This needs to be addressed. He may very well be the slowest receiver on the team, not your typical special teams speedster. Which can be made up for if you are consistent in fielding kicks and make good decisions. I believe he has two muffs and has made a handful of negative plays trying to run around people with what looks like 4.7 speed. Can we please see a change at KR/PR please.

ASUPATCH wrote:This needs to be addressed. He may very well be the slowest receiver on the team, not your typical special teams speedster. Which can be made up for if you are consistent in fielding kicks and make good decisions. I believe he has two muffs and has made a handful of negative plays trying to run around people with what looks like 4.7 speed. Can we please see a change at KR/PR please.

But he may have the best hands and the best option to not muff a punt. I am with you on the kickoffs but there has to be a plausible reason as to why he is still back there for punts. I don't pretend to know what it may be, just that there might be one.

I agree with this, the kid trys hard. Every time he fields a kick I say a prayer although. That is not a good attribute for a KR, I know SS has the youth movement going on so pickings at KR are likely slim. I would rather just have him field the ball clean as a fair catch every time. Our offense is hot enough to do things the old fashioned way, a quick turnover with a muff would only kill us. He only has turned one over though, so he may be the best option we got.

AppSt94 wrote:

ASUPATCH wrote:This needs to be addressed. He may very well be the slowest receiver on the team, not your typical special teams speedster. Which can be made up for if you are consistent in fielding kicks and make good decisions. I believe he has two muffs and has made a handful of negative plays trying to run around people with what looks like 4.7 speed. Can we please see a change at KR/PR please.

But he may have the best hands and the best option to not muff a punt. I am with you on the kickoffs but there has to be a plausible reason as to why he is still back there for punts. I don't pretend to know what it may be, just that there might be one.

Judging by Meadors catches I would be inclined to trust his hands. It just feels like he is the hustle guy that you want to like and find a spot for but obviously isn't cutting it.

In Beathard's defense, he has amazingly sure hands.

No, he's not exactly Dexter Jackson in the speed department but he doesn't turn the ball over, either. That minus 25-yard run Saturday was an aberration, the result of trying too hard to make a play.

Ideally, you want a speed guy with great hands in that spot. But if given the choice between a sure-handed punt returner who offers little else or a speedy guy who muffs every other punt, I'd take the former.

ASUPATCH wrote:

AppSt94 wrote:

ASUPATCH wrote:This needs to be addressed. He may very well be the slowest receiver on the team, not your typical special teams speedster. Which can be made up for if you are consistent in fielding kicks and make good decisions. I believe he has two muffs and has made a handful of negative plays trying to run around people with what looks like 4.7 speed. Can we please see a change at KR/PR please.

But he may have the best hands and the best option to not muff a punt. I am with you on the kickoffs but there has to be a plausible reason as to why he is still back there for punts. I don't pretend to know what it may be, just that there might be one.

Judging by Meadors catches I would be inclined to trust his hands. It just feels like he is the hustle guy that you want to like and find a spot for but obviously isn't cutting it.

Standing back there with grown men charging full speed to knock your head off all the while trying to cleanly field a punt and then run with it takes a certain mentality. Not everyone can do it. Besides, do you really want to risk injury to one of your top guys when you have someone else that can do it with minimal risk to negative plays?

We have averaged 3.6 on Punt returns this year which would put us at 120th in FBS. Take out one good Bobo return of 39 yards and we actually would have a negative punt return average. Not pretty at all.

If we are going to put a guy back there with good hands only, put Simms McElfresh back there. If not give Isaiah Lewis a run at PR.

AppGrad78 wrote:In Beathard's defense, he has amazingly sure hands.

No, he's not exactly Dexter Jackson in the speed department but he doesn't turn the ball over, either. That minus 25-yard run Saturday was an aberration, the result of trying too hard to make a play.

Ideally, you want a speed guy with great hands in that spot. But if given the choice between a sure-handed punt returner who offers little else or a speedy guy who muffs every other punt, I'd take the former.

He has two muffs that don't support the awesome hands claim all that much. Ive seen more than enough.

ASUPATCH wrote:

AppGrad78 wrote:In Beathard's defense, he has amazingly sure hands.

No, he's not exactly Dexter Jackson in the speed department but he doesn't turn the ball over, either. That minus 25-yard run Saturday was an aberration, the result of trying too hard to make a play.

Ideally, you want a speed guy with great hands in that spot. But if given the choice between a sure-handed punt returner who offers little else or a speedy guy who muffs every other punt, I'd take the former.

He has two muffs that don't support the awesome hands claim all that much. Ive seen more than enough.

Two muffs in the wind, rain and snow we've played in this season is a remarkable accomplishment.

AppGrad78 wrote:

ASUPATCH wrote:

AppGrad78 wrote:In Beathard's defense, he has amazingly sure hands.

No, he's not exactly Dexter Jackson in the speed department but he doesn't turn the ball over, either. That minus 25-yard run Saturday was an aberration, the result of trying too hard to make a play.

Ideally, you want a speed guy with great hands in that spot. But if given the choice between a sure-handed punt returner who offers little else or a speedy guy who muffs every other punt, I'd take the former.

He has two muffs that don't support the awesome hands claim all that much. Ive seen more than enough.

Two muffs in the wind, rain and snow we've played in this season is a remarkable accomplishment.

Works both ways, it could also show poor judgement that he isnt getting away from a ball he shouldnt attempt to field. Not a sound decision maker.

Three biggest needs this offseason: K, OT, and PR/KR.

I have a feeling we have a redshirt freshman that will address the third.

Besides, do you really want to risk injury to one of your top guys when you have someone else that can do it with minimal risk to negative plays?

Exactly, why risk injury to your top deep threat. Most coverage guys will either try to take R's head off or cut his feet. I would rather we try to set up a return wall.

Saint3333 wrote:Three biggest needs this offseason: K, OT, and PR/KR.

I have a feeling we have a redshirt freshman that will address the third.

Cathy was a guy who came to mind, short shifty guy.

Only explanation I can think of is that the staff wasn't comfortable with anyone else's ability to field punts reliably and doesn't want to try someone new this late in the season. Have to think that job will be WIDE open in the spring and fall though.

Two viewpoints I disagree with:

1) "Just put a guy back there who doesn't fumble." To me this equates to forfeiting a potentially important part of the game. Fielding punts, to my understanding, is an acquired skill. If you have an explosive return man who fumbles too often, then keep practicing him on fielding punts until he gets it.

2) "You can't risk injury to one of your star players by having him return punts/kicks." This isn't how it's done in college football. In the pros, many teams (though not all) have return specialists. In college, the norm is that you put your best guy back there. Maybe not Cox since he already touches the ball so much, but no reason it can't be a starting receiver or DB.

OK, so now that we've won 3 in a row and the Haters can't bitch and moan about the team, we're back to crapping on individual players?

Saint3333 wrote:Three biggest needs this offseason: K, OT, and PR/KR.

I have a feeling we have a redshirt freshman that will address the third.

We have at least four guys red shirted that have KR/PR experience. Plus two of our commits right now have return experience also. Have a feeling we'll have options there come next season.

AppinATL wrote:OK, so now that we've won 3 in a row and the Haters can't bitch and moan about the team, we're back to crapping on individual players?

To be fair I was complaining about him in our loses as well. Never been a BoBo guy. Works hard, truly cares, just makes too many mental mistakes and isnt very athletic. Just my opinion., you are more than welcome to disagree.

AppinATL wrote:OK, so now that we've won 3 in a row and the Haters can't bitch and moan about the team, we're back to crapping on individual players?

SInce when is discussing concerns bitching and moaning? I think you would rather all of us stand around and sing we are the champions!

Kevin Bacon?

App91 wrote:

AppinATL wrote:OK, so now that we've won 3 in a row and the Haters can't bitch and moan about the team, we're back to crapping on individual players?

SInce when is discussing concerns bitching and moaning? I think you would rather all of us stand around and sing we are the champions!

Kevin Bacon?

This is where somebody says, "That is what message boards are for,"