Returning kickoffs from deep in the endzone

[Jayne Cobb]

Perhaps this is just my personal bugbear, but it seems to me that the CU coaches have been making a mistake in telling their players to return kickoffs when the ball is caught in the endzone. I have seen CU players return it almost from the back of the endzone and have seen only one or two touchbacks under such circumstances. These returns seem to make it to the 15 yard line or thereabouts. With the touchback line on the 25, it seems to me that simple math and common sense would tell the coaches that a CU player should take a knee every time they catch a kickoff in the end-zone. Or am I just crazy?

 

[Buffnik]

Kickoffs - both returns and coverage - are a major area for improvement. We're putting ourselves at a serious field position disadvantage every game because of this. Needs to get fixed.

 

[Burrito]

Without knowing you better, it's hard to ascertain exactly how crazy you are, but I agree with your KR assessment.

 

[Uncle Ken]

It's been driving me nuts! Just a season ago--and about 100 prior to that--we were delighted to get the ball on the 25. Now that it's nearly automatic, we take unnecessary risks to get it to the 12! Knock it off!

 

[Dalbuff]

The punt and kicoff returners look tentative when they get near the pile. I like the agressiveness of wanting to get more than 25 yds though. The kids have the jets to break one big, but hitting the pile, running sideways, and getting tackled at the 15 is blah. Maybe the master plan was to get tackled in side the 15 vs 40 so they can have a longer sustained drive to keep Halliday off of the filed.opcorn:

 

[CUwhit21]

It's been driving me nuts! Just a season ago--and about 100 prior to that--we were delighted to get the ball on the 25. Now that it's nearly automatic, we take unnecessary risks to get it to the 12! Knock it off!

I went through the play by plays. I made note of every time the kickoff hit the 0 or worse. Our worst starting position in these situations was our own 13 against Fresno. Our best starting position was our own 44 again against Fresno.

On average, we start on about the 24 yard line in these situations. Not a huge issue, imo.

 

[Uncle Ken]

The punt and kicoff returners look tentative when they get near the pile. I like the agressiveness of wanting to get more than 25 yds though. The kids have the jets to break one big, but hitting the pile, running sideways, and getting tackled at the 15 is blah. Maybe the master plan was to get tackled in side the 15 vs 40 so they can have a longer sustained drive to keep Halliday off of the filed.opcorn:

Save that attempt for the big break when the ball doesn't enter the end zone. The end zone should be an easy 25, every time.

 

[BuffLuke80]

Id like to see GT on punt return, yes I know we are thin, he could do it. The rule I was taught was 4 yards or deeper, kneel it. Only exception is when they have a penalty and have to kickoff farther back. U just have to read it, look downfield while the ball is in the air. Its hard to do, kickoff return is easier imho. Punt return is way harder, take your eye off the ball to see what the coverage looks like then pick the ball back up. Hardest thing I ever did in football personally was returning punts. We are killing ourselves with it, needs work.

 

[leftybuff]

I agree, if it goes into the endzone, kneel on it. I may be wrong, but I haven't seen a return get past the 20 yet that started from the endzone.

 

[Buffalo Brad]

I went through the play by plays. I made note of every time the kickoff hit the 0 or worse. Our worst starting position in these situations was our own 13 against Fresno. Our best starting position was our own 44 again against Fresno.

On average, we start on about the 24 yard line in these situations. Not a huge issue, imo.

What would the average be if you took a knee on each one in the end zone and started at the 25? Would have been closer to the 30 which is pretty significant and you do not start off in **** shape inside your own 20

 

[GoonieBuff]

What would the average be if you took a knee on each one in the end zone and started at the 25? Would have been closer to the 30 which is pretty significant and you do not start off in **** shape inside your own 20

That was the right question to ask.

 

[CUwhit21]

What would the average be if you took a knee on each one in the end zone and started at the 25? Would have been closer to the 30 which is pretty significant and you do not start off in **** shape inside your own 20

Closer to the 30? That's a nice made up number. You're forgetting that you'd negate returns to the 34, 44 and 31 that were ran out of the endzone. Therefore, the revised average would be 26.

A return to the 19 would've gone to the 25 against CSU
No change against Sac St
A return to the 13 would've gone to the 25 against Fresno
A return to the 34 would've come back to the 25 against Fresno
A return to the 44 would've come back to the 25 against Fresno
A return to the 31 would've come back to the 25 against Wazzou
A return to the 14 would've gone to the 25 against Wazzou
A return to the 18 would've gone to the 25 against Wazzou

Out of 30 returns, this comes down to 4 returns. Just not that big of a deal to me. It's a potential scoring play & we're trying to capitalize on it.

 

[Buffalo Brad]

Closer to the 30? That's a nice made up number. You're forgetting that you'd negate returns to the 34, 44 and 31 that were ran out of the endzone. Therefore, the revised average would be 26.

A return to the 19 would've gone to the 25 against CSU
No change against Sac St
A return to the 13 would've gone to the 25 against Fresno
A return to the 34 would've come back to the 25 against Fresno
A return to the 44 would've come back to the 25 against Fresno
A return to the 31 would've come back to the 25 against Wazzou
A return to the 14 would've gone to the 25 against Wazzou
A return to the 18 would've gone to the 25 against Wazzou

Out of 30 returns, this comes down to 4 returns. Just not that big of a deal to me. It's a potential scoring play & we're trying to capitalize on it.

Would agree if all those you claim would be negated started in the end zone. Was a real question because I do not have the stats but my guess is that the decision to run out of the end zone is bad much more of the time than it is good.

 

[tante]

The answer is obvious. Only take it out of the end zone when you can get past the 25 yard line.

 

[BuffHerd]

Closer to the 30? That's a nice made up number. You're forgetting that you'd negate returns to the 34, 44 and 31 that were ran out of the endzone. Therefore, the revised average would be 26.

A return to the 19 would've gone to the 25 against CSU
No change against Sac St
A return to the 13 would've gone to the 25 against Fresno
A return to the 34 would've come back to the 25 against Fresno
A return to the 44 would've come back to the 25 against Fresno
A return to the 31 would've come back to the 25 against Wazzou
A return to the 14 would've gone to the 25 against Wazzou
A return to the 18 would've gone to the 25 against Wazzou

Out of 30 returns, this comes down to 4 returns. Just not that big of a deal to me. It's a potential scoring play & we're trying to capitalize on it.

And we've only played four games... Damn. Less one kickoff per game, 26 scores against Buffs in four games.... Damn.

 

[BuffUp]

got the talent to "break some long ones" - live by the sword, die by the sword... I like it, take one to the house and the whole game changes

 

[DBT]

I'd imagine it comes down to reading the kick and the coverage. A line drive 5 yards deep is a different story than a high hanger 5 yards deep.

 

[Ruckus]

Kickoffs are something we need to work on offensively and defensively. Way too much field position lost both ways.

 

[wsp4820]

I get more upset when they are backpeddling when they catch the ball and still come out from 6 yards deep. At least have your feet set so you can get up to top speed as fast as possible.

 

[ChemEBuff]

How do you know if you can get past the 25 if you dont try :rolling_eyes:

 

[Sideburn]

Every single kick into the endzone should be downed, period. The 25 is too good of starting field position. 10-15 yards gained, even if we stall out (which happens often for CU) can flip the field position battle easily with an average to decent punt.
Returning a kick to the 14 only magnifies the offensive woes we have and can significantly reduce your playbook. Not to mention that the opposition has at that point won the field position battle. The blocking isn't there, and frankly, we don't have a return specialist to rely on.