UNLV game

[Wyolie Coyote]

Those upbacks typically have inside blocking duties only.

If a punt formation is set up correctly, an edge rusher should not have time to get to the ball before it is already punted even when left completely unblocked.

That punt was blocked because of a very slow punt time and a bad snap. Those upbacks look bad, but they were doing what they were supposed to do.

Maybe if it happened once I would agree with you. It happened twice and almost 3 other times. No, this was a flaw in the design and assignments. This is on Sawful.

 

[cheypoke]

I'm sure you are correct. However, whoever is coaching the special teams now, has to make a change. Should have made a change before the second blocked punt.

 

[TheRealUW]

I'm sure you are correct. However, whoever is coaching the special teams now, has to make a change. Should have made a change before the second blocked punt.

For whatever reason, Edmiston was taking forever to punt the ball. It was noticeably slower compared to all other games this season. Maybe because of the weather? I really don't have a good explanation as to why he was so slow to get the ball off in this game.

The snapper was also a major part of the problem on the second blocked punt. He actually took Edmiston right into the unblocked edge rusher with his poor snap.

But I agree with you. When it became clear that Edmiston was not getting the ball off as quickly as he needed to, it is the duty of the coaches to make an adjustment. Change the punt formation. Switch to rugby style punts. Something.

 

[ragtimejoe1]

I'm going to suggest another possibility. Is it possible that the opponent takes their foot off the gas in the second half after being 3 scores ahead at half? We piled on some stats in the 2nd half against CU. The game was never in doubt. We never did anything vs. Utah.
We got a quick score in the 2nd half vs UNLV and then the stupidest penalty you can get. I don't blame Anderson. The receiver had to be behind the line of scrimmage. The ensuing interception was almost inevitable. UNLV woke up and we never threatened again until we were down 3 scores. Until this offense actually scores when the game isn't a blowout, I can't share your view that this offense has done some good things. They've done literally nothing when the score is close.

UNLV games only, I don't think so. I bet their halftime talk was put the game away early.

There's some good in this POKE team. If they can string together enough good, there will be some wins.

 

[cheypoke]

For whatever reason, Edmiston was taking forever to punt the ball. It was noticeably slower compared to all other games this season. Maybe because of the weather? I really don't have a good explanation as to why he was so slow to get the ball off in this game.

The snapper was also a major part of the problem on the second blocked punt. He actually took Edmiston right into the unblocked edge rusher with his poor snap.

But I agree with you. When it became clear that Edmiston was not getting the ball off as quickly as he needed to, it is the duty of the coaches to make an adjustment. Change the punt formation. Switch to rugby style punts. Something.

It will be interesting to see what happens Saturday with SJSt first time we have to punt. They have seen the video. I can't imagine they won't bring the pressure from the ends, put their fastest guys out there.
Does that create a good opportunity to do a fake? Maybe, but I don't have a lot of confidence.

 

[cowpoke pride]

Hopefully the coaching staff will have enough sense to tell the offense to act like they are down 17 with 10 minutes left so we can get long, sustained drives that eat up the clock and just not need to punt.

 

[OrediggerPoke]

It will be interesting to see what happens Saturday with SJSt first time we have to punt. They have seen the video. I can't imagine they won't bring the pressure from the ends, put their fastest guys out there.
Does that create a good opportunity to do a fake? Maybe, but I don't have a lot of confidence.

I’m fully expecting Sawvel and company to give up another blocked punt.

 

[Wyokie]

I’m fully expecting Sawvel and company to give up another blocked punt.

I'm fully expecting Sawvel & his Merry Morons to give up winning any more games this year!!!!!

 

[rich22]

Those upbacks typically have inside blocking duties only.

If a punt formation is set up correctly, an edge rusher should not have time to get to the ball before it is already punted even when left completely unblocked.

That punt was blocked because of a very slow punt time and a bad snap. Those upbacks look bad, but they were doing what they were supposed to do.

I agree that is their responsibility. I disagree that it was all slow punt time and bad snap that caused it. The guy could have blocked it with his chest both times. Even if the punt got off in the correct timing, those punts were getting blocked in my opinion. My question is two things: 1. Why didn't the coaching staff change or adjust the formation? We were lucky it was only 2 blocked punts. It could have been 3 easily or maybe 4. We lined up in the exact formation every time, with a clear lane to the punter. 2. The other point is that I don't see that punt formation in the pro's with the punt sheild. It always made me wonder why it is used so much in college and you don't see it in the pro's at all? I think that punt formation started when rugby style punting became popular. I feel like we use it incorrectly which would be right up Sawvel's playbook. Maybe someone with more knowledge of football would know the answer but to me it doesn't seem to add up.

 

[TheRealUW]

I agree that is their responsibility. I disagree that it was all slow punt time and bad snap that caused it. The guy could have blocked it with his chest both times. Even if the punt got off in the correct timing, those punts were getting blocked in my opinion. My question is two things: 1. Why didn't the coaching staff change or adjust the formation? We were lucky it was only 2 blocked punts. It could have been 3 easily or maybe 4. We lined up in the exact formation every time, with a clear lane to the punter. 2. The other point is that I don't see that punt formation in the pro's with the punt sheild. It always made me wonder why it is used so much in college and you don't see it in the pro's at all? I think that punt formation started when rugby style punting became popular. I feel like we use it incorrectly which would be right up Sawvel's playbook. Maybe someone with more knowledge of football would know the answer but to me it doesn't seem to add up.

The differences in punt formations typically used in the NFL vs. college are primarily owed to the differences in rules.

In the NFL, only eligible receivers are allowed to run downfield prior to the ball being punted. As such, there is no reason for the punt formation to be spread out with deep upbacks. Instead, it makes more sense to keep interior lineman in a much more compact formation with the upbacks placed much closer to the line of scrimmage to handle the edge rushers.

College coaches started using the "shield" formation because it allows you to spread the interior lineman out more so that you have better kick coverage since they can release immediately at the snap. Essentially, the idea is to leave opposing players unblocked at a certain width because the snap to kick time is supposed to be fast enough that those players aren't able to get to the punter prior to him kicking it.

Ultimately, this means that either the snap to kick time was too slow or the width/player spacing was off and they were leaving guys unblocked that were closer to the punter than they should have been. I do know the snap to kick time was a little slow. I don't know enough to know if our spacing/widths were correct or not.