Did Callaway or Warrior play yesterday?

#77
#77
Use your best. Sometimes it takes a little time to determine who that is...when you do, use him. Or else don't put anybody back. With Josh Smith you get the same results as nobody back...except NOBODY has yet to record a fumble. :)

Advocating for the old Dooley strategy I see... :ermm:
 
#85
#85
The professional coaches understand that most punts aren't even returned. In a close game they put in the experienced junior instead of the fancy freshman. KY isn't TN Tech. A veteran made a mistake. It happens. Freshmen make them a lot more frequently. Smith caught many more with the coverage right in his face. He faked them out on one by waving for a fair catch at the 10 and the ball landed inside the 5 and bounced into the end zone for a touch back. With the freshman back there KY probably downs the ball inside the 5. You all are so much smarter than Butch though.

Faking out at the 10 is done by every punt returner in the game. It's simple coaching. Don't catch the ball inside your 10 yard line. I find it hard that even a freshman couldn't figure that one out. You're suppose to have quick athletic guys returning but we put the opposite back there. You really think Smith is going to make people miss or break tackles?
 
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#86
#86
At the end of the day the best players need to be on the field. I can live with a fumble if that player is one of the best athletes we have because the reward they could give you on the very next play outweighs the risk. However if you've got a guy out there that truly can't take one to the house then why have him out there? The object of the game is to score as many points as possible, and yes we scored a lot of them, but if Callaway was back there we had a chance at another score. Extra points can be had in special teams and Josh Smith is not going to give us those extra points.
 
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#87
#87
U nailed it. We have one game to go off of, and the coaches have that and a hundred practices to go off. That's why he didn't return them over Smith yesterday.

Plus, labeling Calloway a playmaker from what we saw at TTU is laughable. I could have returned those punts. Our return team opened up grand canyon sized holes and Calloway ran in a straight line. Heck, the first one he was 1-on-1 with only the punter to beat and could not beat the punter.
 
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#88
#88
Plus, labeling Calloway a playmaker from what we saw at TTU is laughable. I could have returned those punts. Our return team opened up grand canyon sized holes and Calloway ran in a straight line. Heck, the first one he was 1-on-1 with only the punter to beat and could not beat the punter.

I bet you WOULDV'E done as well as Josh Smith...that's why we want Callaway. :)
 
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#89
#89
I bet you WOULDV'E done as well as Josh Smith...that's why we want Callaway. :)

If Josh Smith would have fielded those two punts in the TTU game I would bet with a high degree of certainty that Josh Smith would have housed at least one of them. And then people would be talking about how great he did and how he should not fair catch so many punts. That is how it would have played out. My point is Calloway returning those punts, or anybody returning those punts, was not reflection of their ability to return a punt against a good team in a big time game with good punt coverage. I hope Calloway turns out to be a great punt returner for us. And I certainly have not seen any evidence that Smith is a dynamic punt returner. The coaches feel the most safe with him doing it based on what they have seen in practice. I hope in the future we are able to go back to a PR who is dynamic (and safe), like we had with Sutton, as opposed to just safe.
 
#91
#91
If Josh Smith would have fielded those two punts in the TTU game I would bet with a high degree of certainty that Josh Smith would have housed at least one of them. And then people would be talking about how great he did and how he should not fair catch so many punts. That is how it would have played out. My point is Calloway returning those punts, or anybody returning those punts, was not reflection of their ability to return a punt against a good team in a big time game with good punt coverage. I hope Calloway turns out to be a great punt returner for us. And I certainly have not seen any evidence that Smith is a dynamic punt returner. The coaches feel the most safe with him doing it based on what they have seen in practice. I hope in the future we are able to go back to a PR who is dynamic (and safe), like we had with Sutton, as opposed to just safe.

"With regards to the first sentence, all Speculation. Move to strike your honor."
 
#92
#92
If Josh Smith would have fielded those two punts in the TTU game I would bet with a high degree of certainty that Josh Smith would have housed at least one of them. And then people would be talking about how great he did and how he should not fair catch so many punts. That is how it would have played out. My point is Calloway returning those punts, or anybody returning those punts, was not reflection of their ability to return a punt against a good team in a big time game with good punt coverage. I hope Calloway turns out to be a great punt returner for us. And I certainly have not seen any evidence that Smith is a dynamic punt returner. The coaches feel the most safe with him doing it based on what they have seen in practice. I hope in the future we are able to go back to a PR who is dynamic (and safe), like we had with Sutton, as opposed to just safe.

I don't bet on horses I haven't seen run. He had opportunities against TT. There's a reason he didn't "house one". This is no shade on Josh. He's done more than good for Tennessee and always is available for more. He WAS the safe choice to return punts...past tense. Sutton flubbed one against Ohio, so it's more than that. Risk/reward is a slippery slope. This argument was debated earlier this year when the subject of John Kelly getting more snaps came up. "What has he ever shown" was the usual rejoinder. "He's looked explosive every chance he's received" "Against (insert lower level opponent)!". :pinch:

As previously stated by moi, I back and support the coaches TO A FAULT, but this tedious vetting process is a weakness. Sometimes you have to skip the fear and caution...use the players you recruited! Alls I'm saying. :hi:
 
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