Punt Returner--Other Options?

[squib]

Haven't gone back to watch the game yet and add up the yards we had to make up to punts rolling down the field. In my mind, it has have been over 50.

What are the other options at returner? We would have been much better off with someone who had no chance at a dazzling return but who fielded the ball every time? Can Bama not get some third string DB/WR/RB to simply catch punts for the entire practice period every day and get really good at not letting half the punts jet down the field?

 

[uaintn]

Catching a punt is different than fielding a kick off, but if Law can even fair catch it, that’s a win. And he gets upfield.

 

[PA Tide Fan]

Isaiah Bond and Caleb Downs can return punts.

 

[Redwood Forrest]

Someone needs to know when to catch the dang ball.

 

[bamaga]

On The one ball that rolled 25 yards late in the game, Kool Aid had to jump out of the way to keep the ball from hitting him. He allowed the ball to hit the ground in critical spots in a few games This year. I love Kool Aid, but he has to catch the ball.

 

[countrytider]

Kool Aid is an absolute liability this year at punt returner. Besides, why risk the injury? The chances of an injury, or something bad happening far outweigh any chance he takes one to the house.

 

[squib]

Kook Aid is an absolute liability this year at punt returner. Besides, why risk the injury? The chances of an injury, or something bad happening far outweigh any chance he takes one to the house.

Yep, we can't afford to lose him as a DB. Why risk it when he isn't excelling returning punts?

 

[KrAzY3]

Kook Aid is an absolute liability this year at punt returner. Besides, why risk the injury? The chances of an injury, or something bad happening far outweigh any chance he takes one to the house.

The issue here is he was really, really, really good last year as a punt returner.

He lead the SEC in punt return yards and he was #2 overall in the NCAA! In addition to that his punt return average put him as #3 in the NCAA so he absolutely was a weapon.

This year? He's been a non-factor, his return average is down 10 full yards. But, I understand why he's the punt returner, because when you have one of the top 3 punt returners in the nation you're probably not going to think you need to replace him the next season.

 

[mlh]

My coaches told me a punt should never hit the ground unless it's shanked so badly you can't get to it.

Koolaid has muffed a couple. I think he's lost his confidence. We probably have 20 guys on the roster who returned punts in HS. There's no reason to have your best DB fielding punts.

 

[Tidelines]

Looks like he is being cautious about his career to me. Why else the difference from last year to this year?

 

[JessN]

Isaiah Bond would be the next guy up.

Cole Adams and Emmanuel Henderson Jr. have both done it in practice before. So has Terrion Arnold.

Not sure Caleb Downs is in the mix but we'll see. Some have mentioned Kendrick Law.

 

[rtr90]

The best comment
i saw " People keep saying that Kool Aid needs to stop returning punts. This is confusing because it seems that he has already stopped "

 

[4Q Basket Case]

I agree that Kool-Aid‘s reluctance to field punts has cost us a bunch of yards. I also agree that the likely reason is a loss of confidence due to a couple of muffed punts earlier in the year.

So if he won’t field punts for whatever reason, it begs the question of why he’s back there at all. Or why anybody is back there. If he’s just going to let it bounce anyway, why not rush all 11?

So yeah, we need somebody else returning punts. Even if they do nothing other than call fair catch, we gain 10 - 25 yards of field position versus the status quo with McKinstry.

 

[HighlandOak]

Kool Aid is an absolute liability this year at punt returner. Besides, why risk the injury? The chances of an injury, or something bad happening far outweigh any chance he takes one to the house.

Wonder if he's thinking that.

 

[Tidelines]

I bet Terrion would be electric. He seems like that type of athlete. Catching the punt may be the problem. I don't know how proficient he is at that. One has to have a 100% success rate. Lol

 

[BamaMoon]

Does the guy returning kicks and punts for Miami have any eligibility left???

That dude is phenomenal!!! He catches everything moving forward and he's like a lead out of a cannon!!!

 

[Tideflyer]

Anybody else having fond memories of Javier Arenas?

 

[countrytider]

Anybody else having fond memories of Javier Arenas?

Arenas and Palmer two best in my lifetime…

 

[Cruloc]

If Kool-Aid doesn't want to catch a punted ball because he's a little uncertain of himself.....then he needs to be replaced as the punt returner. That ball he let go could have cost his team the game Saturday. That ball has to be caught.

 

[Cowtown Bama]

With a bye week our coaches need to address this. I’ve lost track of how many times I thought we should get the ball near midfield and up near our 20 because we didn’t field the ball. With our offense struggling we need to take advantage with our athletes in special teams. We have so many talented receivers that are not getting enough passes thrown their way. Could Shazz Preston or Kobe Prentice help there? Maybe Emmaneul Henderson.