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Ian Pike Hammer
Guest
If I recall correctly, #20 got called twice in a row for blocks in the back or some kind of illegal block. Might want to sit him for a while.
Who is # 20, and why does our special teams get flagged for so many penalties?
Northside Hawk
Well-Known Member
There are two #20's on the roster. One is Julius Brents and I can't see him being on a punt return team.
Not sure who the other 20 is. I do know that the second flag was questionable. It looked like he was pushed into the player by another Penn State player.
Not sure who the other 20 is. I do know that the second flag was questionable. It looked like he was pushed into the player by another Penn State player.
I am pretty sure the #20 getting flagged was indeed Julius Brents. I'm sure he got and is getting an earful from Lavar Woods this week in practice. I like the hustle but you can't get flagged on those plays and it especially hurts when Charlie Jones has ripped off another long return.
Luftgekuehlt67
Well-Known Member
I can't claim to watch a lot of football other than Iowa games, but I do watch a bit (both college and pro)...I think penalties on punt returns have become more prevalent in general than they used to, say, 15-20 yrs ago.
Obviously, incredibly unscientific of me and, if my impression is correct, I wouldn't even know where to begin guessing at an explanation...just sharing my personal observation that I think the illegal block in the back call on punt returns seems to happen at a much greater frequency than I remember in years past. My feeling is it's not just Iowa - something's changed with the game and/or officiating.
I remember a lot of these calls back in the day in cases where the returner would reverse field, but not so much on the more straightforward returns.
I mean, really, punt returns in general have changed a lot it seems. It's a lot of fair catches anymore and the ones that are returned often look more like short yardage plunges to pick up a few yards.
Obviously, incredibly unscientific of me and, if my impression is correct, I wouldn't even know where to begin guessing at an explanation...just sharing my personal observation that I think the illegal block in the back call on punt returns seems to happen at a much greater frequency than I remember in years past. My feeling is it's not just Iowa - something's changed with the game and/or officiating.
I remember a lot of these calls back in the day in cases where the returner would reverse field, but not so much on the more straightforward returns.
I mean, really, punt returns in general have changed a lot it seems. It's a lot of fair catches anymore and the ones that are returned often look more like short yardage plunges to pick up a few yards.
Good punters have good hang time so coverage can force the fair catches or for players to be there to tackle.
I think all the penalties on punts and kickoffs that are run back are a function of rules to add safety to the game. There are a lot more rules in the last 15-20 years, whatever years, when players , all the players are running free up and down the field. Those crackback blocks and pushes in the back are really bad in a confined space when players are not moving as fast but when they are committed at full speed a lot of injuries can take place. In the pros the players on the kickoff team cannot get a running start farther than a yard now.
Of course the players are coached to not hold, push and block in the back, etc like crackback blocks but they are trying to make plays and instantaneous reactions is what causes the flags.
