2011 Denver Broncos Rookie Roundup - Cincinnati Bengals Edition

by Jezru on Sep 20, 2011 12:01 PM MDT in Strictly My Opinion

Seeing former Denver Bronco Dominic Hixon's spectacular catch for the Giants in Monday Night Football last night was yet another reminder of how, for some inexplicable reason, the Broncos have mishandled draft picks over the last decade. That's why as a public service, I've begun to track the performance of the 2011 Denver Broncos rookies. It's through these weekly talent evaluations that we'll hopefully be able to predict who'll be with the Broncos for the long haul... and who'll be destined for another line of work.

So, how did the rookies fare against the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday? Follow me after the fold and let's find out.

The Good
#74 Orlando Franklin T:
After the penalties that Franklin racked up against the Raiders, I watched him this week like a hawk - expecting to see sloppy play or something that I'd be able to ding him for within this report. However, when I observed Franklin, I was very pleasantly surprised that, with few exceptions, he was always making his blocks and was getting significant push that allowed our run game to amass our first 100 yard rushing game of the year. Also of note was his appearance out of nowhere to assist in making the tackle following the unfortunate Eric Decker fumble. Great work this week Orlando! High five!

#58 Von Miller LB:
Miller is, as advertised. He's amazingly fast off the ball and was able to penetrate the Bengal backfield on multiple occasions, amassing one sack.   He did get a little dinged up in the third quarter, but he came back to shut down Cedric Benson in a key stop behind the line in the fourth quarter. Jeremy Bolander noted that Miller was replaced by David Bruton for a brief spell during Cincinnati's final drive. The Broncos could be managing his reps so he doesn't exhaust himself. Great work this week Von! High five!

#26 Rahim Moore S:
Moore started the game and was all over the field in a good way. He consistently kept Bengal receivers in front of him and helped effectively stifled the threat of "the big play". In run support he made a great tackles, and in one, clamped down on a particularly squirmy Bengal. It was the kind of tackle that surely would have never have been made last year. For what it's worth, he looks like he knows what he's doing and at no time looked lost. He's clearly comfortable and confident patrolling the secondary for the Broncos. Great work this week Rahim! High five!

The Okay:
#80 Julius Thomas TE:
Julius started the game and had a great five-yard catch. Unfortunately, that catch would be his last of the evening as he incurred a high ankle sprain less than three minutes into the first quarter.   He projects to be out for two weeks. Here's hoping he gets back on the field sooner than that. Fist bump for you Julius!

#28 Quinton Carter S:
Quinton played on special teams and made one notable (crushing) tackle. I consistently saw him buzzing around kick returners and its evident that he's hungry to make a play. Fist bump for you Quinton!

The Bad:
#25 Chris Harris CB:
Bad Chris Harris. Bad! Harris had a costly Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty that caused an amazing 81 yard punt from Britton Colquitt to be re-kicked. He apparently ran out of bounds and made no effort to re-establish himself in the field of play, which (for reasons that are unknown to me) is a no-no. A mistake that cost the Broncos 44-yards of field position. It was the kind of error that could cost the Broncos a game, but thankfully did not. Side-eyed glare at you Chris Harris...

Missing In Action:
#85 Virgil Green TE:
Other than being seen wearing his helmet on the sideline, I'm not sure he played. Next time you're on the field Virgil please waive your hand or make a play so I can see you. Paging Virgil Green... Paging Virgil Green...

#53 Mike Mohamed MLB:
For what little I saw of Virgil Green, I saw less of Mohamed. If you've seen him, please let me know. I was looking for him. Paging Mike Mohamed... Paging Mike Mohamed...

#56 Nate Irving MLB:
Nate was seen on the return team during the opening kickoff. Outside of that he went unseen (primarily by me in the first edition of this article... Whoopsie!) Sorry about that... Paging Nate Irving... Paging Nate Irving...

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Comments

Fox said he did not like the penalty call on Harris

apparently something about a lot of people getting in his way back onto the field.

Aku, Soku, Zan

by haj_saitou on Sep 20, 2011 12:38 PM MDT reply actions 2 recs

How does someone leaving the field and not coming back...

create any sort of advantage? Is it just bad form? It’s got to be one of the dumbest rules in the book.

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by Jezru on Sep 20, 2011 12:46 PM MDT up reply actions

the rule needs to be revamped

a lot of the times, a player will be pushed out of bounce and go down the field trying to force himself back on, but defenders keep him out. It’s not right.

I’ve seen this happen quite a bit for gunners, and if a gunner does manage to slip back in 20 yards down field and make contact with the ball carrier first, it draws a flag, even though he had two people trying to keep him out.

Oh and one last rant… last night during the MNF between the Giants and Rams, I thought it was ludicrous when 2 giant players faked injury, there should be a rule against that… the problem lies in how to enforce it, I would imagine. That was blatant, though!!!

who wears short shorts?

by Broncs55 on Sep 20, 2011 1:35 PM MDT up reply actions

i read something about that earlier today (forgot where though).

you couldn’t really make it a penalty, since refs arent medical professionals and are incapable of deciding what is real and whats not. but making it so that the player in question cannot re-enter the game until the next series-or so would help.

..We're 1-15 till we're not..
They say the cool is all over me..

by Teboner on Sep 20, 2011 1:38 PM MDT up reply actions

perhaps the league has a medical professional at every game

who oversees the injuries. Players caught doing that are fined, or something like that… to deter it.

Fine the teams as well so it is not coached.

who wears short shorts?

by Broncs55 on Sep 20, 2011 1:40 PM MDT up reply actions

even still. their are painful non-injuries.

have you ever hurt yourself, like stubbed a toe, or hit your “funny-bone”? Sometimes you do just get hurt. nothing is really wrong, or broken, or torn. but you are in pain. or like when a player has the wind knocked out of him. he will be fine in 30 seconds… but until then, you might be sprawled out on the field in agony. penalties/fines just woudnt work i think

..We're 1-15 till we're not..
They say the cool is all over me..

by Teboner on Sep 20, 2011 1:49 PM MDT up reply actions

The "injuries" have to be fined

because if they’re not, the practice will continue. It is disgusting and reprehensible to me.

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by the new Bradfather on Sep 20, 2011 2:02 PM MDT up reply actions

yeah i agree they are out for the drive

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by Ice0ne (CAJ) on Sep 20, 2011 2:16 PM MDT up reply actions

When it's as blatant as it was last night

There should be a possibility of calling and Unsportsmanlike penalty against the defense followed by a fine for the team.

If only one guy fell down you might have to let it go but when two fall down after looking toward the sidelines it’s pretty obvious they got a signal from the coaches. Next time they’ll have to do a better job of trying to figure out who was supposed to take the fall.

"It's all over Fat Man" - Tom Jackson to John Madden 1977 AFC Championship Game

RIP Barrel Man - 12/5/09

by DesertBroncoFan on Sep 20, 2011 6:33 PM MDT up reply actions

I dont agree with it. but you absolutely cannot have refs making decisions on possible injuries.

They simply arent qualified, and if given the power, they will make mistakes.

..We're 1-15 till we're not..
They say the cool is all over me..

by Teboner on Sep 21, 2011 8:15 AM MDT up reply actions

That’s where the “and makes no effort to get back in” part comes in to play. If a guy gets blocked out and he’s trying to get back in but is still being blocked out, it’s not a penalty.

Jason
The Hanging Curve

by poorboywilly on Sep 20, 2011 3:51 PM MDT up reply actions

I think it is more in case someone runs down the sideline and gets popped from the sideline where they aren’t paying attention?

by GreasyQtip on Sep 20, 2011 1:37 PM MDT up reply actions

I have to concur

with Jezru, it seems silly. It’s not like Harris downed the ball or anything

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by the new Bradfather on Sep 20, 2011 1:52 PM MDT up reply actions

It’s called the “field of play” because that is where the game should take place. If people were able to run out of bounds at will, at the very least it creates a safety hazard and yes, I think it can create an advantage by adding decoys/blockers, regardless of whether the people on the sideline are trying to do that or not. Of course it could also backfire on the player, but that’s not the point.

Jason
The Hanging Curve

by poorboywilly on Sep 20, 2011 3:37 PM MDT up reply actions

I think

it’s because the returning team’s players aren’t allowed to hit him if he is out of bounds thus making it an “Unsportsman-like” penalty. If you could just run down the sidelines without the threat of getting touched by the opposing team it’s kind of cheating. I didn’t see what Harris did but from what I understand he ran into side judge and maybe one of the down marker guys.

"It's all over Fat Man" - Tom Jackson to John Madden 1977 AFC Championship Game

RIP Barrel Man - 12/5/09

by DesertBroncoFan on Sep 20, 2011 6:30 PM MDT up reply actions

Chris Harris said when he was pushed out of bounds, he tripped and fell.

apparently, the douche-bag ref decided he still took too long to get back in play. I would not hold that against him. It was a bs call that you will probably only see a few more times the rest of your life.

..We're 1-15 till we're not..
They say the cool is all over me..

by Teboner on Sep 20, 2011 1:34 PM MDT reply actions

it's water under the bridge

because we won. If we keep winning close games, we’re in playoff contention!

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by the new Bradfather on Sep 20, 2011 1:53 PM MDT up reply actions

if we keep winning every game going forward

we will win the Super Bowl!

I believe that the winner of the super bowl this year will be the game played between the afc, and the nfc champions. Those two teams will play in the Super Bowl, which will decide the winner!

who wears short shorts?

by Broncs55 on Sep 20, 2011 2:06 PM MDT up reply actions

If your patronizing comments

are directed at me, I don’t find them amusing whatsoever. GO BRONCOS!!!

Brad James

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by the new Bradfather on Sep 20, 2011 2:10 PM MDT up reply actions

lol

it just reminded me of Madden – I was pokin fun in a friendly way :)

who wears short shorts?

by Broncs55 on Sep 20, 2011 2:30 PM MDT up reply actions

Oh that's OK!

let’s hear some classic Pat Summerall and John Madden shall we :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBxHM8yrSsg

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by the new Bradfather on Sep 20, 2011 3:05 PM MDT up reply actions

you guys are silly :)

..We're 1-15 till we're not..
They say the cool is all over me..

by Teboner on Sep 20, 2011 3:31 PM MDT up reply actions

You are awesome

by oxsnard on Sep 20, 2011 7:39 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions

He also had to readjust his helmet

Not to mention it didn’t affect the play in any way.

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood..."

by Alan_Smithee on Sep 20, 2011 3:43 PM MDT up reply actions

yea they took away a record in milehigh i believe...still wanna slap harris lol but its football it happenes

by bronco_badger on Sep 20, 2011 1:34 PM MDT reply actions

Speaking of douchey

or delta bravo things if you will, KUTV in Salt Lake City will be broadcasting the Raiders-Jets game instead of Broncos-Titans. Screw you Channel 2, that’s my rally cry. Again, thank goodness NFL Sunday Ticket is free to new subscribers. Bill Macatee and Steve Tasker are on the call and if you live in Albuquerque, like our friend James, or if you live in Santa Fe, like santaFeBronc, you get the game on your local CBS affiliate. Seriously, SLC, Raiders and the Jets?

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by the new Bradfather on Sep 20, 2011 1:55 PM MDT reply actions

Is Salt Lake City seceding from the Rocky Mountains?

It is rebellion to air a Raiders game instead of a Broncos game east of Nevada and west of Kansas.

If I can't have high expectations that succeed, I''d rather have high expectations and be disappointed than have low expectations and be resigned to losing.

by OrangeandBluesBros on Sep 20, 2011 2:46 PM MDT up reply actions

Well

a lot of people in my community are transplant Californians. Screw it Utah is in the MOUNTAIN TIME ZONE and we should be able to watch our Broncos even if we don’t get NFL Sunday Ticket for free as new DirecTV customers, as is my fortuitous lot!

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by the new Bradfather on Sep 20, 2011 3:03 PM MDT up reply actions

That is just blasphemy!

I’ve been away too long, last time I lived in Utah, KUTV was an NBC affiliate. I’ll be tuning in the Abq. station on my bunny ears and watching the game “old school” with a snowy picture. Its either that, or dropping a King’s ransom at the local Chili’s which I did last week. On a side note, the Broncos are undefeated whenever I have watched them at Chili’s, a perfect 4-0 after last weeks game. I am not normally supersticious, but I may be onto something!

"You’re only great if you win something. I mean, Alexander wasn’t Alexander the Mediocre or Alexander the Average. He was Alexander the Great, and there’s a reason for it."-Shannon Sharpe

by CH74 on Sep 20, 2011 6:06 PM MDT up reply actions

Ok

The heck with supporting billboards. We NEED to get CH74 to Chili’s to continue the streak.
Steak or Ribs and enough to keep the beer pitcher full for 3.5 hours.
Send your donations to MY paypal account :p

Go Broncos!

by Sean in Pa. on Sep 21, 2011 4:55 AM MDT up reply actions

I want my Baby-Back-WINS-

Checking the finances, If I can swing it, I’ll do my best to keep the streak alive!

"You’re only great if you win something. I mean, Alexander wasn’t Alexander the Mediocre or Alexander the Average. He was Alexander the Great, and there’s a reason for it."-Shannon Sharpe

by CH74 on Sep 21, 2011 8:17 AM MDT up reply actions

Sorry Bradfather

Getting the game bumped is major suckage. I’m glad to be included in the Denver TV market. When I used to live in Guam a decade ago, I had to get up at 3:30 AM on Monday to watch live games when they were broadcast, or wait a week for the tapes of LA cable TV to be flown to the island and hope Denver was playing San Diego or Oakland in order to see a game. Way crappy.

But hey, Tuesday Morning Football was the bomb! Games came on at 9:30 AM, just in time for skipping out of work after a late breakfast and eating lunch at the bar.

Remembering that makes me really glad I live in Santa Fe—lol!

First they ignore you.
They then laugh at you.
Then they fight you.
Then, you win.
--Gandhi

by Santa Fe Bronc on Sep 20, 2011 8:47 PM MDT up reply actions

Green was on the field a lot

but he was being used primarily as a blocker (in fact I don’t remember ever seeing him run a route). If he is blocking and you don’t notice him, that is a good thing lol.

And now for something completely different

by AlbertaBronc on Sep 20, 2011 2:05 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs

don't know if you noticed, but Carter's first name isn't Julius.

LOL, JK Great article.

Playoffs!?!? Playoffs!?!? Don't talk about Playoffs!! Playoffs?!?!

by Mike Agnew on Sep 20, 2011 2:14 PM MDT reply actions

Looks like he blocked and copied the fist bump

for Thomas without changing the name.

If I can't have high expectations that succeed, I''d rather have high expectations and be disappointed than have low expectations and be resigned to losing.

by OrangeandBluesBros on Sep 20, 2011 2:48 PM MDT up reply actions

Lol

I fixed it.

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by KaptainKirk on Sep 20, 2011 2:53 PM MDT up reply actions

Carter was cool with me giving Julius his fist bump.

It’s all good.

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by Jezru on Sep 20, 2011 3:03 PM MDT up reply actions

Hixon

was waived by the Broncos because he lost his confidence or something after the Buffalo incident and just wasn’t playing well, so the Broncos tried to slip him onto the practice squad but he got claimed by the Giants and resurrected his career at the end of the season. For all the Broncos poor personnel decisions, and that was one of them, I wouldn’t use it as an example of the bad judgment overall. There are so many others that stand out like sore thumbs up somebody’s butt (a certain db from KC that Shanahan paid way too much for, Darryl Gardner who had a reputation for finding ways to avoid training camp before the Broncos picked him up and he once again avoided training camp by getting into a fight in a restaurant in the wee hours of the morning, the Hillis trade, some of the former Patriots pick ups, Willie Middlebrooks injured and still a 1st round pick, most of Denver’s 1st round picks BC [before Clady], Moreno at 12th overall, etc.). My rule of thumb for a bad personnel move is whether it made me come out of my easy chair screaming NOOOOO!

If I can't have high expectations that succeed, I''d rather have high expectations and be disappointed than have low expectations and be resigned to losing.

by OrangeandBluesBros on Sep 20, 2011 2:21 PM MDT reply actions

I take it Dale Carter

is a profanity in your household. He was good with the Chiefs but he completely sucked for us

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by the new Bradfather on Sep 20, 2011 2:22 PM MDT up reply actions

He was good for the Chiefs

but not $6M a year good (way back when) and definitely not for Denver. His name is not a profanity, just leaves a bad taste when I say it and I seem to have blocked it out pretty well. I came out of my chair screaming NOOOOO at the time of his pick up only to be confirmed later by his play with the Broncos. Gardner, Hillis, and Moreno were the other big NOOOOs, and I liked Moreno, just not at 12th overall, so that was more like a Morenooo?

If I can't have high expectations that succeed, I''d rather have high expectations and be disappointed than have low expectations and be resigned to losing.

by OrangeandBluesBros on Sep 20, 2011 2:31 PM MDT reply actions

Ha!

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by the new Bradfather on Sep 20, 2011 3:02 PM MDT up reply actions

You forgot Irving

Or is it that Irving was forgotten during the game?

by kimbertr on Sep 20, 2011 2:54 PM MDT reply actions

I've not heard a peep out of Nate Irving

yet, I guess that’s my new profanity filler. Moreno, what the Nate Irving are you doing out there fumbling the football? smh

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by the new Bradfather on Sep 20, 2011 3:15 PM MDT up reply actions

Saw him around the tackle a number of times on special teams. That’s enough to ask of a rookie LB in his second game, especially when Joe Mays was laying the wood and ripping Benson’s pants off like his beotch.

by Bradoncadonc on Sep 21, 2011 11:31 AM MDT up reply actions

So why did we sign Quan Cosby instead of a guy like T.O.? He can be counted on to make plays, and his behavior has really calmed down the last couple years. Cosby isn’t a bad WR, but I think T.O. was a better option. Or maybe just activate Riley.

by jbbroncosfan27 on Sep 20, 2011 3:52 PM MDT via mobile reply actions

Maybe Xanders doesn't like

dealing with Drew Rosenhaus who is TO’s agent.

by KaptainKirk on Sep 20, 2011 4:20 PM MDT up reply actions

I had forgotten about that. I’m sure no one likes having to deal with Rosenhaus lol. Makes sense though.

by jbbroncosfan27 on Sep 20, 2011 4:28 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions

T.O. is in Korea getting stem cell treatment so we couldnt try him out.

by ShyandObese on Sep 20, 2011 4:54 PM MDT up reply actions

TO is also a 37 year old wide receiver trying to come back from a torn ACL

no thank you, we can find plenty of better options much cheaper and with far less mileage and baggage

Win the individual battles at the LOS - all else flows from that.

by DE_BroncoFan on Sep 21, 2011 6:38 AM MDT up reply actions

Solid A

Sounds like a solid A grade to me for the class of rookies.

I’m a little disappointed Nate Irving hasn’t been able to get in there a bit more but maybe I should just be happily surprised Mike Mays is taking care of business such that we don’t need to rely on a rookie.

by ddtraveller on Sep 20, 2011 4:33 PM MDT reply actions

Mays is the Mike, but his name is Joe

Win the individual battles at the LOS - all else flows from that.

by DE_BroncoFan on Sep 21, 2011 6:39 AM MDT up reply actions

The Harris penalty

could have been extremely costly. I think that the defense holding the bengals despite this penalty shows that our defense can pick up the team, at least when they’re playing against teams like the bengals. We certainly cannot afford to do that against the titans next week.

"When you put on that jersey, the name on the front is more important than the name on the back." - "Miracle".

"Winning means you're willing to go longer, work harder, and give more than anyone else." - Vince Lombardi.

by broncoholic on Sep 20, 2011 4:40 PM MDT reply actions

That call was

A bit iffy. You can bet that situation was touched on in practice and probably won’t happen again. Colquit is becoming a weapon for our special teams. Though that 81 yarder didn’t stand, it was a beautiful kick with a very generous Broncos roll!

"You’re only great if you win something. I mean, Alexander wasn’t Alexander the Mediocre or Alexander the Average. He was Alexander the Great, and there’s a reason for it."-Shannon Sharpe

by CH74 on Sep 20, 2011 6:15 PM MDT up reply actions

The record for longest punt also involved a very generous roll...

Sadly it was the Chargers punting… to us… for 108 yards.

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by Jezru on Sep 20, 2011 7:23 PM MDT up reply actions

Great kickers

Matt Prater and Colquit are quickly becoming the best in the biz.

...conceptually, it's fine, but the narrative needs work...

by 7sky on Sep 20, 2011 7:57 PM MDT reply actions

Julius

Too bad he got hurt, was in line for a huge game, I thought…

...conceptually, it's fine, but the narrative needs work...

by 7sky on Sep 20, 2011 7:57 PM MDT reply actions

Robert Ayers and Moreno.

Lot of criticism of these two, but Ayers is really becoming noticeable, the biggest
improvement of any player on the Broncos. Moreno was chosen #12, and it was too high, in retrospect, but the fact is, he was rated highly on draft day. The Chargers were drafting no. 16, and would have taken Moreno, and at the time, LT was leaving, and there was a feeling Denver had to take Moreno. It was a weak draft…lots of really murky players like Tyson Jackson, Aaron Maybin, Darrius Heyward Bay, Andre Smith, Michael Crabtree and Aaron Curry all taken before the no. 12 pick. Moreno’s draft position says he should be the workhorse back, but he’s played like a situational back, and he’s great on a screen. If the line opens up holes, he might break out, like Ayers seems to have. These two are not Willie Middlebrooks or Jarvis Moss. or Maybin, Larry English and Donald Brown. They’re not busts, and will help the Broncos, a lot.

...conceptually, it's fine, but the narrative needs work...

by 7sky on Sep 20, 2011 8:24 PM MDT reply actions

While KnoMo is great on screens, KO is not proficient at all throwing them

which is why we can’t utilize KnoMo (when healthy) as much as we might otherwise. KO has been better about throwing to our RBs so far this year, so maybe he is looking to use his backs as receivers a little more than in his first two seasons.
In 2009 Buck, KnoMo and Hillis combined for 63 catches – 4.0 per game
in 2010 Buck, KnoMo, Ball, Maroney and Larsen combined for 77 catches – 4.8 per game (3 with TT as starter)
in 2011 WM, KnoMo, Ball and Larsen have combined for 13 catches in 2 games – 6.5 per game

Win the individual battles at the LOS - all else flows from that.

by DE_BroncoFan on Sep 21, 2011 7:00 AM MDT up reply actions

Out of bounds call

The reason the rule was instituted was to prevent gunners from running out of bounds, run behind their own bench preventing them from being blocked and then reentering the field of play near the returner from out of nowhere – it also created confusing some times when a gunner could be out of sight that another play could have taken his place.

The rule stats specifically that if a player on the kicking team is forced out of bounds he must attempt to reestablish himself on the field play before continuing downfield – basicly if he is pushed out he has to run right back to the field and not continue being blocked while he is out of bounds. Only the most useless of gunners are incapable of fighting of a block long enough to get back onto the field if they truly want to.

I didn’t see the replay of the Harris penalty so I can’t say if it was a bad call or not, but if the ref felt he attempted to run downfield after getting up before reestablishing himself it would have been a correct call.

by gyldenlove on Sep 20, 2011 8:47 PM MDT reply actions

I don't know if it was the case

but many times the gunner is double-teamed. In that instance, even the stronger gunners have problems.

by KaptainKirk on Sep 20, 2011 10:09 PM MDT up reply actions

Maybe need to work on their guns then?

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by boydy2669 on Sep 21, 2011 6:37 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs

True

but every time a gunner can tie up 2 blockers on the sideline is helping his team. In very few situations do you see the return team put 2 blockers on both gunners, and in that situation one of the blockers on the wings on the formation becomes a gunner that goes down the field at the snap and will often go unblocked since you outnumber the return team 8 to 6 at the line.

by gyldenlove on Sep 21, 2011 7:31 AM MDT up reply actions

I think most (return) units would take those odds

since the Gunner makes a huge difference on the Punt return. He sets the edge and often ends up making the tackle (or downing the punt). If it takes two guys to occupy him, the chances of a good return increase because the returner doesn’t have to make the first guy miss.

by KaptainKirk on Sep 21, 2011 7:59 AM MDT up reply actions

Interesting

So, its not so much how long the player is off the field as it is where he re-enters the field compared to where he left the field? In other words, a player cannot use the out of bounds area to gain advantage once he is pushed off the playing surface?

If I can't have high expectations that succeed, I''d rather have high expectations and be disappointed than have low expectations and be resigned to losing.

by OrangeandBluesBros on Sep 21, 2011 7:45 AM MDT up reply actions