Question: Kickoff Return Strategy

[Randy Watson]

Haven't posted in a while, but in anticipation of the season opener I'd like to get the board's opinion on something...

This week I watched a couple of last year's games (Vandy and Ole Miss). Javier Arenas was a huge factor in both games as a kick and punt returner, and with Julio joining him on kickoffs this season (combined with supposedly "average" kickoff coverage by Clemson), it occured to me that if I were Tommy Bowden I'd pooch kick all my kickoffs and make Alabama's up-backs handle the ball.

With that said, if you were Coach Saban, would you consider inserting "jitterbug" guys as upbacks - maybe BJ Scott and Maze - or would you stick with the traditional fullback/tight end types to possibly get better blocking in case Clemson DOES kick it deep?

Just trying to generate discussion while we anxiously await Sat. night...

 

[TIDE-HSV]

You're certainly not the first one to speculate about the "pooch kicks." They would certainly make good sense for them. And I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Maze and BJ up. There're still plenty of beefy types to block. And I wouldn't be surprised to see an onside KO, either...

 

[The Tider]

I think you have to go traditional until you see what they will do and maybe try to slip a speester in there if needed - ala S. Alexander a few years back versus La Tech - of course we lost that game - but he did run a pooch back for a TD

 

[UAME]

I would be surprised to see anything very unusual with the kickoff strategies this early in the season. First, I'm hoping that Clemson only gets to kickoff one time in this game. If they're kicking off very much, that means they are really putting points on the board - which also reduces the need of taking unnecessary risks with the special teams. If Clemson is really scared of return TD's, then I'd bet they squib it before they pooch it.

The area of special teams that I think will have the most impact in the game are the punt teams. A good kickoff return may or may not swing momentum, because it usually means the kicking team has the good feeling of having just put points on the board. A good punt return, on the other hand, is almost always a significant boost because it is (by nature) coming on the heels of a defensive stop.

If Bama wins on Saturday night, I would bet that we finish with about 80 yards in the punt return game.

 

[Randy Watson]

If Bama wins on Saturday night, I would bet that we finish with about 80 yards in the punt return game.

Agree totally. Being realistic, we're gonna be doing good to play Clemson even in regard to offense/defense. I think we need 10 points that are in some way directly related to special teams...which I think we can get.

 

[Crimson Cat]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Coach Saban to throw some things at Clemson they've not seen. Having Javy, Julio, and Maze back there on kick returns etc certainly makes me excited. :BigA:

 

[Alabama Larry in Ky]

I remember seeing a lot of Fair catches last year on the kickoffs. I saw the repaly off the Hog game and both teams did it in the 2nd half. I love to see Maze return some.