Crawford returning kickoffs

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

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.

HailHail47

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.

The Fan in Fargo

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.

stephenrjking

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.

Wolverine Devotee

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. 

jermrs

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.