Punt returner in two weeks

[DawgatAuburn]

So two weeks from now, who's your punt returner?

Option 1 is to put Graham in this week against UTM and see how he does in a lower pressure environment, hopefully build some confidence and go with him. Option 2 is to continue to work Ross as the main guy. Option 3 is go back to Tubby knowing that he's been hurt and even when healthy he wasn't a great returner.

As much as I want to say option 1, I just want whoever is back there to catch it. We're not likely to break one against Bama, and we cannot afford to give them a short field like we've done four straight games. I guess I would go with Ross from this point on. But I do want to see Graham on the field with the ball in his hands. I would not mind seeing him in place of Johnson on kickoff returns.

 

[AFDawg]

** Mullen to MSU punt returner.

I agree. Ross to PR and Graham to KR.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

Graham's tendency to make bad mistakes in pressure games isn't going to be relieved by returning a few punts against a cupcake. Let Ross get more experience at it.

 

[missouridawg]

I would rather not see Graham, nor Tubby back there...

So two weeks from now, who's your punt returner?

Option 1 is to put Graham in this week against UTM and see how he does in a lower pressure environment, hopefully build some confidence and go with him. Option 2 is to continue to work Ross as the main guy. Option 3 is go back to Tubby knowing that he's been hurt and even when healthy he wasn't a great returner.

As much as I want to say option 1, I just want whoever is back there to catch it. We're not likely to break one against Bama, and we cannot afford to give them a short field like we've done four straight games. I guess I would go with Ross from this point on. But I do want to see Graham on the field with the ball in his hands. I would not mind seeing him in place of Johnson on kickoff returns.

And would be in support of Ross doing it. I would even like to see Gabe Myles field a few against UT Martin.

But mostly, I would prefer us to quit allowing our punt returner the ability to make a decision on whether or not to run with the ball. Put them back there, tell them to fair catch or let it bounce. Nothing else. Don't let this aspect of the game cost you one.

 

[DawgsOnTheWing]

Which is why i was a little dumbfounded when we put a safety back when UPig punted right before halftime. All we were going to do was run out the clock anyway, why take a risk the Ross would miscue?

Hopefully there will be ample opportunities for both Smokey and Ross to get experience against UT@M.

 

[GhostOfJackie]

I'd go with Ross for the remainder of the season. Let Graham return kicks. Mullen was right to give him a few extra shots after he muffed the first 3 punts. You have to give the freshman a chance to get his confidence back after the first 3 muffed punts, but 4 is just too many. You can't put him back in to return punts this year. Next year we can try it out again. I do think we need to use Graham at kick returns because he a raw talent and could break one. I see JG playing a huge roll in the the next few years and being one of our best players in the future.

 

[Cousin Jeffrey]

Option 4: No returner. Send 11 to block.

Seriously, though... I'd probably go with your Option 2. I think Graham has exhausted all confidence anyone every had in him (and then some).

Looking at the season stats, we have 18 punt returns for 74 yards. We've been punted to 59 times. So the vast majority of punts end in a fair catch anyway. And when we actually do return it, we're talking about <10 yards per game. There's been very little reward and, as we've seen, huge risk. At this point, I wouldn't mind sending someone out there just to fair catch the ball, under no pressure to return. Just catch the ball to save field possession. Ross seemed pretty sure-handed when he was in.

 

[missouridawg]

Option 4: No returner. Send 11 to block.

Seriously, though... I'd probably go with your Option 2. I think Graham has exhausted all confidence anyone every had in him (and then some).

Looking at the season stats, we have 18 punt returns for 74 yards. We've been punted to 59 times. So the vast majority of punts end in a fair catch anyway. And when we actually do return it, we're talking about <10 yards per game. There's been very little reward and, as we've seen, huge risk. At this point, I wouldn't mind sending someone out there just to fair catch the ball, under no pressure to return. Just catch the ball to save field possession. Ross seemed pretty sure-handed when he was in.

Speaking of sure-handed... RoJo might be a decent option to be our designated fair-catcher.

 

[muddawgs]

So two weeks from now, who's your punt returner?

Option 1 is to put Graham in this week against UTM and see how he does in a lower pressure environment, hopefully build some confidence and go with him. Option 2 is to continue to work Ross as the main guy. Option 3 is go back to Tubby knowing that he's been hurt and even when healthy he wasn't a great returner.

As much as I want to say option 1, I just want whoever is back there to catch it. We're not likely to break one against Bama, and we cannot afford to give them a short field like we've done four straight games. I guess I would go with Ross from this point on. But I do want to see Graham on the field with the ball in his hands. I would not mind seeing him in place of Johnson on kickoff returns.

Holloway. He's already on Kickoff returns.

 

[kired]

Letting Ross catch that punt before half may be the dumbest thing we've done this season. Absolutely nothing to gain & everything to lose by trying to field that punt.

Graham should not field another this year. I'm using Ross or Lewis if healthy. And I agree with putting Myles back there (just not against Bama). He looks like a cool cat - and that's the kind of attitude you need at punt returner.

 

[patdog]

Option 4: No returner. Send 11 to block.

As windy as it was Saturday morning, that's exactly what I said we should do rather than let Jamoral try to catch a punt.

 

[pDigital32Dawg]

I would start Graham for UT Martin and Vandy, while rotating Ross in from time to time. For Alabama and Ole Miss I would have Ross on permanent return duties unless by some miracle we somehow had the game way out of hand.

 

[Digging dog]

Mullen clearly sees something in Graham. The fact that Tubby bobbled his fair share as a freshman is all I can hang my hat on.

 

[tenureplan]

Why are we still awful at special teams?

 

[MarkDallas]

Option 4: No returner. Send 11 to block.

This.

 

[NCDawg.sixpack]

Holloway. He's already on Kickoff returns.

I don't think we need Holloway on punt returns, and I don't think we need him on kickoff returns. He doesn't seem to run hard enough. In fact, I haven't seen anybody we have go with a full head of steam after the catch. The broadcasters mentioned Johnson dancing after the first kickoff return. We need somebody on kickoffs and punts that will take the ball and run as hard as they can up the field.

 

[FlotownDawg]

Special teams are actually much improved this year except for Graham. Our kickoff coverage has been excellent and Bell is a Ray Guy Award candidate he's been punting so well. Even our kicking is better. Sobiesk has been money on the shorter kicks, which was not the case last year, when we sweated out every kick, no matter how short. If we can get a sure handed punt returner, we won't be in bad shape special teams wise.

 

[BulldogBlitz]

this is what i screamed at the TV saturday night on the first punt. after the muff, i was all over not putting anyone back there at all.

IF we were decent at punt blocking, I'd say 11 up and go for the block. past that.... the punt returner needs very little instruction at this point. fair catch or run the 17 away from it completely. jamoral is a good guy, but not a good punt returner. giving him that much rope (3 muffs previous to this one) almost hung us.

 

[Chesusdog]

Hell, Sobiesk even managed to hit one Saturday that wasn't a gimme.

 

[Wizard.sixpack]

Ask Holloway if he wants to return anything with Christion Jones looming

 

[johnson86-1]

Mullen clearly sees something in Graham.

Mullen sees that Graham is a natural punt returner...except for that whole catching the ball part.

Seriously, Graham clearly has/had the tools to be an effective punt returner for us. Unfortunately when he made a mistake, it got in his head. Mullen let him try to work through it which was a good idea except maybe he gave him one too many chances. Yanking him after his first or second mistake would have been a disservice to Graham and the team to not give him a chacne to work through some Freshman mistakes. Keeping him out there at this point would be a disservice to him. He just isn't going to have the confidence he needs this season. It sucks because it's not like it can be fixed with off season workouts. Hopefully just being in the program for a year and getting used to the spot light will let him handle the pressure better next year.

As far as what to do now, if Fred Ross is who Mullen felt comfortable with going back there to make a catch, that's probably who we should use. But Myles seems like he would be a good option also. He has good hands and gets up and down the field quickly. But at this point in the season, we just have to focus on the punt return game not costing us a game. No more muffed punts is more important than an additional few yards per return.

 

[Wizard.sixpack]

SI curse getting to him

nm

 

[JML105]

This is all crazy talk!

Graham Muffs a Punt = MSU Victory

Can't argue with the last 4 game's stats. Don't change a thing! *

 

[jrg112]

Not trying to hijack, but what about Lewis?

What happened to Jameon? He is back but so limited, he might as well not be. Why is this not being talked about? Or have I just missed it?

 

[thf24]

He's not being talked about because he wasn't great before when he was the punt returner. He muffed a few, and he consistently displayed poor judgement on when to fair catch and when to let it go.

 

[muddawgs]

I don't think we need Holloway on punt returns, and I don't think we need him on kickoff returns. He doesn't seem to run hard enough. In fact, I haven't seen anybody we have go with a full head of steam after the catch. The broadcasters mentioned Johnson dancing after the first kickoff return. We need somebody on kickoffs and punts that will take the ball and run as hard as they can up the field.

The problems not with the returners. We never have any open lanes to run to. We could have Neon Deion back there and he wouldn't be able to return anything past the 25 consistently. We just do a piss poor job blocking on special teams.

 

[Bulldogg31]

Would be fun to see JRob or DeRunnya returning punts. Yeah, bad idea I know, but those guys are hard to tackle and both have good hands. Not a good idea but would be fun to watch.

Didn't Tennessee let Cordarelle Paterson return punts and kicks?