Special Teams - Kickoffs
by CheeseHorn on Nov 12, 2007 9:57 PM CST
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PrintI don't know why this isn't discussed more often, but I think a major issue that can be fixed on our team is having someone else return kick offs. I'm sick of seeing Quan Cosby taking the ball to around the 20-25 yard line every single time.
I don't object to having Quan fielding the punts. He's got a great set of hands and smarts to not muff a punt, but on kick offs it's different.
These are the times I wish we still had a guy named Ramonce Taylor around to take the ball up to the 35-40 every time if not further up the field.
Everyone knows field position is one of the most important parts of the game. Why should our offense drive 70-80 yards every time?
It's just something I wish the coaches would look into.
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Agree
he looked even more tentative than usual against Tech, fielding the ball and just standing there for a second deciding where to go with it. Go forward. Fast preferably.
He is reliable, and there's a lot to be said for that, but we will never see an explosive return with him back there. I have to wonder if the trade off is worth it.
Love the Cosby, don't get me wrong, I'd just like to see someone else take a shot at this.
j-
by sterling on Nov 12, 2007 10:16 PM CST reply actions
2 Words
James Kirkendoll.
Jamaal Charles
He's the fastest guy on team, which is why I'd like to see him returning punts. Fumblitis is his problem though, and I believe he did have one more fumble in the Tech game (which he recovered himself).
I give credit to Cosby for not dropping any fair-catches or fumbling, but he doesn't have that break out speed. Let him do what he does best and play WR.
It's disappointing to think that a UT's best option for punt returning is currently also our best WR. Are we really that short on speed guys? Based on the next recruiting class, that will change.
But hey, why not just use John Chiles to return kickoffs and punts? Sad to see that we burned his redshirt for basically nothing. I'd like to put his athleticism to use.
by goingforthecorner on Nov 12, 2007 11:22 PM CST reply actions
prone to hard hits
Its rare to see Texas have a VIP returning kicks because they are very prone to getting tackled much harder than on a regular play. It will always be a speedy guy with good hands.
Personally, I'd like to see Shipley back there taking kickoffs along with Quan. Q always seems like he's one broken tackle from breaking a long one, but can never quite do it. But I also like mvplonghorns' idea of Kirkendoll.
Shipley
I agree with you on Shipley. He's got some great explosive speed. Why not Vondrell McGee? Before the season started, I thought he'd be fielding some kicks.
wasnt shipley
on the return team last year? Maybe the injury at the start of the season knocked him out of that for this year.
by the other Andrew on Nov 13, 2007 8:09 AM CST up reply actions
Wasn't Vondrell, also?
Is he off the return team due to a more prominent role between the Tackles?
Kirkendoll
ran an official 40 time of 4.38 in high school. His speed can't be ignored, I really hope Mack finds a way to utilize him and DeSean Hales. Those 2 guys should be our primary returners and should get some Devin Hester cameos on offense as well.
Although Quan is a very agile player, he's more of the shifty type rather than the burner.
Ultimately...
We're not going to see any changes this season unless Cosby starts muffing every punt/kick. Next season, he will probably retain his job due the fact that he will be a senior. You know how Mack and Co. love giving Seniors playing time (see Killebrew, Derry, and Erick Jackson).
I don't know if Quan is shifty. He's a patient runner who waits for his blocks on returns. If he can pick some good blocks, he'll get some yards, otherwise he will be stuffed.
I just want to see someone just turn it up field.
Or until...
... He starts throwing all of his catches to the cutoff man.
pipe dream
you know, I always wanted to see Vince return a punt or kickoff. I know it's dangerous, more chance for injuries, etc.... But just one time, it would have been cool. Can you imagine if he started running downfield and got a couple of good blocks??
see thread on blocked punts/kicks...
I think the coaches did not have alot of faith in the youngsters early on this year, and with good reason! At some point fielding the kick cleanly became more important than trying to score. It all underscores just how much talent we gave up in the last few years.
I'm not one to quote the talking heads that make up the majority of the body of braodcasters these days, but the one thing you hear a few times by anyone calling a UT game is how many folks we have playing on Sundays out of the last 2 to 3 years alone! It's really just a huge tribute to Mack and Co. and its also gonna mean every once in a while you have a bit of a gap between the talent leaving and the next generatin of super good new talent. The learning curve that's involved and quite frankly the fact that sometimes a Blue Chipper don't wanna come to a program when he knows he's gonna sit for a year or so behind a starter.
The key to it all is keeping those 'transitions' as short as possible, and despite the rocky road we've been on I think we're in great shape for next year w/out having to have an Aggie-like rebuilding process come about!!!
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