Our kickers returning!

[Limp Lizard]

Didn't realize it until someone mentioned it in an article, but Perry was the #1 kicker in YPK in the conference, and about 4 yards better than the next returning kicker (OU had someone close, but he was a SR). Not bad for a true freshman. With age (hopefully) will come more accuracy(more kicks inside the 20, not touchbacks) and consistency. Certainly should be stronger and more bulked up.

Oberkrom will be about the second best returning PK, percentage wise. Once again, more consistency and accuracy. And maybe that incredible leg will get even stronger!

The only question mark will be the punt returner. They will have to find someone with great hands. IMHO not muffing punts is more important than the potential for breaking a big return. And remember, Skye was not the only one who muffed punts last year. We were spoiled by Kerley, who still had a couple of muffs but played brilliantly in the Rose Bowl. So, special teams look good.

So once again for me, the big question mark is the OL. I think a good OL is all we need to get back to double-digit wins. And of course not so many injuries.

 

[Hunt Together]

 

[SnoSki]

The great thing about a touchback is that it is never a touchdown.

 

[Limp Lizard]

The great thing about a touchback is that it is never a touchdown.

But they play hell with your net punting stats, and some on this board would be all over that wanting us to switch punters.

 

[MavAlbert]

I absolutely love that we will get 3 more years from these guys. Complete studs and kicking is a vital part of our conservative, field position dominating brand of football.

I'm sure our WR will step up to replace Boyce. I have faith CP4 will be just as good as he has been. I have faith we will be able to fill the minor losses on our D and be even better there.

Only concern is OL.

Obviously saying that I love our team but I'm not sure about the OL is kind of like saying I love this car but I'm not sure about the engine.

 

[BrewingFrog]

Only concern is O-Line?!?!?

I seem to remember (rather painfully) that the other half of the kicking game was lacking somewhat last season, as in we couldn't seem to catch the damned ball! I am aware that the main source of this issue is gone, but... Yikes!

 

[Volare]

Also need to double the height of the goal posts so the refs don't screw that up again. :huh:

 

[BigPurple87]

Hopefully we don't have any more 25 yard shank punts into the stands

 

[Black-it-out-Frog!]

Who sexy legs?!?!

 

[Punter1]

The great thing about a touchback is that it is never a touchdown.

Wow...kinda like saying the great thing about an incompletion is its never an interception. Or more to the point...the great thing about a touchback is that its never a dropped punt...inside the 10.

If its a touchbck...chances are about 90% its gonna be a fair catch. Or if not the receiving team has punt safe on, isn't blocking much and the punting team has 8 guys near the PR...on what's usually a very high punt. I hate touchbacks in other words.

Anyways...Perry did an AWSOME job this year, especially for a true freshman. Kid was as good as Kelton was as a senior. Perry will clean up some things,develop some touch and be miles better this year. He has NFL talet. Soooo glad we have him for a while.

 

[SnoSki]

Wow...kinda like saying the great thing about an incompletion is its never an interception.

So you're saying you'd rather the punter kick to a returner and risk a return for a score? 100% of all touchbacks result in 0 points given up. I couldn't care less what the punter's average yardage stat is (but given your username I see your angle).

 

[ReedFrawg]

Didn't realize it until someone mentioned it in an article, but Perry was the #1 kicker in YPK in the conference, and about 4 yards better than the next returning kicker (OU had someone close, but he was a SR). Not bad for a true freshman. With age (hopefully) will come more accuracy(more kicks inside the 20, not touchbacks) and consistency. Certainly should be stronger and more bulked up.

Oberkrom will be about the second best returning PK, percentage wise. Once again, more consistency and accuracy. And maybe that incredible leg will get even stronger!

The only question mark will be the punt returner. They will have to find someone with great hands. IMHO not muffing punts is more important than the potential for breaking a big return. And remember, Skye was not the only one who muffed punts last year. We were spoiled by Kerley, who still had a couple of muffs but played brilliantly in the Rose Bowl. So, special teams look good.

So once again for me, the big question mark is the OL. I think a good OL is all we need to get back to double-digit wins. And of course not so many injuries.

Kickers suck

 

[Punter1]

So you're saying you'd rather the punter kick to a returner and risk a return for a score? 100% of all touchbacks result in 0 points given up. I couldn't care less what the punter's average yardage stat is (but given your username I see your angle).

Yes...everytime....NOBODY worries about returns on punts that have the potential to be touchbacks...unless its Ray Guy punting.

Touchbacks drive coaches crazy. Punters are tought to hang it up and make the PR catch it at the 10...touchbacks will get a P benched...the stat every P loves is Punts downed INSIDE the 20....not Number of Touchbacks.

 

[joejordan]

..touchbacks will get a P benched...

Never has.

 

[Punter1]

Never has.

Ok. Anyways...tons of college teams have utilized a 2-headed punting scheme where one comes in and does the short, high kicks. That's because the other guy...the one handling the long, more normal punts can't execute the short ones and has had too many touchbacks...therefore getting benched, not totally benched, but taken out nonetheless.

Too many touchbacks have also cost many NFL punters their jobs because at their level...where the talent is almost all the same (everybody has a monster leg)...touch, or pinning a team deep, is one of the few things that seperates the great and just the very good.

 

[tiopepe]

I was impressed with the Okie Light kicker/punter... is he returning?

 

[PurplFrawg]

Ok. Anyways...tons of college teams have utilized a 2-headed punting scheme where one comes in and does the short, high kicks. That's because the other guy...the one handling the long, more normal punts can't execute the short ones and has had too many touchbacks...therefore getting benched, not totally benched, but taken out nonetheless.

Too many touchbacks have also cost many NFL punters their jobs because at their level...where the talent is almost all the same (everybody has a monster leg)...touch, or pinning a team deep, is one of the few things that seperates the great and just the very good.

Punter,

What happened to the now defunct skill of punting the ball OUT OF BOUNDS inside the 10 yd line? I seem to remember Sammy putting a washtub just outside the 5 and practice punting the ball into the tub. With that technique, no one gets a return and you stick them deep in their own territory. It just seems all punters aim at the base of the goal post these days.

 

[SnoSki]

Punter1, I suppose I just disagree with GP then on this issue. Any punt that is returnable has a chance to be a touchdown. Why take that chance when your defense is generally good enough to prevent 80 yard scoring drives?

 

[jake102]

A punt that lands inside the 20 and forces the PR to fair catch is better than kicking out of bounds or kicking for a touchback. No chance for a return on a fair catch, only thing that can happen is a fumble.

 

[Punter1]

Coffin corner kicking is a lost art...but too many touchbacks are a reason why many punters aren't doing it anymore. That and the propencity of shanking it 10 yards while you are trying to angle it right just leaves too big a risk to do it.

Basically most teams, college and pro, are saying if you punt the ball to the 8-10 yard line we'll fair catch it and start the drive there. So no need getting cute and trying to coffin cornering it at the 4 and risk putting it in the end zone or shanking it at the 35. It really is easy to just hit a high pooch punt to the 10 (say from the other 40 on in) and both teams have basically said we'll live with that.