09/10 Notes

[Goober Pyle 7,280]

 

[Goober Pyle 7,280]

 

[Dirtybird56 5,388]

Hope Davidson didn’t hurt himself trying to come back 

[FalconFanSince1970 24,788]

17 minutes ago, Dirtybird56 said:

Hope Davidson didn’t hurt himself trying to come back 

Quite a few guys nicked up already in low contact situations. Bullets start flying tonight. There will be league wide injury attrition. Depth will be tested. I just hope we get some decent injury luck this year. 

[Osiruz 10,079]

They should manage Davidson so that he is fresh for the season. Excited to see him play. 

[Boise Falcon Fan 4,118]

That sucks about Davidson. I was looking forward to him providing help on the inside.

[Dirtybird3 2,679]

Who are the return men he speaks of? 

[Tim Mazetti 12,136]

Thanks for the updates Goob.

[autigerfan 946]

We have been fortunate enough to have some good returners over the years (Hester, Rossum, Tim Dwight).  I think return men are now being neutralized and devalued by specialists getting better as well as rule changes on kickoffs.  Having someone that can just catch the ball seems to be the focal point these days. 

[HASHBROWN3 17,847]

It's unimaginable to me that in this 6 year span, we haven't been able to secure a returner who can:

1. Secure the catch
2. Be a return threat

An NFL franchise has been unable to find a single player who can catch & run at a high level.  Apparently there are no football players in America that possess this really complicated set of combined skills!!  

Please tell me this is some sort of joke folks... Or is it just the machinations of the twitter heros below?

 

 

Matt Karoly

 

@mattkaroly

·

23h

 

There’s now six years of evidence with the current #Falcons coaching staff to suggest they value reliability over big play ability when it comes to the return position.

Quote Tweet

 

 

 

Jason Butt

 

@JasonHButt

· Sep 10

Ben Kotwica said it was a tough competition at punt returner between Brandon Powell and Chris Rowland. But Kotwica was impressed with Powell's ability to catch and secure the ball, which led the coaches to their decision.

[vel 32,297]

4 minutes ago, HASHBROWN3 said:

It's unimaginable to me that in this 6 year span, we haven't been able to secure a returner who can:

1. Secure the catch
2. Be a return threat

An NFL franchise has been unable to find a single player who can catch & run at a high level.  Apparently there are no football players in America that possess this really complicated set of combined skills!!  

Please tell me this is some sort of joke folks... Or is it just the machinations of the twitter heros below?

 

 

Matt Karoly

 

@mattkaroly

·

23h

 

There’s now six years of evidence with the current #Falcons coaching staff to suggest they value reliability over big play ability when it comes to the return position.

Quote Tweet

 

 

 

Jason Butt

 

@JasonHButt

· Sep 10

Ben Kotwica said it was a tough competition at punt returner between Brandon Powell and Chris Rowland. But Kotwica was impressed with Powell's ability to catch and secure the ball, which led the coaches to their decision.

It's simply that. They don't value electric return ability. I've never understood why they don't believe you can have both. Especially when they had Allen Rossum as a prime example. Weems is clearly the type of returner they prefer. Same with Barner. Conservative. 

[HASHBROWN3 17,847]

Just now, vel said:

It's simply that. They don't value electric return ability. I've never understood why they don't believe you can have both. Especially when they had Allen Rossum as a prime example. Weems is clearly the type of returner they prefer. Same with Barner. Conservative. 

Yeah, it's mindboggling. The mindset is, let's try not to make a mistake, while making certain our special teams pose no threat to the other teams, while also decreasing our odds of return TD's & better field position.  

Probably reading too negatively into it, but cmon man, teams can greatly benefit from electric return men who can actually catch a freaking ball.  Unreal.

[Dr Long Shot 4,083]

5 minutes ago, HASHBROWN3 said:

Yeah, it's mindboggling. The mindset is, let's try not to make a mistake, while making certain our special teams pose no threat to the other teams, while also decreasing our odds of return TD's & better field position.  

Probably reading too negatively into it, but cmon man, teams can greatly benefit from electric return men who can actually catch a freaking ball.  Unreal.

The return game just isn't the factor that it used to be. Punt returns were always limited value, kick returns had the greater upside, but they have been nerfed to irrelevence. We aren't the only team that has taken focus away from the return game, it's a league wide trend. I don't even remember the last big name returner to be honest. 

[SipDirtyBird84 336]

Glad to see nothing about AJ. Heard he was limited recently.

[Dr Long Shot 4,083]

9 minutes ago, Dr Long Shot said:

The return game just isn't the factor that it used to be. Punt returns were always limited value, kick returns had the greater upside, but they have been nerfed to irrelevence. We aren't the only team that has taken focus away from the return game, it's a league wide trend. I don't even remember the last big name returner to be honest. 

For reference: https://www.footballdb.com/statistics/nfl/player-stats/punt-returns/2019/regular-season?sort=prtds

There were 14 returns for TDs in the NFL last year. No team had more than 1 except Indianapolis. Falcons are tied for second in the NFL with 1 return for TD. The difference between our PR and the #1 PR in all of football was 5 yards per return which in the grand-scheme of a football game is not much of a difference. (around two returns per game on average for teams last year)

[408Falcon 1,466]

20 minutes ago, HASHBROWN3 said:

Yeah, it's mindboggling. The mindset is, let's try not to make a mistake, while making certain our special teams pose no threat to the other teams, while also decreasing our odds of return TD's & better field position.  

Probably reading too negatively into it, but cmon man, teams can greatly benefit from electric return men who can actually catch a freaking ball.  Unreal.

Agreed. I miss the Hester and even Weems days... Even Roberts

[Dr Long Shot 4,083]

Just now, 408Falcon said:

Agreed. I miss the Hester and even Weems days... Even Roberts

Roberts was statistcally not much better than Barner last year bro. 

[Ovie_Lover 29,843]

7 minutes ago, Dr Long Shot said:

For reference: https://www.footballdb.com/statistics/nfl/player-stats/punt-returns/2019/regular-season?sort=prtds

There were 14 returns for TDs in the NFL last year. No team had more than 1 except Indianapolis. Falcons are tied for second in the NFL with 1 return for TD. The difference between our PR and the #1 PR in all of football was 5 yards per return which in the grand-scheme of a football game is not much of a difference. (around two returns per game on average for teams last year)

5 yards is a lot what are you talking about? This is a game of inches. 

Our average drive started at the 28, we would be at the 33 with those extra 5 yards.

Our drives averaged 35 yds being at the 28 puts us around the 42, with those extra 5 yards we get to the 39. That could be a field goal difference. 

[Dr Long Shot 4,083]

Just now, Ovie_Lover said:

5 yards is a lot what are you talking about? This is a game of inches. 

Our average drive started at the 28, we would be at the 33 with those extra 5 yards.

Our drives averaged 35 yds being at the 28 puts us around the 42, with those extra 5 yards we get to the 39. That could be a field goal difference. 

Um. No genius. Not every punt is returned. There were on average 36 punts returned per team. In the entire year. Just look at the stats. Our poor field position had a lot more to do with our defense than our return game, obviously. 

[Ovie_Lover 29,843]

Just now, Dr Long Shot said:

Um. No genius. Not every punt is returned. There were on average 36 punts returned per team. In the entire year. Just look at the stats. Our poor field position had a lot more to do with our defense than our return game, obviously. 

What? Every punt isn't returned? I had no idea, thank you Mr.GeniusMan for educating me for i am just a lowly Neanderthal. 

[vel 32,297]

No not every one is returned nor returned for a TD, but when you lack a threatening presence, it takes all of the pressure off the opposing team. Think about how many teams screwed up because Hester was back there. No, you don't need a Julio at WR to win, but the mere threat of him gets teams out of their comfort zone. It's similar, even with the return game being neutered by the rules. 

[Dr Long Shot 4,083]

1 minute ago, Ovie_Lover said:

What? Every punt isn't returned? I had no idea, thank you Mr.GeniusMan for educating me for i am just a lowly Neanderthal. 

Just look at the data.

[Dr Long Shot 4,083]

Just now, vel said:

No not every one is returned nor returned for a TD, but when you lack a threatening presence, it takes all of the pressure off the opposing team. Think about how many teams screwed up because Hester was back there. No, you don't need a Julio at WR to win, but the mere threat of him gets teams out of their comfort zone. It's similar, even with the return game being neutered by the rules. 

There are no more Hesters. This is the year 2020, the biggest threat in the entire NFL had a grand total of 1 more TD than our returners did last year. 

[HASHBROWN3 17,847]

29 minutes ago, Dr Long Shot said:

The return game just isn't the factor that it used to be. Punt returns were always limited value, kick returns had the greater upside, but they have been nerfed to irrelevence. We aren't the only team that has taken focus away from the return game, it's a league wide trend. I don't even remember the last big name returner to be honest. 

Dude, what about punt returns?  It's not much to ask to have a guy that can catch & run even with your argument.

I do understand what you're saying however.

[Dr Long Shot 4,083]

4 minutes ago, HASHBROWN3 said:

Dude, what about punt returns?  It's not much to ask to have a guy that can catch & run even with your argument.

I do understand what you're saying however.

The best Punt returner in football had a grand total of 71 yards than our guy (that's less than 5 yards per game TOTAL which means less than half a yard per drive). Kenyon Barner ranked 4th in the NFL in total punt return yards. Like I said, the return game is dead. It's almost a complete non factor. This isn't Atlanta ignoring the return game, it's the entire league.

EDIT: https://www.footballdb.com/statistics/nfl/player-stats/punt-returns/2019/regular-season?sort=pryds 

Edited September 11, 2020 by Dr Long Shot