Stolen from Appfan.com:

42 – App State possessions this season
25 – Possessions that started inside the Mountaineers’ 20.
0 – Possessions that started in opponent’s side of the field (More work for the offense)

While we have been frustrated at times by the ASU offense, they really have had a lot of territory to make up. Most teams would find success difficult when they have to cover 80+ yards on a majority of possessions.

We are losing the punting game by 8 yards on average.

hapapp wrote:Stolen from Appfan.com:

42 – App State possessions this season
25 – Possessions that started inside the Mountaineers’ 20.
0 – Possessions that started in opponent’s side of the field (More work for the offense)

While we have been frustrated at times by the ASU offense, they really have had a lot of territory to make up. Most teams would find success difficult when they have to cover 80+ yards on a majority of possessions.

I don't get your point. That's what an under-performing offense does. They can't move the ball so they can't reverse the field.

That's why we have to work on the kick returns. In the A&T game I think we had to start inside our 10-12 yard line at least 5 times. If the ball is being "downed" or dies on the 1-10 yard line it should have been catchable at the 10-20 (depending). When a team knows that a return isn't in the playbook, it's a whole different game.

Kick returns are tough even in the best conditions but I just think we have to be more aggressive with them.

No offense at all to Tony Washington, but maybe-just to break things up- you give someone else a try... Again, no disrespect intended toward #15.

Maddog1956 wrote:That's why we have to work on the kick returns. In the A&T game I think we had to start inside our 10-12 yard line at least 5 times. If the ball is being "downed" or dies on the 1-10 yard line it should have been catchable at the 10-20 (depending). When a team knows that a return isn't in the playbook, it's a whole different game.

Kick returns are tough even in the best conditions but I just think we have to be more aggressive with them.

I remember a few of those punts against A&T that landed at the 5 and took a direct right turn out of bounds. The same thing happened at Elon where the punt landed about the 6 yard line and went directly out of bounds at about the 1 yard line. Those punts were played the way they should have been, it just so happened that the ball bounced perfectly for the opposing team.

Overall, Tony is doing what most good punt returners are instructed to: don't fair catch inside the 10. Unfortunately about 9 of those have avoided going into the end zone (on one against Elon that did go in the endzone Tony was called for blocking after calling a fair catch and we started on the 9 anyway).

App's basically had some really lousy luck on punts not going into the endzone for touchbacks. Hopefully that luck changes.

App's kick coverage on kickoffs MUST improve...killed App against A&T and hurt App against Elon and Montana.

SpeedkingATL wrote:Overall, Tony is doing what most good punt returners are instructed to: don't fair catch inside the 10. Unfortunately about 9 of those have avoided going into the end zone (on one against Elon that did go in the endzone Tony was called for blocking after calling a fair catch and we started on the 9 anyway).

App's basically had some really lousy luck on punts not going into the endzone for touchbacks. Hopefully that luck changes.

[size=150]App's kick coverage on kickoffs MUST improve...killed App against A&T and hurt App against Elon and Montana.

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this can't be said enough. it has happened so often, that I can't remember a year that we haven't given up a KO return for a score. With our anemic offense this year, a return contributed heavily to a loss vs. A&T, a team we had no business losing to. Heck, imo, the first 2 years are on the prior staff. I think SS gets us on the right track over the next couple of seasons.

In 2011 we did not have a kick off returned for a touchdown. Mark Powell was a redshirt freshman handling the kickoff duties for much of that season and had I think 2 tackles to prevent scores. He did not kick off against Samford or Georgia Southern but was replaced by Drew Stewart. Georgia Southern nearly took one to the house but a Troy Sanders horse collar prevented the score. Powell came back against Furman to kick off again. Remember that was the last year of kickoffs from the 30 yard line. Unfortunately Powell has been injured since right before fall camp, otherwise we may not be having this conversation.

YesAppCan wrote:No offense at all to Tony Washington, but maybe-just to break things up- you give someone else a try... Again, no disrespect intended toward #15.

Washington is a threat to return punts the distance. However, I feel that too many punts are allowed to hit and roll. We need to catch more punts in the air - especially when they hit outside our 10 yard line. This is a big factor in the "minus 8" stat.

I agree with HapApp that our constant poor field position is a huge obstacle for our offense to overcome. I do think our offense will continue to improve though with Cox and Price both regularly on the field. Potent pair!