Special teams return for TD drought
Does anyone know if we have the longest stretch in college football without a punt or kick return for a TD? My understanding is our last was Stonum against ND in 2009. We had a blocked punt returned slightly more recent but I was wondering about an unblocked punt or kick return.
I want to really understand how historic this will be when Peppers runs one back!
October 9th, 2015 at 3:20 PM ^
since it's Peppers' first at Michigan
October 9th, 2015 at 3:21 PM ^
Paging WD
October 9th, 2015 at 3:25 PM ^
Bring Breaston back
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October 9th, 2015 at 3:37 PM ^
Bring back breasts
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October 9th, 2015 at 3:53 PM ^
Not to knock your joke, but it kind of makes you seem like a boob. Nah, I'm lying - you're a hoot. Now, I'm off to the can.
October 9th, 2015 at 3:25 PM ^
I got a blocked punt for a TD in the first qtr.
October 9th, 2015 at 3:30 PM ^
If we are including blocked punts for TDs, there was one against CMU in 2013, if I recall correctly.
October 9th, 2015 at 3:40 PM ^
I've eliminated the last 8 years from my memory.
October 9th, 2015 at 4:06 PM ^
You do recall correctly - that was Joe Reynolds and it was for 30 yards.
It would be nice to see one take to the house in a more conventional manner, of course, sometime this season. Peppers has seems rather close a few times already this year - hopefully, he gets lucky yet.
October 9th, 2015 at 6:59 PM ^
Since Baxter says he only counts 3 of 51(!) punts as returnable so far this year I think it will be a surprise if Pep doesn't get one. I don't recall a lot of Aussie punters in the BIG - so returnables should increase.
October 10th, 2015 at 1:58 AM ^
the confidence will come oozing out and Pep will say fuck that fair catch. He's going to get his sooner than later. You can take that to the bank.
October 9th, 2015 at 4:25 PM ^
There was a blocked punt returned for 6 by Ben Gedeon just last year against App State.
October 9th, 2015 at 4:39 PM ^
Never heard of them.
October 9th, 2015 at 5:03 PM ^
Is The Flying Potato Skin
October 9th, 2015 at 3:34 PM ^
Norfleet was a shoe string tackle away like 25 times
October 9th, 2015 at 3:38 PM ^
I doubt that's the longest drought. TDs on kickoff returns are very rare, and punt return TDs aren't particularly common either.
At any rate, Norfleet got robbed of one last year against Maryland due to a illegal block that didn't affect the play.
October 9th, 2015 at 3:48 PM ^
There have been 24 kick returns and 36 punt returns (including blocks) for TDs this year. So 60 in about 300 games or 10% chance per game for any given team.
October 9th, 2015 at 4:05 PM ^
Has about half of those.
October 9th, 2015 at 4:32 PM ^
Seriously? That seems very high. Crazy.
October 9th, 2015 at 4:37 PM ^
Per NCAA official stats.
October 9th, 2015 at 4:42 PM ^
That's a higher frequency than I would have guessed. Also surprised that the gap between punt and kickoff returns isn't larger.
October 9th, 2015 at 5:56 PM ^
How many of those 36 punt return TDs have come on blocks? Do they break that down?
October 9th, 2015 at 6:01 PM ^
Or at least not where I was looking.
October 9th, 2015 at 7:25 PM ^
They listed the position. Mostly DB and WR, but at least one was a DL.
Unfortunately that still doesn't tell you much, since a DB or WR is likely to be on the punt block team and/or likely to pick up the ball after a block.
Also, I counted 68 punt return TDs last year.
October 9th, 2015 at 3:51 PM ^
Last punt return for a TD excluding blocks:_ Martavious Odoms at Purdue in 2008
Last kickoff return for a TD: Stonum vs #18 Notre Dame in 2009
Last missed FG returned for a TD: Jeremy LeSueur at #22 Oregon in 2003.
October 9th, 2015 at 3:53 PM ^
My mistake, LeSueur's return was a blocked FG, not a missed one.
October 9th, 2015 at 3:57 PM ^
Any idea if we have the longest drought?
October 9th, 2015 at 4:04 PM ^
We worship thy knowledge oh great fanny packed one!
October 9th, 2015 at 4:13 PM ^
Desmond and Alexander had multiple returns themselves. Wheatley, Woodson, Toomer, and Seth Smith(!) are the others I can name off the top of my head.Alexander ahd four punt returns for a TD by himself. Dez had a punt and kickoff return.
This decade-and-a-half has seen Breaston(3), Stonum, Odoms,and no one else. I have no idea if this has something to do with poor special teams, lack of explosive athletes, or both.
October 9th, 2015 at 4:38 PM ^
Has a lot to do with new punt coverages and the NCAA moving the kickoff from the 30 to the 35. Punters are also a lot more specialized today then they were 20 years ago.
October 9th, 2015 at 4:26 PM ^
Peppers gets one before this season is up, guaranteed.
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October 9th, 2015 at 4:34 PM ^
And how many lemons if you're wrong?
October 9th, 2015 at 5:32 PM ^
Two.
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October 9th, 2015 at 4:33 PM ^
Peppers could have had one, if not for that call for fair catch. I still couldn't see the field fully but it looked like most of the MD players seemed to be on the other side.
October 9th, 2015 at 4:37 PM ^
but this would be the perfect game for one since the final score could be 7-3.
October 9th, 2015 at 4:42 PM ^
No way we have the longest drought, I'm sure it's not even close. NFL teams sometimes go decades without a return TD.
That said, Norfleet returned one vs Maryland last season that was called back because of a penalty that didn't impact the return in any way.
October 9th, 2015 at 4:47 PM ^
Less skill discrepancy among players and better punters and kickers
October 9th, 2015 at 5:02 PM ^
That makes sense in the nfl as defense ends are about as fast as wr's.
October 9th, 2015 at 4:46 PM ^
Fondly remember Steve Breaston's 95 yard kickoff return for a TD against Minnesota in 2005. Too bad our D decided to let Maroney scamper down the field so the Gophers could win it with a field goal on the final play.
Breaston always seemed to have his best performances during soul crushing losses.
October 9th, 2015 at 5:00 PM ^
The only time I've seen Michigan return one. Seen it done to Michigan a few times...
October 9th, 2015 at 5:54 PM ^
That was the worst
October 9th, 2015 at 10:27 PM ^
Wasn't Maroney....was Gary Russell.
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October 9th, 2015 at 5:12 PM ^
In college football I don't know. I doubt it. There are 120+ teams out there, many of them far, far worse than Michigan.
In the NFL, absolutely no way. The Bucs probably hold that distinction. Took them nearly 30 years to return a kickoff for a TD for the first time in a regular season game.
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October 9th, 2015 at 5:21 PM ^
Many teams had 2. UAB had 4. And that is just kick returns for a TD.
So roughly 1/3 did. I think our 6 season drought has to be one of the longest.
October 9th, 2015 at 5:39 PM ^
In Peppers I trust. He has great quickness and vision. It will certainly happen soon.
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October 9th, 2015 at 9:51 PM ^
I was at that game Stonum tool it to the house!!! I'll be there tomorrow so we should end that drought
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October 10th, 2015 at 3:52 PM ^
That is all.
October 10th, 2015 at 4:00 PM ^
Way to look out for relevant sh$t.
Great way to start a defensive battle.
October 10th, 2015 at 4:21 PM ^
+ infinity to you for making this timely thread
October 10th, 2015 at 8:16 PM ^
just have a feeling