08-16-2016, 10:49 AM
(08-16-2016, 09:29 AM)BFritz21 Wrote: I'm confused. I can't tell if you're talking about punts or kickoffs.
Players typically aren't supposed to field punts inside the 10, and we could get someone else who is sure-handed back there to return punts who could offer something more. People always talk about dropping the ball, but how many other players have been given a chance? You can't say "he's the most reliable on our team" when no one else is given a chance because he's the most reliable by default.
On kickoffs, punts go into the endzone now just about all the time, meaning that we could just start at the 20 if the returner takes a knee, but Tate offers nothing more than that.
You saying "no one else gets a chance" is not correct. The coaches have been trying a lot of people returning. They either cannot do it, don't want to do it, or are not reliable enough catching the ball to supplant Tate. And if they can't do it in practice, they sure as hell can't do it in a game. As for kickoffs, you will see a lot of teams take the Simmons approach this year and tell the kicker to kick it short, because on touchbacks the ball no longer comes out to the 20, it comes out to the 25. Gunners are going to be trying to either tackle the returner short rather than give up a quarter fo the field. Sure handed returners are golden. Tate has proven to be just that.
