Was John Baxter overrated?

Lets be honest, its not like all the kicks we blocked were scheme related. Punter literally kicked one into his lineman's back yesterday. Last week the kicks were noticeably low. Don't think those are replicable but it was fun. But of course it gets attributed to coaching.

The thing that I really hate sports fans don't get about coaching is that one SEASON's results don't even determine coaching acumen, let alone the game to game assessments we give. Positive or negative! You have to account for a body of work. Sometimes you're lucky, sometimes your players are good enough to overcome your coaching and sometimes your players are bad enough for good coaching not to make a difference. 

Probably also important to note our ST coaches worked under him. They didnt become ST geniuses overnight. 

Really wish we'd go away from the pro-style punt. Going to burn us badly soon enough.

The guy was a fucking joke.  Good riddance to him.   Being a special teams guru and having the shit he pulled was a complete disgrace.  99.8% win probablity and he and his pet project punter both go full retard.

We also gave up multiple TDs on kickoffs and punts against two of the worst teams in the conference (Rutgers and Indiana) 

Ran into the kicker which started the onslaught versus Ohio State.

To top it off, his punter at USC fell on a fumbled punt immediately during the game against Alabama.  

Fuck him with a rusty nail.  

When that happens, I find myself in a glass case of emotion.

I've been waiting for someone to bring this up. It is funny to me to hear Brian go on and on complaining about how Lloyd was too loyal to his assistants but man is he ever loyal to the coaches he likes. I still think he would argue that Rich Rod is a great coach and his love of Baxter seems very unreasonable all things considered. Brian's legions will have a field day neggin anyone who says otherwise but oh well, call a spade a spade. Partridge is doing a better job. 

It's hard to make definitive judgements about ST and their coaches unless they are glaringly bad or spectacular. There are so many factors and variables. The difference between a bad snap or hold or a blocked kick and a 50 yard kick is a fraction of an inch. Players and experience vary from year to year, and talent, and motivation and understanding will also vary depending on other circumstances.

At least in terms of coaching philosophy and rhetoric Special Teams get a certain exalted state- many of the better athletes, meeting first, often special teams period comes at the beginning of practice. But in reality much more time, energy, and focus is generally spent on offense and defense. (Jim Tressel famously calls the Punt the most important play in football, saying it covers 40% of the yardage in a football game, but I doubt any team spends 40% of their meetings and practice time on special teams, let alone just the punt).

Another thing about coaching that is always underrated is the benefits of carry-over. While learning a different system under a new coach takes some time and brings some uncertainty, it also brings on a slightly different perspective and emphasis. Unless they are totally confused, the player actually gains something from the combination of different teachers and philosophies.

No he's not overrated.  But he's not indespensible either.

There can be more than one person that is good at a coaching position.

Michigan's special teams this year are getting way too much credit for craptastic opponent special teams.  The blocked kicks were way too low and the one of the "blocked punts" was kicked into a blockers back.  I love big plays for Michigan on special teams, but seeing our punt formation and lack of downfield coverage, coupled with a punter who is drilling line drives makes me very worried for teams like OSU.

say we are #1 in the post right before this one also say that our special teams is actually taking away points and ranked #82.  It seems better than that, though.  The breakout of special teams S&P+ value/ranking is new this year, so there's nothing to compare it against, either.

I do note one thing about kickoffs.  There are not many "big guys" out there.  A ton of guys who fit the "DB" role.  Just look up and down the line, I guess the guys are trying to dodge blocks rather than power thru them.

For all the angst over the one play we don't speak of anymore, Oneill was a damn good punter.  He was locked in on the 10yard & under punts.  If going Aussie in the future I would make sure they had a "standard american pooch punt" in their routine.  The extra step they need to take is deadly against an 11 man rush.

One thing for certain, if going to punt a line drive, put it low enough that it bounces in front of the returner.  That stops all return momentum and forces a complete evaluation of the ball's path, or a big sunday hop that adds some free "hang time", or the nefarious "fire" bounce that can check off the opposition.