How long has it been

[Potosihog]

Since we returned a punt or kick off for a TD?

Especially on Kick offs this year it seemed we just found a pile to run into at about the 20-25 yard line.

Is our blocking on SP just really bad or is it something else?

[Boss Hog in the Arkansas]

Its funny that Rory Segrest covers DL and Special Teams and neither position performs too well

We've had 2 or 3 returns for touch downs the past couple years and every single on was called back. The one that hurt the most was J Reds return against Toledo. We would've won 

[LZH]

Both 2011, I believe. Dennis Jonhson on a ko return vs Carolina and Joe Adams' punt return vs KState.

[Boarcephus]

In order to have a punt return for a td you have to make the other team punt and we've haven't forced them to punt very often this year.  Had lots of opportunities for KO returns so not sure what the problem is other than the guys back there are not very elusive.

[Potosihog]

I just found this article.  Looks like we had one in 2014 on KO. 

http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/last-special-teams-return-touchdown/

Reed scared me every time he was in on return.  He just looked like a young deer crossing a busy highway (on ice).

They say Stewart has speed.  A few times this year it looked promising for about 2 seconds then got blew up.

Although we did have one in 2014 it was against a horrible team.  If we could get to the 30-35 on a fairly frequent basis and occasionally break a long one it would be a big advantage.

[Drop the Mike]

Stewart might have speed but he has zero vision. Why not let hammonds have a shot at ko's? Every time he touches the ball you think he's gonna break it.  When Stewart touches it however, you're afraid he's gonna break his blockers back by running into them.

[Razorbackers]

Stewart might have speed but he has zero vision. Why not let hammonds have a shot at ko's? Every time he touches the ball you think he's gonna break it.  When Stewart touches it however, you're afraid he's gonna break his blockers back by running into them.

Because Hammonds holds the ball about a foot from his chest haha.

[Pigsknuckles]

In order to have a punt return for a td you have to make the other team punt and we've haven't forced them to punt very often this year.  Had lots of opportunities for KO returns so not sure what the problem is other than the guys back there are not very elusive.

How true. As far as KO's, our opposition has figured out a way to punch them through the back of the end zone, making returns rare. Unfortunately, we haven't yet figured out this technique, resulting in our scores being offset by giving up valuable field position.

[Boarcephus]

How true. As far as KO's, our opposition has figured out a way to punch them through the back of the end zone, making returns rare. Unfortunately, we haven't yet figured out this technique, resulting in our scores being offset by giving up valuable field position.

Why is that???  Seems that every team in DI football has a guy who can kick it deep or through the end zone yet we can't get one to even make it the goal line. 

[Boss Hog in the Arkansas]

Why is that???  Seems that every team in DI football has a guy who can kick it deep or through the end zone yet we can't get one to even make it the goal line.

forget D1, there a high school kickers throughout the state who are kicking the ball through the endzone every Friday. idk what the deal is

[Boarcephus]

forget D1, there a high school kickers throughout the state who are kicking the ball through the endzone every Friday. idk what the deal is

No doubt.  I went to see Southside play Greenwood this year and they had a kicker who could kick it deep into the end zone.  Don't know a thing about the kid but you could hear the "thump" when he made contact with the ball.  Pretty darn impressive.

[hogs3434]

Korliss Marshall returned one kickoff for a TD

[Piggfoot]

I believe Special teams play or lack there of is an ominous indicator of the future.
Additionally a puzzle to me was why in the world would we ever have had  a return on in punting. When apparently our main  objective was catching the ball.

[jjdlc]

Stewart might have speed but he has zero vision. Why not let hammonds have a shot at ko's? Every time he touches the ball you think he's gonna break fumble it.  When Stewart touches it however, you're afraid he's gonna break his blockers back by running into them.

FIFY

[East Clintwood]

Like so many of our problems, it all comes down to coaching or lack thereof.  Our coaching seems to lack in many, many areas.

[dhizzle]

Bring back John L state of Alabama football Smith.

[East Clintwood]

I heard on a football broadcast last week that only 11 division 1 teams had a dedicated special teams coach so we're not alone in that. 

So the problem seems to be we've either got the wrong coach assigned to special teams or the head coach is not emphasizing special teams enough.

[davril98]

Aren't high school tees different from college?

[Pigsknuckles]

Why is that???  Seems that every team in DI football has a guy who can kick it deep or through the end zone yet we can't get one to even make it the goal line. 

I fear we will have figured out what dark matter is before we have that answer.

[woodhog14]

Both 2011, I believe. Dennis Jonhson on a ko return vs Carolina and Joe Adams' punt return vs KState.

2014 - Korliss Marshall ran the opening kickoff back 97 yards for a TD against Northern Illinois.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X2QYyIRZNA

[woodhog14]

forget D1, there a high school kickers throughout the state who are kicking the ball through the endzone every Friday. idk what the deal is

High school also kicks off from the 40 yard line with a taller tee...college from the 35.

[Jackrabbit Hog]

I just found this article.  Looks like we had one in 2014 on KO. 

http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/last-special-teams-return-touchdown/

Reed scared me every time he was in on return.  He just looked like a young deer crossing a busy highway (on ice).

They say Stewart has speed.  A few times this year it looked promising for about 2 seconds then got blew up.

Although we did have one in 2014 it was against a horrible team.  If we could get to the 30-35 on a fairly frequent basis and occasionally break a long one it would be a big advantage.

There was a thread earlier this season - maybe even before the season - about this, and it turned into a discussion about whether pure speed or quickness/agility was more important for a great punt returner.  While the obvious answer is "both", I've always felt that the one thing a returner has to have is fearlessness.  Not saying we don't have any of those guys, but the guys we had back there this year seemed to tip-toe way too much when they'd get near the first defensive wave. 

You have to have a special mindset to be a great punt or kick returner.  Part of that mindset is to accelerate to full speed as quickly as possible, and don't slow down until somebody knocks you on your butt.  The four best return men we've had, since I've been following the Hogs, were Gary Anderson, Bobby Joe Edmonds, Joe Adams and Dennis Johnson.   None had absolute blazing speed, but all had that mindset you have to have.

[bennyl08]

Cornelius has returned a couple of punts for td's but they were called back due to penalties.

[ErieHog]

Why is that???  Seems that every team in DI football has a guy who can kick it deep or through the end zone yet we can't get one to even make it the goal line. 

'Seems' is the operational word.

Arkansas is above average, when it comes to Kick Off performance, in terms of average starting position for the opposition.

Most teams don't aim to kick it out the back of the EZ, unless they have some coverage team issues-- those are generally the teams you find with the highest Touchback numbers, because it is advantageous to force non-returns for them.   

[12247]

To me special teams is like other segments of our team, it just doesn't look like its been practiced enough for anyone to know what to do.  Our D backs, O-line, L backers, all special teams, none of these segments of the team look like they really know what to do.  Somewhere along the way, persons and teams should look like they at least know what to do and where to go even if they cannot get there.  Remember when past coaches would try and set up a wall for the returner to follow.  Granted, most times the wall was broken but a few times per season we would get a long run if not a TD.  Our current Guys seem to just run up the field directly forward from where they catch the ball and go down immediately when hit.  Almost like a poorly talented sandlot team with zero speed.

[HoggusMaximus]

Since we returned a punt or kick off for a TD?

Especially on Kick offs this year it seemed we just found a pile to run into at about the 20-25 yard line.

Is our blocking on SP just really bad or is it something else?

Why does it even matter?

The real question you should be asking is how many muffed punts and fumbled kick offs did we have. Who cares about Kick off returns and Punt returns for TDs fundamentals are more important that flashy one off plays.