Punt Returns ?

[HistoryMajor]

Been waiting for a thread on punt returns. Punt returning is one of the most difficult jobs and, not meaning to be too critical, it's obvious that Brian L is not the answer. Too soon to comment on Vitale but he seems to have some promise. I've asked this question before with no satisfactory (to me) response that I can recall.

Given our obvious problems, WHY don't we put two players back for punt returns?

 

[Tdaley]

It looks like Lemelle was benched when he let the second punt hit the ground and roll another 30 yards yesterday. He has good hands but he isn't aggressive enough to be good punt returner from what I can see. ( we were spoiled by Nick Williams). Vitale fair catched the first punt to him but let the second one hit the ground. After that play Dicaco was yelling at him on the sidelines. I would like to see more from Vitale before passing judgment on his abilities, though.

 

[Dooley]

After time management / late play calls, I'd say PR is our second area that is of concern (and can be easily addressed). We let FAR too many punts hit the ground and roll an additional 20 yards. That loss of field position is huge for our team when we're trying to learn how to win games again.

 

[Storrsbred]

Special teams period. UCONN had 3 block in the back penalties yesterday.

 

[uconnkelly]

On the punt before the roller, Brian Lamelle injured his ankle. They worked on him on the sidelines for a long time. I didn't think he'd go back on the field tp return the punt that ended up being the roller. Maybe he wasn't confident of his ankle (not an excuse). They worked on him again after that and he didn't return to the field.

Josh Mariner pulled up with what looked like a hamstring pull during a kickoff. He had a big ice bag on this right hamstring later in the game.

 

[Tdaley]

On the punt before the roller, Brian Lamelle injured his ankle. They worked on him on the sidelines for a long time. I didn't think he'd go back on the field tp return the punt that ended up being the roller. Maybe he wasn't confident of his ankle (not an excuse). They worked on him again after that and he didn't return to the field.

Josh Mariner pulled up with what looked like a hamstring pull during a kickoff. He had a big ice bag on this right hamstring later in the game.

I was wondering why Max was on the kick off return team instead of Mariner later in the game.

 

[UConnFranklin]

I have major problems with the punt return team. I've been focusing on the line play of the punt return team for about 3 weeks now and IMHO that's were our problems begin. After the snap our line neither hits the offensive players to slow them down nor attempts to block the punt allowing the punter all day to make a great punt. It appears that UConn sends two or three players into the backfield to simply check the punter to make sure he punts the ball. Very often the players that penetrate never even hit the 3 players blocking in front of the punter. Once snapped most of our line and linebackers simply turn around and attempt to beat the punting team down the field. The problem with this strategy is the ball usually is coming down into the receivers hand after the punting team is already surrounding the punt receiver. No one has been slowed down! The punt receiver seldom has an opportunity to catch and attempt to run the ball without being overwhelmed in traffic. That's a big reason why we don't get returns. An additional problem is that Lemelle doesn't have the confidence to catch the ball in traffic. Hence he frequently lets it drop. (Remember the first time he attempted to field a punt return during his freshman year? He dropped it at a critical juncture, allowing the opposing team to recover it deep in our end of the field.

It just doesn't appear that the problems of this special team are being addressed by the coaching staff. And yes we were spoiled by Nick Williams. He had a real talent.

 

[Husky Pete]

Been waiting for a thread on punt returns. Punt returning is one of the most difficult jobs and, not meaning to be too critical, it's obvious that Brian L is not the answer. Too soon to comment on Vitale but he seems to have some promise. I've asked this question before with no satisfactory (to me) response that I can recall.

Given our obvious problems, WHY don't we put two players back for punt returns?

I have been noticing this since the PP/GDL days. It has happened too many times to recount where a short punt rolls another 20-30 yards because no one caught it in the air. Put two men back for punt returns. One 30 yards from the line of scrimmage and one 40 yards. If it is a short punt the first man will catch it. If it goes over his head the second man catches it and the first man becomes a blocker.

 

[gioff23]

In fairness, because HCBD has a surprising amount of riverboat gambler in him, he often doesn't send out the PR team. Instead, assuming everyone thinks like he does, he often leaves the D out there, pulls a safety and sends Lemelle out. That way he can protect against the fake. That's not a punt return team - it's a punt catch team.

 

[SubbaBub]

We are attempting to return punts occasionally, which is new. Blocking the gunners is the next step.

 

[Woof 101]

WTIC this afternoon, Lemelle with lower extremity issue. We may see what Vitale has. I for one hope he does well, I know he has the grit, now to see if the talent is at this level. Baptism by fire in this one.

 

[BoatShow]

Punt...returns? Let's worry about punt catching

 

[Palatine]

Punt...returns? Let's worry about punt catching

I think that's what they are doing now. If they can catch the punt comfortably they do. If not they run away. They are definitely worried about punt catching.

 

[freescooter]

I can only recall 1 or 2 actual returns this season. Seems like the strategy is just don't create a turnover on punts. We don't seem to make much effort at going for the block or setting up the return either. Just catch it if you can or get out of the way. But don't drop it.

 

[31GuardTrap]

Apologies but I am not familiar with the title of this thread.

 

[HistoryMajor]

Apologies but I am not familiar with the title of this thread.

Apologies - I should have made the title my question above which no one has answered.

"Given our obvious issues, Why don't we put TWO punt returners back?"

 

[Exit 4]

Been waiting for a thread on punt returns. Punt returning is one of the most difficult jobs and, not meaning to be too critical, it's obvious that Brian L is not the answer. Too soon to comment on Vitale but he seems to have some promise. I've asked this question before with no satisfactory (to me) response that I can recall.

Given our obvious problems, WHY don't we put two players back for punt returns?

The short answer on Punt Returns? We don't believe it them. If we did, we would have done something about our worst in football punt return unit weeks ago. Over the past two years, I would be surprised if we were dead last in college football in total punt return yards.

 

[Dooley]

Punts that hit the ground are guaranteed to roll an additional 10-20 yards if they are kicked end over end...which they almost always are against us since every punter knows he will have time to get off a good kick. Whether teams use a rugby rollout style of punt or conventional punt teams, teams know full well that we aren't rushing the kick. And when we don't catch the kick either, it turns 40 yard punts into 60 yard punts. We can't afford to give away that much field position over the potential threat of having a punt fake run against us once or twice a year.

 

[Palatine]

Diaco is so scared, prettified, afraid of turnovers, that our returners know they are better off running away from punts than catching them.

 

[Dooley]

Yup and it seems that his paranoia has rubbed off on Lemelle...who can't seem to make a fair catch without toppling over.

 

[cohenzone]

I sort of agree with the sentiments in the thread. Forgetting issues of what the line is or isn't doing, that's not in the returner's control. Letting a short punt hit the ground depends on how short. The shorter the punt, the closer more tacklers will be. If the returner gambles that they can be in full stride trying to field the punt (I don't know the rule, but can they signal fair catch when they're 15 yards away just to slow down the tacklers?) and take a hit without fumbling, they should go for it if it's a pretty sure thing. But I can hear the howls should the kid try to make a full speed catch and fumble the ball just as they're getting smashed. Half the people here would probably call the kid an idiot. If they back off the punt, the ball starts bouncing who knows which way, so it's a gamble, too, that the returner can pick it up or jump on it cleanly. Maybe they're being coached away from doing that. Using a short man makes some sense, and maybe isn't giving up all that much on return potential given the futility of the blocking schemes. All in all, though, I'm not sure there's been a game this year where the lack of an aggressive punt return game has been the difference. Most of our fair catches are correct and on the plus side, we don't fumble away the punts. I'd worry more about the dumb unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Those have really hurt.