Why in the hell..... (1 Viewer)

[ProBowler88]

Especially on punts, I mean honestly how many more does this guy have to take back before ST coordinators get the hint?

Is it a matter of pride that they kick to him or what?

 

[mbuehner]

Pride. Foolish pride. No other explanation.

 

[mad sweeney]

Didn't Dallas kick to him, other than the first kick, and keep him bottled up? Unless you have a completely dominant coverage team and a punter that can pin him into a corner, it's time to bring back the coffin corner punt and kick it out of bounds.

 

[Synthesizer]

Here are your options....

1. Go for every 4th down

2. Force a fair catch by kicking the ball about 30 yards

3. Kick the ball out of bounds which probably ends up as about a 30 yard punt anyway

What do you propose they do?

 

[ProBowler88]

Here are your options....1. Go for every 4th down2. Force a fair catch by kicking the ball about 30 yards3. Kick the ball out of bounds which probably ends up as about a 30 yard punt anywayWhat do you propose they do?

option 4. Kick the ball farther than 30 yards out of bounds....are you kidding me? NFL punters can kick it much farther than 30 yards when they aim out of bounds.

 

[FunkyPlutos]

Here are your options....1. Go for every 4th down2. Force a fair catch by kicking the ball about 30 yards3. Kick the ball out of bounds which probably ends up as about a 30 yard punt anywayWhat do you propose they do?

option 4. Kick the ball farther than 30 yards out of bounds....are you kidding me? NFL punters can kick it much farther than 30 yards when they aim out of bounds.

That is exactly what Chris Kluwe tried to do on the punt that Hester returned 89 yards. Hester caught it next to the sideline and reversed field and the rest is history. Kluwe was supposed to kick it out of bounds but didn't get it there, and paid for it.

 

[maxwell1295]

Shank one OB.....the only option in my book. I'd take my chances with the defense stopping their offense before I risk a quick six with Hester. He's even more dangerous than Dante Hall was a few years back.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

It's not as simple as everyone is making it out to be. Hester also fumbles a LOT - good things can happen for the coverage team when you kick to him.

Here's the key - special teams coaches need to make sure their coverage units are in the right mindset when they play Hester. WAY too often I see coverage units book downfield up to five yards from Hester, then stop and wait for him to make a move - try to "keep him in front of them". Well, Hester kills that everytime. Special teamers need to have the kamikaze mindset. Just come at Hester like your head is on fire. Tampa did well against him last year with this mindset: "F you Hester, we're kicking it to you, and we're coming for you!". The bottom line to me is that it comes down to whether teams are afraid of Hester or not. If an ST coach senses his guys are afraid of Hester, then just kick it out of bounds, but if they can really aggressively go after him, he can be contained and even cough up the ball on cue. He does not seem to like having guys come screaming at him - he does his best when guys slow down and allow him to make a move.

 

[Iwannabeacowboybaby!]

It's not as simple as everyone is making it out to be. Hester also fumbles a LOT - good things can happen for the coverage team when you kick to him.Here's the key - special teams coaches need to make sure their coverage units are in the right mindset when they play Hester. WAY too often I see coverage units book downfield up to five yards from Hester, then stop and wait for him to make a move - try to "keep him in front of them". Well, Hester kills that everytime. Special teamers need to have the kamikaze mindset. Just come at Hester like your head is on fire. Tampa did well against him last year with this mindset: "F you Hester, we're kicking it to you, and we're coming for you!". The bottom line to me is that it comes down to whether teams are afraid of Hester or not. If an ST coach senses his guys are afraid of Hester, then just kick it out of bounds, but if they can really aggressively go after him, he can be contained and even cough up the ball on cue. He does not seem to like having guys come screaming at him - he does his best when guys slow down and allow him to make a move.

Not only that Bloom, kickers/special teams are out kicking their coverage. That latest return, which was spectacular by Hester was a bomb. He ran way back, caught it over his shoulder and was able to turn and start heading north and get a full head of steam.If I were coaching special teams vs. Hester.....I'd be practicing all week on booming kicks high up into the air and allowing coverage to get there.People mentioned Dallas and many of the times the kicker banged the ball way up into the air allowing maximum hang time to allow the coverage to get into their positions. This proved to be very effective.If you punter stinks, then you need to kick the ball out of bounds best you can. If you don't kick the ball out of bounds and if you kick the ball regardless how far so that it allows him to set up his return, you're going to pay.I like the idea of maximum hang time Bloom because of the point you made, he fumbles.

 

[MDSkinner]

Here are your options....1. Go for every 4th down2. Force a fair catch by kicking the ball about 30 yards3. Kick the ball out of bounds which probably ends up as about a 30 yard punt anywayWhat do you propose they do?

With the Bears offense as it is, why not kick the ball out of bounds and make them beat you?

 

[smcindoe]

Option #4: Throw deep into triple coverage downfield on fourth down, assume DBs will be more interested in padding their stats with an INT than they are in field position, tackle DB after catch.

(Note: Only works if DB is not Devin Hester.)

 

[Synthesizer]

Here are your options....1. Go for every 4th down2. Force a fair catch by kicking the ball about 30 yards3. Kick the ball out of bounds which probably ends up as about a 30 yard punt anywayWhat do you propose they do?

option 4. Kick the ball farther than 30 yards out of bounds....are you kidding me? NFL punters can kick it much farther than 30 yards when they aim out of bounds.

You have more faith in punters being able to kick for distance and pinpoint accuracy than I do.

 

[dgreen]

Hester has 106 career KR and PR. He's returned 8 of those for TDs. That's 7.5%. So, there's a 92.5% chance he won't return it for a TD.

 

[BringItOn]

so what's the NFL Average then, 2%?

 

[Synthesizer]

Here are your options....1. Go for every 4th down2. Force a fair catch by kicking the ball about 30 yards3. Kick the ball out of bounds which probably ends up as about a 30 yard punt anywayWhat do you propose they do?

With the Bears offense as it is, why not kick the ball out of bounds and make them beat you?

The Vikings punted 9 times in the game. 5 of those were from inside their own 35 yard line. If you just kick the ball out of bounds every single punt, you are giving up A TON of field position throughout the entire game. I just want to point out that by avoiding Hester, you set yourself up to lose in other ways. So it's not as easy as everyone seems to think.

 

[dgreen]

so what's the NFL Average then, 2%?

2007 KR = 6782007 KR TD = 92007 KR TD % = 1.32007 PR = 3722007 PR TD = 72007 PR TD % = 1.92007 KR + PR = 10502007 KR + PR TD = 162007 KR + PR TD % = 1.5

 

[PsychoMan]

so what's the NFL Average then, 2%?

2007 KR = 6782007 KR TD = 92007 KR TD % = 1.32007 PR = 3722007 PR TD = 72007 PR TD % = 1.92007 KR + PR = 10502007 KR + PR TD = 162007 KR + PR TD % = 1.5

that including hester?

 

[dgreen]

so what's the NFL Average then, 2%?

2007 KR = 6782007 KR TD = 92007 KR TD % = 1.32007 PR = 3722007 PR TD = 72007 PR TD % = 1.92007 KR + PR = 10502007 KR + PR TD = 162007 KR + PR TD % = 1.5

that including hester?

Yes.

 

[428143]

Hester has 106 career KR and PR. He's returned 8 of those for TDs. That's 7.5%. So, there's a 92.5% chance he won't return it for a TD.

He's had plenty of big-returns that didn't end with a TD, and I think he has improved significantly as a returner this season(even if the stats don't back this up). But your post is probably in line with what the opposing coaches are thinking. Nevertheless, this is an interesting argument, and I believe Hester is going to change the way coaches look at ST...