Crawford returning kickoffs
Kind of surprised this hasn't been a thread yet but, uh, Crawford on kickoff returns is............tall?
He's had some really poor decisions back there taking the ball out imo.
What should be done about this position? I say just give it to DPJ. He already has a punt return TD.
October 11th, 2017 at 8:56 PM ^
Thomas has been back there a few times too. It's difficult to tell them apart given the similar body type and announcers have often been wrong.
Having said that, I'm not sure why Crawford is a kickoff returner in any capacity. You'd think that McDoom or DPJ would beat him out.
October 11th, 2017 at 8:58 PM ^
Yeah I think it was Crawford for the first couple games but has been ambry for the last few
October 11th, 2017 at 9:00 PM ^
You'd think of all people WD would know this. No offense, it does get confusing.
October 11th, 2017 at 9:31 PM ^
they confused robbins for nordin. both have the number 3 and thomas/crawford wear number 1
October 11th, 2017 at 8:59 PM ^
McDoom doesn't catch as well as we thought he would.
October 11th, 2017 at 9:02 PM ^
None of these dudes catch as well as we thought they would....
October 11th, 2017 at 9:31 PM ^
I sort of wonder what they do at practice. Hope they win practice.
October 11th, 2017 at 10:17 PM ^
One has to wonder if football can even be heard at the practices anymore.
October 11th, 2017 at 10:24 PM ^
That is way too deep for me
October 12th, 2017 at 10:58 AM ^
Well...
October 11th, 2017 at 10:21 PM ^
The only receivers that could catch balls in the last TEN years have been Hemmingway, Gallon, Roundtree, Dileo and Darboh. That's pretty much a fact. Who am I missing? Not that big of a list. Michigan just needs one or two kick ass guys at the position for once. I mean they need to go out and get that Ridley type guy. Throw everything at him or those two. It's not the running game that is going to bring this offense to the best in the nation. It is the passing game. Pass to run and rule them all. The running game will follow. Kick fucking ass! That's the way dad did it, that's the way America does it and it's worked out pretty well so far. FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION? THE MICHIGAN JERICHO THOUGHT!!!! You know, maybe it's time Michigan tried something else. I mean, that 97 offense wasn't exactly smacking people around.
October 12th, 2017 at 9:27 AM ^
perry? he has made a big impact in the slot this year, when goven the opportunity. he has made some tough grabs and not very many drops.
October 11th, 2017 at 11:59 PM ^
McDoom is an athlete but a really long way from being a football player.
October 11th, 2017 at 9:43 PM ^
I had to go back over the film a couple times but it was Crawford in the first half against Purdue and Thomas since (with Hawkins remaining the other option). Weird thing to me is Purdue's first-half kickoffs were unreturnable bombs and yet.
October 11th, 2017 at 9:56 PM ^
Hoping McDoom can win the job. Dude has struggled with getting the ball, but he can be electric with it.
October 11th, 2017 at 11:19 PM ^
Ehhh...after last game, McDoom might be relegated to "designated fast guy" permanently...
October 11th, 2017 at 11:54 PM ^
We have pretty low standards of "electric." McDoom has shown a few nice moves, but nothing earth-shattering. Evans isn't Barry Sanders but he's shiftier than McDoom.
Kickoff returns are all about decisively hitting holes before they close. You need vision and speed. A good juke is nice but it had better be fast and advance you forward, or defenders will rally. Guys like Desmond Howard, who had great juke potential, ran straight forward and took decisive but gliding cuts on kickoff returns to maximize holes while they lasted.
October 12th, 2017 at 8:54 AM ^
But I just don't see Crawford exhibiting those skills. I don't think he has good enough acceleration either. It's hard to believe we don't have someone better. Oh well.
October 12th, 2017 at 12:28 PM ^
Decisive is the key word, with some vision.
October 12th, 2017 at 12:43 AM ^
I'm not feeling the electricity.
October 12th, 2017 at 8:19 AM ^
Steve breaston was electric. bass was electric. mcdoom is a wr sweep hopefully the defense is completely asleep kinda guy.
October 12th, 2017 at 7:54 AM ^
Here are the stats for 2017 from the official site:
http://www.mgoblue.com/cumestats.aspx?path=football&year=2017
Crawford has 8 returns and Thomas has 1. Hawkins also has 1 return.
Go Blue!
October 12th, 2017 at 8:11 AM ^
Thomas is quite a bit darker than Crawford. Leaner too.
I don't like either guy back there to be honest.
October 11th, 2017 at 8:56 PM ^
I don't think it matters who we put back there so long as je can catch the ball in the endzone and take a knee.
October 11th, 2017 at 10:32 PM ^
You can catch the ball in the endzone? Suit up, man!
October 11th, 2017 at 8:57 PM ^
Not fan decision.
October 11th, 2017 at 9:03 PM ^
We need to say this more often instead of Peters quarterback, dpj kickoffs, more mobile qb plays, more running...coaches see more tape and practice than we see on tv, in the stadium, or on btn final drive
October 12th, 2017 at 12:00 AM ^
You're right, man. Let's just stop talking about football altogether, on this forum designed for people to talk about football.
October 11th, 2017 at 8:57 PM ^
It's been a lot of Ambry lately. I am surprised we haven't seen DPJ back there.
October 11th, 2017 at 9:03 PM ^
Ambry has one kickoff return all season in the stats.
Unless he's been out there and I'm just hearing the TV announcers tell me it's Crawford. I feel like he was back there for one against Purdue and when they said it was Crawford it sure didn't look like him.
October 11th, 2017 at 9:06 PM ^
They do wear the same number. Even the stadium announcer has gotten it wrong a few times.
October 11th, 2017 at 9:19 PM ^
During the game this past weekend the announcer definitely said it was Crawford when it was Thomas, and the TV announcers have been struggling with this, too (and which kicker is on the field.)
October 11th, 2017 at 9:30 PM ^
...because of Quinn Nordin's pressure off the edge."
October 12th, 2017 at 7:41 AM ^
"And it's good from 51 yards. Rashan Gary continues his kicking game success!"
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October 11th, 2017 at 10:15 PM ^
Should be 1A and 1B.
October 12th, 2017 at 12:29 PM ^
How many number 3's do we have?
October 12th, 2017 at 1:54 PM ^
3 at least
October 11th, 2017 at 9:16 PM ^
Ambry returned at least one this past game
October 11th, 2017 at 9:19 PM ^
Right, that's the only one he's recorded.
October 12th, 2017 at 7:33 AM ^
and Thomas did great for his first return ... whereas Crawford has not produced 1 return over 25 yards all season. But hey, MSU couldn't stop Karan but he wasn't in the game when we needed him ?
Go Blue!
October 12th, 2017 at 8:27 AM ^
He's been back there, he just hasn't taken it out much. I don't think Crawford has been there many times since the first half of Purdue.
October 12th, 2017 at 10:48 AM ^
He's had two. One against Purdue that went to the 15- he hesitated. The other was the good return against MSU where he went to about the 35.
October 12th, 2017 at 7:45 PM ^
geez people - do just a tiny bit of research ...
Go Blue!
October 11th, 2017 at 8:58 PM ^
Beat Indiana
October 11th, 2017 at 11:16 PM ^
You gotta start getting this right--WD doesn't capitalize the name of the opposing team. Disrespect or something.
October 11th, 2017 at 8:59 PM ^
Brad Hawkins was the second line man last game
October 11th, 2017 at 9:00 PM ^
There hasn't been one time I can recall where coming out of the endzone benefitted Michigan this year. Crawford and Ambry Thomas both seem to have the green light and the blocking is what seems most atrocious. But that could be due to the fact that a few have been taken out from halfway into the end-zone.
Nothing irks me more than starting out a drive, after an opponent score, inside the 15 because of this. It's completely avoidable.