Are we really this bad on kickoffs??

[davidpaul123]

The Tide ranks 117th in the nation out of 120 Division I-A teams, allowing an average of 25.78 yards on 58 kickoff returns. Only Georgia, SMU and Washington State are worse.

From: http://blog.al.com/tide-source/2009/11/ ... ff_co.html


Are we really this bad on kickoffs? I know last weeks game had almost every kick go for a touchback, maybe this is a function of our struggles earlier in the year?

[mrydel]

I recall one game (Navy?) that I was begging them to kickoff out of bounds so they would only get the ball on the 40. We very seldom hold the receiving team inside the 30.

[Junior]

Maybe we need to put Cunningham back on kickoff duties?

[Oliver]

I remember the last 3 or 4 kicks near the end of the UTEP game going into the end zone for touchbacks, or short returns. I know this is a small sample size, but lets hope that keeps up.

[mrydel]

I remember the last 3 or 4 kicks near the end of the UTEP game going into the end zone for touchbacks, or short returns. I know this is a small sample size, but lets hope that keeps up.

Only the ones with the south wind behind them.

[03Mustang]

Georgia, Alabama, WSU, and us....that is very strange company for a statistic like this.

[SmooPower]

TCU - Matt Szymanski kickoff for 65 yards returned by Jeremy Kerley for 52 yards to the SMU 43.
TCU - Matt Szymanski kickoff for 63 yards returned by Greg McCoy for 53 yards to the SMU 40.
ECU - Matt Szymanski kickoff for 62 yards returned by Dwayne Harris for 77 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
HOU - Matt Szymanski kickoff for 62 yards returned by Tyron Carrier for 92 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.

These 4 skew it a bit ... if you take them out we give up about 22 yards per attempt.

[The PonyGrad]

TCU - Matt Szymanski kickoff for 65 yards returned by Jeremy Kerley for 52 yards to the SMU 43.
TCU - Matt Szymanski kickoff for 63 yards returned by Greg McCoy for 53 yards to the SMU 40.
ECU - Matt Szymanski kickoff for 62 yards returned by Dwayne Harris for 77 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
HOU - Matt Szymanski kickoff for 62 yards returned by Tyron Carrier for 92 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.

These 4 skew it a bit ... if you take them out we give up about 22 yards per attempt.

Right, especially the 2 for TDs. SMU is 11 touchbacks of 53 KOs. That is not bad.

[Bergermeister]

Maybe we need to put Cunningham back on kickoff duties?

He is. He's just not kicking the ball.

[Junior]

20% touchback rate is actually pretty good for a college guy.

The Cowboys kicker didn't have a single one last year, I don't believe.

[The PonyGrad]

20% touchback rate is actually pretty good for a college guy.

The Cowboys kicker didn't have a single one last year, I don't believe.

OK, you made me check it out. SMU is #19 in the country in touchback % at 20.8%