Zero2Cool
3 months ago
Someone asked why Nixon doesn't return punts. Returning kicks and punts is very different. At least that's what I've heard. I'm sure someone can dig up the difference for the runner.
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Mucky Tundra
3 months ago
Why are the punt returner and kick returner two different guys? 

While it does seem like the same skill, there are some unique challenges that come with both. Punts and kickoffs are NOT the same!

Unless there is a penalty, kickoffs always take place from the same distance and the kicking team can't cross the Line of Scrimmage until the ball is kicked. It's harder for the kicker to do much with the ball as well. They usually just try to kick to a certain side of the field and try to kick a touchback.

The kickoff returner has less decisions to make as well. They must field the ball as it is live once kicked (unless they are sure it will bounce into the end zone). They also have much more space to work with as it takes longer for the kick coverage to get there.

Punts are totally different. They can take place at any yard line and the punter has WAY more control over the ball. Punters have much more control over the placement and ball movement. As such, punt returners are usually guys with good hands. Also, the punt coverage team can leave the Line of Scrimmage as soon as the ball is snapped. Combine that with a punt that may be kicked from a shorter distance with longer hang time, the punt coverage team is usually on the punt returner before the ball gets there. A punt returner has to judge how the coverage is coming, where the ball is going to land, how it's spinning, etc. They also have to gauge if they should fiar catch the ball, let it drop and roll or catch and return it.

Much like punting and kicking AND the regular Center vs the Long Snapper, these positions seem very similar, but they are not. There are guys who can do both, but teams like to have a specialist for each situation.



What is the difference between returning kicks and returning punts? 

When returning a kickoff, there's usually a good 15+ yards between you and the nearest defender, so you don't need to worry at all about immediate contact. Your job is to catch it and then get up to speed as quickly as possible and then read your blocks and find the hole.

I.e. KRs are about top speed, thus long strides, straight-line speed.

Punt returners often have guys within 5 yards of them, and since the returner is stationary to catch the ball, and there are guys flying towards them at full speed, they rarely have the luxury of catching and then getting 10 yards of open space to get up to speed. Instead they need to make people miss almost immediately, and they have to do it without being up to speed, instead it's more about low-speed jukes, spin moves, etc.

I.e. PRs are about acceleration and change of direction, making people miss, and not as much about straight line speed.

This is why kick returners are often taller, longer legged, track-star types. Punt returners are often small, shorter, more elusive guys that can change direction more quickly but maybe don't have that super high-end speed.



Belichek explaining the evolution of the long snapper position. This is less a straight answer and more of an overview of how punting and punt returns work.

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“Nah. I like having the island. It’s pretty cool...not too many visitors”
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"I’ve got it." -Aaron Rodgers
Mucky Tundra
3 months ago
Inadvertent double post; feel free to delete.
“Nah. I like having the island. It’s pretty cool...not too many visitors”
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"I’ve got it." -Aaron Rodgers
Fan Shout
Mucky Tundra (44m) : Houston getting dog walked by Baltimore
packerfanoutwest (6h) : Feliz Navidad!
Zero2Cool (11h) : Merry Christmas!
beast (19h) : Merry Christmas 🎄🎁
beast (24-Dec) : Sounds like no serious injuries from the Saints game and Jacobs and Watson should play in the Vikings game
packerfanoutwest (24-Dec) : both games Watson missed, Packers won
Martha Careful (24-Dec) : I hope all of you have a Merry Christmas!
Mucky Tundra (24-Dec) : Oh I know about Jacobs, I just couldn't pass up an opportunity to mimic Zero lol
buckeyepackfan (24-Dec) : Jacobs was just sat down, Watson re-injured that knee that kept him out 1 game earlier
buckeyepackfan (24-Dec) : I needed .14 that's. .14 points for the whole 4th quarter to win and go to the SB. Lol
Mucky Tundra (24-Dec) : Jacobs gonna be OK???
Zero2Cool (24-Dec) : Watson gonna be OK???
packerfanoutwest (24-Dec) : Inactives tonight for the Pack: Alexander- knee Bullard - ankle Williams - quad Walker -ankle Monk Heath
packerfanoutwest (24-Dec) : No Jaire, but hopefully the front 7 destroys the line of scrimmage & forces Rattler into a few passes to McKinney.
packerfanoutwest (24-Dec) : minny could be #1 seed and the Lions #5 seed
Zero2Cool (23-Dec) : We'd have same Division and Conference records. Strength of schedule we edge them
Zero2Cool (23-Dec) : I just checked. What tie breaker?
bboystyle (23-Dec) : yes its possible but unlikely. If we do get the 5th, we face the NFCS winner
Zero2Cool (23-Dec) : Ahh, ok.
bboystyle (23-Dec) : yes due to tie breaker
Zero2Cool (23-Dec) : I mean, unlikely, yes, but mathematically, 5th is possible by what I'm reading.
Zero2Cool (23-Dec) : If Vikings lose out, Packers win out, Packers get 5th, right?
bboystyle (23-Dec) : Minny isnt going to lose out so 5th seed is out of the equation. We are playing for the 6th or 7th seed which makes no difference
Mucky Tundra (23-Dec) : beast, the ad revenue goes to the broadcast company but they gotta pay to air the game on their channel/network
beast (23-Dec) : If we win tonight the game is still relative in terms of 5th, 6th or 7th seed... win and it's 5th or 6th, lose and it's 6th or 7th
beast (23-Dec) : Mucky, I thought the ad revenue went to the broadcasting companies or the NFL, at least not directly
Zero2Cool (23-Dec) : I think the revenue share is moot, isn't it? That's the CBA an Salary Cap handling that.
bboystyle (23-Dec) : i mean game becomes irrelevant if we win tonight. Just a game where we are trying to play spoilers to Vikings chance at the #1 seed
Mucky Tundra (23-Dec) : beast, I would guess ad revenue from more eyes watching tv
Zero2Cool (23-Dec) : I would think it would hurt the home team because people would have to cancel last minute maybe? i dunno
beast (23-Dec) : I agree that it's BS for fans planning on going to the game. But how does it bring in more money? I'm guessing indirectly?
packerfanoutwest (23-Dec) : bs on flexing the game....they do it for the $$league$$, not the hometown fans
Zero2Cool (23-Dec) : I see what you did there Mucky
Zero2Cool (23-Dec) : dammit. 3:25pm
Zero2Cool (23-Dec) : Packers Vikings flexed to 3:35pm
Mucky Tundra (23-Dec) : Upon receiving the news about Luke Musgrave, I immediately fell to the ground
Mucky Tundra (23-Dec) : Yeah baby!
Zero2Cool (23-Dec) : LUKE MUSGRAVE PLAYING TONIGHT~!~~~~WOWHOAAOHAOAA yah
Zero2Cool (23-Dec) : I wanna kill new QB's ... blitz the crap out of them.
beast (23-Dec) : Barry seemed to get too conservative against new QBs, Hafley doesn't have that issue
Zero2Cool (23-Dec) : However, we seem to struggle vs new QB's
Zero2Cool (23-Dec) : Should be moot point, cuz Packers should win tonight.
packerfanoutwest (23-Dec) : ok I stand corrected
Zero2Cool (23-Dec) : Ok, yes, you are right. I see that now how they get 7th
Zero2Cool (23-Dec) : 5th - Packers win out, Vikings lose out. Maybe?
beast (23-Dec) : Saying no to the 6th lock.
beast (23-Dec) : No, with the Commanders beating the Eagles, Packers could have a good chance of 6th or 7th unless the win out
Zero2Cool (23-Dec) : I think if Packers win, they are locked 6th with chance for 5th.
beast (23-Dec) : But it doesn't matter, as the Packers win surely win one of their remaining games
beast (23-Dec) : This is not complex, just someone doesn't want to believe reality
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