What do you think about Minkah For returning punts?

MobileCrimson · Jan 3, 2017

I saw this mentioned on the SEC Network and thought it was a good idea. Diggs was scary against Washington.

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CajunCrimson · Jan 3, 2017

I would prefer Ardarius

LA4Bama · Jan 3, 2017

I'd like to see what Ridley can do.

CrimsonForce · Jan 3, 2017

Rather just have somebody back there to fair catch em at this point. Can keep losing yardage on the roll and risk fumbling by tip toeing around the ball as it rolls another 20 yards because it wasn't fielded..

MemphisBamaDude · Jan 3, 2017

I think Minkah's skill sets would lend themselves well to punt returns. Like EJ, he has a knack of finding creases and return lanes. I would definitely prefer him over Ardarius, who, while he is super athletic, is not as shifty and doesn't has the same level of vision (as evident by the failed conversion last week). Plus I still have 2015 Ole Miss in the back of my head.

TallapoosaTide · Jan 3, 2017

Maybe we need to let a couple of these posters on this thread get back there and try to catch one of those Washington soccer style sideways punts. Geez. I'm glad everyone is a expert on how to catch awkward punts but id STICK WITH DIGGS! HES DUE!

Mystical · Jan 3, 2017

I thought the best thing was to let those punts go for the most part in that game. They were very awkward looking.

westide · Jan 3, 2017

Diggs is an excellent athlete who will be a star either on offense or defense, but you want to look away every time he is back for a punt return or start praying. You don't have to be an expert to see he has problems with fielding punts and it didn't start with the Washington game. Fielding kicks is a special skill set and not every athlete can consistently do it well.

TIDE-HSV · Jan 3, 2017

Mystical said:
I thought the best thing was to let those punts go for the most part in that game. They were very awkward looking.

I have to admit that I wanted him to stay away. We weren't putting on a rush, so their kicker was getting away with 5-8 steps to the side before he kicked, so their coverage almost arrived simultaneously with the ball. I thought we should have just conceded the fair catch and pressured the punter every kick...

PA Tide Fan · Jan 3, 2017

I'm sure he could do a decent job but he could also get hurt trying it. We're thin at his position so I would advise against it.

RammerJammer14 · Jan 4, 2017

Diggs does cause me to hold my breath with his fielding, but I'd rather not risk Fitzpatrick back there after Eddie went down. Losing another star DB would be horrible for us.

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TAKEPRIDE22 · Jan 4, 2017

MobileCrimson said:
I saw this mentioned on the SEC Network and thought it was a good idea. Diggs was scary against Washington.

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Those punts that Washington punter sent to Diggs took some really scary bounces. Not sure if it was Diggs not judging the punts or just not being able to get under them because they were line drives.

Snuffy Smith · Jan 4, 2017

I would not want to risk injury to another DB at this point.

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CrimsonForce · Jan 4, 2017

I have no problem with Diggs not wanting to field the knuckle ball style punts. My point is if you're not going to field the punt then get away from the ball. Don't dance around the ball while it rolls down the field. He did that on just about every punt. The ball could have easily took an awkward bounce and made contact with him and there were 4-5 Washington players there to recover. Pretty simple. If you can't field the punt then just get away from the football. We don't need someone back there acting cute on punt returns..

92tide · Jan 4, 2017

TallapoosaTide said:
Maybe we need to let a couple of these posters on this thread get back there and try to catch one of those Washington soccer style sideways punts. Geez. I'm glad everyone is a expert on how to catch awkward punts but id STICK WITH DIGGS! HES DUE!

yeah, it would have been super risky to even try to field some of those punts.

92tide · Jan 4, 2017

TIDE-HSV said:
I have to admit that I wanted him to stay away. We weren't putting on a rush, so their kicker was getting away with 5-8 steps to the side before he kicked, so their coverage almost arrived simultaneously with the ball. I thought we should have just conceded the fair catch and pressured the punter every kick...

we did finally start pressuring a couple later.

danb · Jan 4, 2017

TIDE-HSV said:
I have to admit that I wanted him to stay away. We weren't putting on a rush, so their kicker was getting away with 5-8 steps to the side before he kicked, so their coverage almost arrived simultaneously with the ball. I thought we should have just conceded the fair catch and pressured the punter every kick...

I agree. I thought we should have turned up the heat on the Udub punter, so he couldn't take 5-plus steps before punting. Those style punts are dangerous to field to start with, so conceding the fair catch in exchange for going after the punter seems like the way to go.

MattinBama · Jan 4, 2017

CrimsonForce said:
I have no problem with Diggs not wanting to field the knuckle ball style punts. My point is if you're not going to field the punt then get away from the ball. Don't dance around the ball while it rolls down the field. He did that on just about every punt. The ball could have easily took an awkward bounce and made contact with him and there were 4-5 Washington players there to recover. Pretty simple. If you can't field the punt then just get away from the football. We don't need someone back there acting cute on punt returns..

Typically you have to have your return guy nearby to try and stop extra long rolls early or to have good hands in the area in case a blocker accidentally runs into an awkward bounce. They often save 10-20 yards of field position snatching up the rolls going our opponent's way. While it can be scary for the fans you have to trust that he's near the ball for a reason and not just to look cute on tv.

Con · Jan 4, 2017

I would rather Diggs be back there than Minkah. Diggs is pretty good. He reminds me of Freddie Milons the way her runs with the ball. Adoree Jackson was hurt the other night and the play/tackle looked very similar to Eddie's. Keep our DB's off punt returns and let some of the other skilled position guys do it.

Snuffy Smith · Jan 4, 2017

danb said:
I agree. I thought we should have turned up the heat on the Udub punter, so he couldn't take 5-plus steps before punting. Those style punts are dangerous to field to start with, so conceding the fair catch in exchange for going after the punter seems like the way to go.

Posted this in another thread - but I really wish the NCAA would reinstate the lineman downfield rule on punts to get rid of these 5 step punters.

I would like to see Dieter back there - more maturity & better decisions.

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What do you think about Minkah For returning punts?

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