punter. Ken Irvin was so good off the edge when I played. Blocked four punts in one game against Arkansas in 92. His ability combined with the scheme Vic Koening came up with was tremendous.

On the Tuesday before the Arkansas game, 80 players who pronounced themselves fed up with the coaching staff boycotted practice.

Then Memphis State proceeded to beat Arkansas 22-6, and that seemingly benign score is hiding a lot of Arkansan stress, considering that the Razorbacks:

lost four turnovers (the Tigers, ever the supportive dance partner, did too)
didn’t score on offense at all (those six points came off a kickoff return in the fourth quarter)
finished the night with 157 yards of offense and seven first downs
had four punts blocked by the same person

But I really do want to see how Ken Irvin, a sophomore Memphis State cornerback, blocked all four of those punts, specifically blocks three and four.

A punt block’s a bit like a museum theft. The first time it happens, the culprit matters, but you’re really more focused on correcting any weaknesses in your security setup to prevent future purloinings. The second time, if it’s the same thief, you start to focus on that person. What are they doing that’s working? How can you adjust to stop them in particular? The third time the thief robs your museum, you’re just furious. It’s unacceptable! It’s embarrassing! It will not happen ag-WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE JUST STOLE ANOTHER PAINTING??

https://www.bannersociety.com/2020/7/17/...ock-record

(11-20-2023 04:10 PM)Southaven Wrote:  But I really do want to see how Ken Irvin, a sophomore Memphis State cornerback, blocked all four of those punts, specifically blocks three and four.

A punt block’s a bit like a museum theft. The first time it happens, the culprit matters, but you’re really more focused on correcting any weaknesses in your security setup to prevent future purloinings. The second time, if it’s the same thief, you start to focus on that person. What are they doing that’s working? How can you adjust to stop them in particular? The third time the thief robs your museum, you’re just furious. It’s unacceptable! It’s embarrassing! It will not happen ag-WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE JUST STOLE ANOTHER PAINTING??

https://www.bannersociety.com/2020/7/17/...ock-record

Ha!! That is great!!

(11-20-2023 03:54 PM)BERT56 Wrote:  

(11-20-2023 03:28 PM)UMTiger117 Wrote:  

(11-20-2023 09:04 AM)BERT56 Wrote:  

(11-19-2023 02:57 PM)UMTiger117 Wrote:  I don’t know if is just me or others feel the same. I feel like our punter is slightly slower in punting the ball; and our blockers protecting the punter is not satisfactory imo. I feel other teams are getting too close to block the punt on several games and we will pay heavily when it counts the most. If that’s the case and we mediocre fans can see this, why not the coaching staffs. I believe we already had one punt block this season.

2nd topic- why haven’t been any good on kick returns, like we used to?

There is nothing wrong with the punters get off times. They are honestly probably at NFL level times or better. Blocking schemes have to adjust for whether they are in punt block, punt safe or a return. Punt block is going to have gaps that lead to the up backs to take out the rush. It will look close, but as long as everyone picks up their assignment it will be fine.

Thanks for clarification. It just looks scary close man. I hope we work on it and like you said, everyone needs to know their blocking assignments.

It'll definitely make ya pucker up a bit, but if it's executed properly the blockers will knock the rush off their path and it keeps the pocket safe for the punter. Ken Irvin was so good off the edge when I played. Blocked four punts in one game against Arkansas in 92. His ability combined with the scheme Vic Koening came up with was tremendous.

I was at that game. One of my best memories as a Tiger fan.