Poor Special Teams On the Punt Return for TD (Also a good indicator that we should go to the spread punt formation)

Submitted by CoachBP6 on

Did anyone else realize that Michigan only had 10 guys on the Utah punt return for TD?  I am at a loss.  Usually the first thing you do upon sending a unit on the field is making sure you have enough guys.  This makes me sad.  How about you MGOBLOGGERS?

FanNamedOzzy

September 21st, 2014 at 12:47 AM ^

When I see this picture, I see a clear alley for the returner to go through. When watching the Utah punt crew, they have about 5 people forming a wall at about the level Chesson is on the punt coverage (if you can call it that) that we implement. Another reason that the "traditional style" punt formation has got to geaaaaux

CoverZero

September 21st, 2014 at 12:51 AM ^

Where was the contain on that side? Why is 5-6 165lb Norfleet a gunner?  Another guy got crushed by the Utah blocker and the Punter's effort was poor. 

Avon Barksdale

September 21st, 2014 at 12:56 AM ^

Just stopping by to say every team that played in the B1G today won - besides us, but that's okay since we were playing a NFL factory like Utah.



We'll get 'sm next week after we go back ro work. *claps hands* *puts on headset*

KBLOW

September 21st, 2014 at 1:05 AM ^

I honestly thought that our special teams would be a strength this year.  I also am suprised that Wile hasn't been put into punt.  Hagerup just isn't showing that he's a good punter.

jackw8542

September 21st, 2014 at 11:34 AM ^

The announcers said the hang time on Hagerup's punt was 2 seconds.  That's why coverage can't get there.  They specifically noted that one of his next punts was a very returnable line drive punt, and sure enough, there was a pretty good return on that one, as well.  Hagerup just does not get it up into the air with good hang time (unless he is kicking it into the end zone to find another way to leave us with a 20 - 25 yard net punt.  He has been a disaster, and the coaches said (I thought I heard this) that they were going to start using Wile on closer punts.  What happened to kill that good idea?

BlueinLansing

September 21st, 2014 at 1:10 AM ^

when you just have to wonder what the fuck they work on all week long.

 

Can't get 11 guys on the field, but they can recite the history of every player who wore their number before them.

CoachBP6

September 21st, 2014 at 1:17 AM ^

You're right on.  I figured with such a long time off he would have gotten better at his craft by virtue of practice hours available.  Whether or not he used those hours remains to be seen.

uminks

September 21st, 2014 at 1:24 AM ^

After supporting both Hoke and RR, it is time for Hoke to be shit canned just like RR! No 201u5 for him or else we will have another fucking losing record!

Mulletman Dave

September 21st, 2014 at 1:38 AM ^

If you're on the punt team, how do you not notice that the player your been standing next to all week in practice and numerous walk throughs is not on the field?

Players can call timeouts too, provided the special teams coach, head coach, and the numerous assistants in the coaches box can't freaking figure it out! Not giving the coaches a pass here at all, but I can't believe that none of the hundred + players and coaches wouldn't have seen something and called a timeout.

CoachBP6

September 21st, 2014 at 1:54 AM ^

It is definitely on the coaching staff, but you are right that a player should have picked it up.  The player responsible for counting is the punter so that's on Hagerup.  Hoke and Crew should have noticed it immediately and called the time out or taken a delay. 

ST3

September 21st, 2014 at 10:39 AM ^

I think the guy responsible for counting is the player between the snapper and the punter. You want the punter thinking about punting, not counting players. Looking back at the play, it seems like the counter is the guy who is missing. They had 7 men on the line, two flex tight ends if you will, the punter, and empty space.

From the endzone view of the play, you can see the two gunners coming down the field, then 20 yards of open space, then 3 more guys, then another 20 yards of open space. So the alleys were not really alleys, they were wide open expanses of space, screaming run into me, much like the state of Utah.

stephenrjking

September 21st, 2014 at 1:54 AM ^

This is a a pretty bad look for the staff. Well-coached teams play well on special teams. Teams that have offensive challenges thrive on good special-teams play and defense to keep games winnable.

Instead, Hoke again declined to learn a new punt strategy in the offseason, and execution is poor, and it changed the complexion of the entire game.

The strongest evidence against Hoke is that the team has never become good at the things he is supposed to help them be good at.

JilesDauz

September 21st, 2014 at 4:10 AM ^

would not be *relevant* if we don't punt 32 times a game. 

 

And seriously, spread punt? You think the spread punt is why Hoke sohuld be fired? People are just grasping at everything.

GoBlueNorth

September 22nd, 2014 at 1:11 PM ^

I just saw this someplace else and had to come over here to believe it......Then they follow up with only 10 on the field for the extra point!!!!  Coaching, coaching, coaching......yes I know that many kickers do a head count before they call for the snap but......coaching, coaching, coaching!!!!