I'm sure we've had one since Tim Dwight but drawing a blank. (No Micah Hyde for the last 4 games last year doesn't count) So not only are we horrible on punt coverage but our return teams (blocking is noticeably horrible) and returners just don't have it. Jordan Cotton returned a kickoff last year but honestly, he does not look smooth out there. KMM, as quick as he is, does not have good feel or vision. He's got good hands but he doesn't belong back there. Just pointing out one thing that puts us behind many other teams. One weapon than can flip a field.
Who was the last Punt returner we had that could break one?
- Thread starter droidhawk
- Start date
hawkdrummer1
Well-Known Member
I believe that question should be...
Who was the last potential punt returner that could break one.... that KFz would play?
Who was the last potential punt returner that could break one.... that KFz would play?
I believe Tony Collins the year after Dwight but he quit I think for his gf.
SamBrownlee48
Well-Known Member
Didn't Andy Brodell return one or two?
Ah yes! Andy was solid and yeah I think he returned a couple. One that turned the game against ISU.
Igothawked
Well-Known Member
Yes he did. Didnt Prater or Spivey do pretty well back there for a while roo? Either way it seems like the instructions for punt returners now are "Dont F up!"
HawkIMalaise
Banned
Kurt wouldn't let Tim Dwight return kicks. He is too much of a risk taker.
tm3308
Well-Known Member
Spievey muffed a punt against Indiana in 2009 (on maybe his first or second attempt back there) and never returned again. The last defensive back I can remember us using as a punt returner is Jovon Johnson.
SamBrownlee48
Well-Known Member
Micah Hyde.
Back to the main point, though. I think the conservative punt fielding is on the coaches. As a hawkeye punt returner, if you make an aggressive mistake, you will lose your job. But if you make a conservative mistake, that's just fine and dandy. I used to dislike the way we used Ed Henkel(sp?) as pr. He fair cuaght EVERYTHING and wasn't really a speedster. But our use of Micah Hyde was even worse, cause he didn't even bother to fair catch them oft as naught. Now, we got KMM back there, and he should be fiarly solid but isn't going to break one anh time soone when we have speed on the bench because they are too worried Cotton and Powell will screw it up.
sportstalent
Well-Known Member
Ed Hinkle was a good punt returner as well...before Brodell, but he did well.
tm3308
Well-Known Member
I should have made my thoughts clearer (it all made perfect sense in my head). The last DB before Hyde that I remember us using consistently is Johnson. Got on the "who could he be thinking of?" train of thought.