🏈 What the Heck is this with Kickoff Return Defense ?????

[MaxBlast]

This has been a major weakness all season. Why can't we correct it? Who is #1 in Defense of this in the Nation.. Let's review their films and copy them.. This is a crazy weakness to have. In a National Championship this could eat our lunch.

 

[joeman546]

1 I blame on a poor Leigh Tiffin kick, as I said in the game thread, he has to get that deeper than the ten to give the coverage unit a chance.

The other was good blocking I think, but our coverage unit has been better in the last few weeks I think.

Though it has bothered me that special teams coverage has been getting off to slow starts the last two years.

 

[TerryP]

Mississippi State is one of the better return teams. Their players have a good understanding of blocking.

I wasn't surprised, or upset, with what I saw.

 

[BamaFan615]

Bumphis sure would have been a nice pick up for us...kid has some moves.

 

[TheChief]

Who is the special teams coordinator at Bama?

 

[TerryP]

Who is the special teams coordinator at Bama?

While Bobby Williams holds the title, every coach on the staff works with special teams.

It's Saban's special teams. Period.

 

[JoshB]

I've thought kickoff coverage has been excellent for the last few weeks until this week. It was pretty decent too except for those 2 damn returns, we gotta get that handled tho.

 

[bear facts]

Mississippi State is one of the better return teams. Their players have a good understanding of blocking.

I wasn't surprised, or upset, with what I saw.

Terry, I wasn't surprised, either--not so much because Mississippi State was one of the better return teams but that this continues to be a recurring problem for the Tide.

I find it upsetting anytime Bama exhibits poor special teams kick coverage--it leads to momentum shifts and field position being flipped-flopped in favor of the opposition.

Teams like Florida and Texas thrive off special team mistakes.

 

[Victory]

Just when I thought we had our kickoff coverage fixed :frown:
Afraid this is going to bite us in a big game.

 

[TheChief]

Average of kickoff for Bama: http://www.cfbstats.com/2009/team/8/kickoff/index.html


Average of returns for Bama opponents: http://www.cfbstats.com/2009/team/8/kickreturn/index.html
http://www.cfbstats.com/2009/team/8/kickreturn/defense/split.html

If I'm reading this correctly, we kick the ball on average to the seven and opponents average returning to the 32. They have scored twice. We would give up three yards and have no returns for TD's or into the Bama side of the field if we would simply kick out of bounds every kickoff. I know it sounds almost like giving up, but it makes sense.

 

[BamaFan425]

Average of kickoff for Bama: http://www.cfbstats.com/2009/team/8/kickoff/index.html


Average of returns for Bama opponents: http://www.cfbstats.com/2009/team/8/kickreturn/index.html
http://www.cfbstats.com/2009/team/8/kickreturn/defense/split.html

If I'm reading this correctly, we kick the ball on average to the seven and opponents average returning to the 32. They have scored twice. We would give up three yards and have no returns for TD's or into the Bama side of the field if we would simply kick out of bounds every kickoff. I know it sounds almost like giving up, but it makes sense.

We also wouldnt have recovered the fumble against VaTech.

 

[TerryP]

Average of kickoff for Bama: http://www.cfbstats.com/2009/team/8/kickoff/index.html


Average of returns for Bama opponents: http://www.cfbstats.com/2009/team/8/kickreturn/index.html
http://www.cfbstats.com/2009/team/8/kickreturn/defense/split.html

If I'm reading this correctly, we kick the ball on average to the seven and opponents average returning to the 32. They have scored twice. We would give up three yards and have no returns for TD's or into the Bama side of the field if we would simply kick out of bounds every kickoff. I know it sounds almost like giving up, but it makes sense.

If you kick the ball out of bounds, they start at the 40...and that's just to start.

 

[TheChief]

I guess you guys are right. We're letting them start right now averaging at the 32. It would probably be better to stop them better on kickoffs. Of course, if we could kick it in the end zone every time they would start at the 20.

 

[TerryP]

I guess you guys are right. We're letting them start right now averaging at the 32. It would probably be better to stop them better on kickoffs. Of course, if we could kick it in the end zone every time they would start at the 20.

Just added a new video the other day.

Help should be on the way—next year.

Cade Foster

 

[bamafanNky]

that link lets us breathe a sigh of relief. the 1st vid was deleted by the user. the 2nd one works and is a nice addition. roll tide...kicker/lb that can tackle...nice!

 

[LBS]

If I recall correctly, college kicks from the 35. Cade is kicking from the 40 with it landing five yards deep in the endzone. (That's a kicked returned from the goaline in college.) 4 seconds of air time aint bad. This gets our coverage at their thirty when the ball is caught. ==> This is better than getting the 32 yard line...assuming a tackle is made.

 

[TheChief]

What about more starters on the kick team this year? Is the risk worth the reward?

 

[TerryP]

If I recall correctly, college kicks from the 35. Cade is kicking from the 40 with it landing five yards deep in the endzone. (That's a kicked returned from the goaline in college.) 4 seconds of air time aint bad. This gets our coverage at their thirty when the ball is caught. ==> This is better than getting the 32 yard line...assuming a tackle is made.

In a game a few weeks ago where his team blew out their opponent he kicked two that went through the uprights on kickoffs. I believe the number was six...as in kicks he'd also booted through the back of the end zone.

Huge leg on Cade.

 

[TerryP]

What about more starters on the kick team this year? Is the risk worth the reward?

I look at the story in this light.

First of all, while we had some problems early on this really was the first SEC contest we've had what I would call a significant breakdown on more than one occasion.

But, at the same time, I don't consider it as serious as a lot seem to take it. One reason was how Saban addressed the break down in his press conference.

By all means I'd agree a kid like Brandon James has the ability to hurt us if we have this big of a breakdown.

As to your query, we've got a lot of talented players on the field during kickoffs. Eliminate a few mistakes and we aren't having this conversation now.

 

[252BAMA]

What about more starters on the kick team this year? Is the risk worth the reward?

When the kickoff was moved back to the 35, I remember an article saying there would be more key injuries on kickoffs. Key because it would require better players to not only return kicks but to also defend them. In both cases because of the risk-reward factor.