INT returns?

[Gooch]

Is it just me or does it seem that over the past few years, we've been getting larger returns on INT's?


Seems the D just switches instantly to offense and sets up great blocking to get some pretty damn good returns.

 

[CPHAWK82]

Micah Hyde always seems to be right in the mix on those plays. He had his obvious game saver in the insight bowl and was also Prater's lead blocker Saturday where he laid out the last guy clearing the path for Prater to score. Having guys with that kind of speed to run and block has been the difference.

 

[Gooch]

Micah Hyde always seems to be right in the mix on those plays. He had his obvious game saver in the insight bowl and was also Prater's lead blocker Saturday where he laid out the last guy clearing the path for Prater to score. Having guys with that kind of speed to run and block has been the difference.

good point!

 

[Stealthawk]

I've been thinking the same thing. Sure seems like in '09, last year and now starting out this year with a bang, we have had more long returns on INT's.
Besides the D doing a good job of switching to O and getting in some good blocks, I think some of it has to do with the "spread" offenses some teams run.
Sideline passes that get picked off oftentimes only leave 2-3 guys to block/beat and its off to the races!

 

[Stealthawk]

Long returns (not necessarily for a TD) that i can recall off the top:

09- Sash vs Indiana, Angerer vs PSU
'10- Binns vs Arizona, Hyde/Sash vs MSU, Hyde vs Mizzou
'11- Couple of dandies already

I know I'm missing some.......

 

[CPHAWK82]

It also looks like something the hawks are starting to pride themselves after like they know what they're capable of. Like when Sash tossed the ball to Hyde vs. Michigan State last year. Morris also seemed to have "endzone" on his mind Saturday.

 

[briney11]

It also looks like something the hawks are starting to pride themselves after like they know what they're capable of. Like when Sash tossed the ball to Hyde vs. Michigan State last year. Morris also seemed to have "endzone" on his mind Saturday.

He just couldn't get his own guys to get out of the way!!!!

 

[DTF]

It's nice to know they're better at INT returns than punt returns, PR's scare me, I'm worried about the ball being dropped or stripped almost every time, that stuff seems to happen too frequently.

 

[Stealthawk]

It's nice to know they're better at INT returns than punt returns, PR's scare me, I'm worried about the ball being dropped or stripped almost every time, that stuff seems to happen too frequently.

Really?? How many times have we had a turnover on a PR in the last 2 years?

 

[hoffman22103]

What blows my mind is usually there is at least one or two DL running down the field not far behind the CB/S as they return the INT. I can remember at least a few instances last year that happened as well as this past weekend.

 

[ICHawk24]

Long returns (not necessarily for a TD) that i can recall off the top:

09- Sash vs Indiana, Angerer vs PSU
'10- Binns vs Arizona, Hyde/Sash vs MSU, Hyde vs Mizzou
'11- Couple of dandies already

I know I'm missing some.......

Prater last year against PSU wasn't very long (35 yards?), but he did get into the end zone.

Prater also had the pick against MSU along the sideline that he probably should have housed, but let himself get knocked out of bounds after 30 or 40 yard return.

 

[tm3308]

While we've had a few that are the result of good blocking, housing a pick is often luck. It just depends where you are, what direction you're moving (see Sash's long return against Arizona in '09, when he came from across the field and was already heading downfield when he caught the ball), etc.

Several of our longest returns saw our player with no one in front of him, just green grass. Maybe makes one guy miss.

 

[dagdaj]

Wonder if there's a high percentage of guys on the defense who switched from offense after high school? Some residual mental awareness or blocking technique leftover? This might happen if so many "athletes" are recruited.

Of course, we had a fair number of picks go the other way on us the past couple years too.