Well, Vanderbilt showed that punting high and short to Peterson keeps him from ripping off big returns. How do we stop that? I ain't sure. 1. Make them pay for giving us field position, for one thing. That didn't happen for 3 quarters. 2. Adjust the return team to expect the high and short punt. Perhaps there is a better blocking scheme to be had. 3. Perhaps put two men deep like the last few years, to tempt them to kick deep but away from Peterson. We have other speedsters and it gives the return man a deep blocker to pick off the headhunter. And it gives the option of the reverse to Peterson.
North Carolina had guys on the field on special teams that shouldn't have ever seen the field but were forced to because the backups that would have been there had to start. That was an aberration. I figured people were going to expect much of the same the rest of the season.
Honestly, if teams have to kick the ball 10+ yards shorter to keep Peterson out of it, we're winning the position battle anyway, and that's a direct result of Peterson being out there. But I agree, I'd like to continue to see him get the ball on returns.
Go after the punter on every punt. Try to block every one with our speedsters. Eventually, they're gonna have to block them. I also agree with Izzy - UNC suffered on special teams a little (not as much as he says, I don't think) plus they just sucked at it. Peterson will have more big games - just not every game. Trindon Holliday was a HUGE tiny threat, and teams eventually kicked to him.
That's because it didn't hurt as much to tackle him running at full speed... Peterson is just about as fast with about 60 more pounds on him. That hurts.. :rofl:
Its true... they had backups as starters and 3rd stringers as special teamers... Those starters who normally play special teams were playing a lot more reps than usual so they probably lacked the juice for special teams. From watching the game again, the issue on punt returns seemed to be poor blocking on the outside. LSUs wideouts don't dominate in blocking anymore... Guess its not a point of emphasis under the current regime (and it explains a lot about the lack of success running the option).
In watching LSU let a guy run straight down the field ever single time completely unblocked. They didn't check him at the line, nothing. Without that unblocked man the high punts wouldn't have been such a big deal.
