Why Bobo?

[bcoach]

Look at Percy Harvin. Great hands as a receiver and kickoff returns, but never fields punts because he always muffs them in practice. It's a different animal to catch a ball that is coming straight down with opponents literally three feet from you.

Bobo muffed one late in the Campbell game but got it back. Can't remember another one, so I don't think he's lost one this year.

But yes, his return attempt on Saturday was completely insane.

Southern Alabama game Bobo lost one.


http://www.appstatesports.com/fls/21500 ... /app05.htm
Usa 4-6 at Usa29 McKee, Brandon punt 36 yards to the APP35, Beathard, Bobo return 0 yards to the APP35, fumble by Beathard, Bobo recovered by USA Johnson, Xavier at APP35.

In other words in the last four games he hasn't muffed one. I do think someone needs to tell him to forget about retreating on punt returns as it usually results in negative yardage and often a block in the back penalty. I do also like Al Groh's advice about returning a KO when one has to step back into the end zone. Your momentum is carrying you in the wrong direction. Bobo has made some bad decisions in the return game that I would chalk up to a lack of coaching some of finer points in returning kicks. Quite frankly if there is no one else the staff has confidence in at this point, I would be fine if he just fair caught all punts for the rest of the season.

Agree 100% ---

It's got my vote till we hire a ST coach

[EastHallApp]

Man you are talking in perfect scenarios - if we had a game-breaking punt returner who never fumbled we would have seen him by now ---

No, he would be in the NFL!!

Oh come on, we're not talking about a freaking unicorn here. According to the NCAA website, there are 28 guys in the nation averaging better than 10 yards per return (no doubt there are actually more, as they only list those with a minimum 1.2 returns per game). Some of them play for teams such as North Texas, Florida Atlantic, Utah State and UAB. Presumably not ALL of them are chronic fumblers.

I think the point that most here are making is that we may not have that guy now, but we need to recruit and/or develop one. Honestly, it's not that rare. We've had them before, and we will again.

[WVAPPeer]

thought we were discussing the current team? ---

[APPARJ]

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.

Actually, Bobo is very athletic. He would be a great WR for a Gardner Webb, Wofford, Elon type school. He's just not App State WR material.

[WVAPPeer]

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.

Actually, Bobo is very athletic. He would be a great WR for a Gardner Webb, Wofford, Elon type school. He's just not App State WR material.

Come on Guys - HE IS AN APPALACHIAN STATE MOUNTAINEER FOOTBALL PLAYER - he plays his role and does it well --- Come on !!!

[ASUPATCH]

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.

Actually, Bobo is very athletic. He would be a great WR for a Gardner Webb, Wofford, Elon type school. He's just not App State WR material.

Come on Guys - HE IS AN APPALACHIAN STATE MOUNTAINEER FOOTBALL PLAYER - he plays his role and well he plays his role --- Come on !!!

Fixed it for ya. I will pull for him every time he touches the ball. I will just anticipate being disappointed with the outcome until he proves otherwise. Reminds me a lot of Patrick Blaylock last year, great kid on and off the field but not appropriate at this level. I don't think wanting more out a player/position makes me less of a fan.

[APPARJ]

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.

Actually, Bobo is very athletic. He would be a great WR for a Gardner Webb, Wofford, Elon type school. He's just not App State WR material.

Come on Guys - HE IS AN APPALACHIAN STATE MOUNTAINEER FOOTBALL PLAYER - he plays his role and does it well --- Come on !!!

I pull for him every time he plays. What else can I do?

[Rick0714]

Come on Guys - HE IS AN APPALACHIAN STATE MOUNTAINEER FOOTBALL PLAYER - he plays his role and does it well --- Come on !!!

100% Amen! If the team was full of guys that put out his effort we would be just fine. I'm not saying he's great, but he "gives his all for App St".

I still say that our special teams issues go beyond returns and have been an issue for years. Needs to be addressed. Get a dedicated ST coach (even a Grad Ass like UNC CHeat), or more than 1 guy sharing the duty with position responsibilities (like NC STale).

[ASUPATCH]

In his defense he is usually one of the better players we have on kick coverage. Along with the #57 Tucker Bell kid.

[WVAPPeer]

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.

Actually, Bobo is very athletic. He would be a great WR for a Gardner Webb, Wofford, Elon type school. He's just not App State WR material.

Come on Guys - HE IS AN APPALACHIAN STATE MOUNTAINEER FOOTBALL PLAYER - he plays his role and does it well --- Come on !!!

I pull for him every time he plays. What else can I do?

Stop saying stuff like this ---

[bcoach]

Bobo is a hell of a lot more APP MATERIAL than anyone on this board. Next time you have 11 guys bearing down on you wanting to rip your head off call me back. With the problems we have solved, are solving, and need to solve he is way down the list.
One more comment on this. THERE IS NO PLAYER ON THIS TEAM WHO IS NOT ASU MATERIAL!!!!

[EastHallApp]

thought we were discussing the current team? ---

In that case I'll simply refer back to my first post on this thread.

As far as our players being out of bounds for criticism, I think it's fine to be critical as long as we don't get personal or insulting. I don't see many, if any, people crossing that line here. Would I have started a new topic calling him out by name? Probably not. But any time we discuss the team's strengths and weaknesses, we're effectively criticizing the players and coaches.

I think one can appreciate any player's efforts and dedication while also acknowledging that some simply aren't gifted enough to be significant contributors.

[App91]

Come on Guys - HE IS AN APPALACHIAN STATE MOUNTAINEER FOOTBALL PLAYER - he plays his role and does it well --- Come on !!!

100% Amen! If the team was full of guys that put out his effort we would be just fine. I'm not saying he's great, but he "gives his all for App St".

I still say that our special teams issues go beyond returns and have been an issue for years. Needs to be addressed. Get a dedicated ST coach (even a Grad Ass like UNC CHeat), or more than 1 guy sharing the duty with position responsibilities (like NC STale).

Sooooo when can we expect that check for the Rick0714 endowed ST coaching position?

[APPARJ]

Bobo is a hell of a lot more APP MATERIAL than anyone on this board. Next time you have 11 guys bearing down on you wanting to rip your head off call me back. With the problems we have solved, are solving, and need to solve he is way down the list.
One more comment on this. THERE IS NO PLAYER ON THIS TEAM WHO IS NOT ASU MATERIAL!!!!

Oh give me a break. Based on some of the WRs we've had over the last decade, he doesn't stack up favorably. I didn't start a petition to have him stripped of his uniform.

Jeez. Don't blow a simple comment about on-the-field play out of proportion.

[APPARJ]

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.

Actually, Bobo is very athletic. He would be a great WR for a Gardner Webb, Wofford, Elon type school. He's just not App State WR material.

Come on Guys - HE IS AN APPALACHIAN STATE MOUNTAINEER FOOTBALL PLAYER - he plays his role and does it well --- Come on !!!

I pull for him every time he plays. What else can I do?

Stop saying stuff like this ---

All I mean is that we've had some great starting WRs over the past few years. Bobo isn't one of them. Let's not take that out of context, please.

[Rick0714]

Come on Guys - HE IS AN APPALACHIAN STATE MOUNTAINEER FOOTBALL PLAYER - he plays his role and does it well --- Come on !!!

100% Amen! If the team was full of guys that put out his effort we would be just fine. I'm not saying he's great, but he "gives his all for App St".

I still say that our special teams issues go beyond returns and have been an issue for years. Needs to be addressed. Get a dedicated ST coach (even a Grad Ass like UNC CHeat), or more than 1 guy sharing the duty with position responsibilities (like NC STale).

Sooooo when can we expect that check for the Rick0714 endowed ST coaching position?

As I stated, dedicating a GA or adding another position coach to assist with special teams is what other schools do. There is no costs associated. They are already on staff. It's just making ST a priority instead of an apparent afterthought. To be fair, many schools do the same thing we do now, but its just not working for us. Besides, if you're waiting for a check from me, get in line! You can only divide 0 so many times.

[EastHallApp]

Bobo is a hell of a lot more APP MATERIAL than anyone on this board. Next time you have 11 guys bearing down on you wanting to rip your head off call me back. With the problems we have solved, are solving, and need to solve he is way down the list.
One more comment on this. THERE IS NO PLAYER ON THIS TEAM WHO IS NOT ASU MATERIAL!!!!

Oh give me a break. Based on some of the WRs we've had over the last decade, he doesn't stack up favorably. I didn't start a petition to have him stripped of his uniform.

Jeez. Don't blow a simple comment about on-the-field play out of proportion.

Everybody's an all-star here! Now everyone pile into the van, we're going for pizza and ice cream!

[AppAttack]

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.

We could put a starting DB like a Corey Lynch back there.

[Rick0714]

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.

We could put a starting DB like a Corey Lynch back there.

"Break a leg!" Oh that's only good luck in theater ...

[NewApp]

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.

We could put a starting DB like a Corey Lynch back there.

Corey was told to signal "Fair Catch."