Mgocoaches - Punt Blocking Q
I know Harbaugh and Co. teach aggression at all costs but some of our attempts to get after the kicker have hurt us (Specifically the 2 Roughing the Kicker Running into the Kicker calls at Iowa).
We have benefitted more than we've been hurt with our philosophy to go after the Punter. Even last week against Indiana we blocked 2 punts (But we avoided a Rouging the Kicker Running into the Kicker by tipping the ball).
From my eye, it seems REALLY hard, like razor thin margin of error, to go after the punt and avoid the kicker (Especially when they are running away from the pocket or falling into contact).
Do you think that Harbaugh makes the calls to go after the punter depending on the situation or does he just ask his players to make a play at any time (Thereby opening up the possibility of giving the opponent a new set of downs from a roughing call).
November 21st, 2016 at 1:52 PM ^
It seems to be very situational. On Saturday, and other times this season, with teams backed up, Harbaugh sets up the return. It's almost as if he knows they have field position, and Peppers and gang can get them the rest of the way.
Additionally, while there is a close margin between blocks and roughing, if done right and a player dives on an angle, or perpindicular to the punter, they can block cleanly. Obviously this is easier said than done. But players are taught to clean the table so to speak and not "barrel into the table".
That's why Richard Sherman's hit on Dan Carpenter was a cheap shot.
November 21st, 2016 at 3:20 PM ^
I was surprised about this yesterday: I've always thought of going hard for the block when the other team is backed up, particularly when the punter is at the back of the endzone. There's less distance between the line and the punter, so it's easier to get a block--plus, you can get 2 or 7 points if you get it enough to prevent it going forward.
Has Michigan typically set up a return with the opponent backed up to the 2 yard-line or so? Am I wrong in thinking a lot of teams would go for the block in that situation?
November 21st, 2016 at 1:54 PM ^
Is it Harbaugh's call or Partridge's? I've always wondered if Special Teams coaches need head coaching's confirmation for something like sending everyone on an all out punt block, etc.
November 21st, 2016 at 2:22 PM ^
Almost certainly, it's up to the head coach. That's why those guys are on the headsets together. Harbaugh might just say "Block it" and Partridge calls the signal for that particular block package. Or he tells Partridge to return it. But that's not something you generally want to leave up to the assistant coaches.
November 21st, 2016 at 2:52 PM ^
I was thinking along these lines, because I could imagine Harbaugh destroying Partridge on the sideline if he dialed up an all out block that ended up drawing a huge penalty on us at a really bad time. So happy we have the athletes on our special teams to make these plays. Khaleke Hudson is a freak.
November 21st, 2016 at 3:01 PM ^
Harbaugh is intense but fair. I can't picture him giving Partridge the discretion to call a block/return, then lighting Partridge up if his call backfires. I've never seen Harbaugh place blame on an assistant coach like that, either on the sidelines in the moment, or after the fact.
Throwing an assistant under the bus like that is a Brian Kelly move.
November 21st, 2016 at 4:58 PM ^
November 21st, 2016 at 2:02 PM ^
The calls against Iowa were "running into the kicker" (5 yard penalty), not "roughing the kicker" (15 yard, automatic first down). IMO its totally worth the tradeoff. A single blocked punt is probably worth something like 50 yards of offense on average. That's a huge deal, especially if the offense is struggling.
November 21st, 2016 at 2:28 PM ^
And the 2nd one was utter bullshit as rugby punters lose the protection once they leave the tackle box. He took a good 3-4 steps and was clearly outside the tackles when he kicked the ball.
November 21st, 2016 at 2:59 PM ^
I think that's a huge part of it. If the offense is lighting it up, then it's probably not worth risking giving up possession on a penalty, because you have a decent chance at scoring no matter where you get the ball. But if the offense is struggling, starting off at the edge of scoring range is incredibly valuable.
November 21st, 2016 at 2:04 PM ^
It's a call. There are different block calls and different return calls. Typically, with the opponent backed up, Michigan has called for a return. At various other points, Michigan has gone for the block over the return, but they mix it up (and have different block calls as well).
As for who makes the call, I don't know if it's Partridge or Harbaugh. My guess is that it is Partridge play call based on what Harbaugh wants to do at a given time.
November 21st, 2016 at 2:17 PM ^
It seems like getting pressure on the kicker early in the game has benefitted us also by rattling the punter. There have been times when even not getting the ball the early pressure has caused the punter to rush it and not get as good of a punt off. Some of the punts that where line drives to Peppers during the IU game seemed to be the punter rushing and then there was the punt in the UCF(?) game that hit his own blocker in the back.
November 21st, 2016 at 2:58 PM ^
Plus, Iowa went to a tight punt formation after the first couple punts, which had to have hurt their coverage. Their punter was just so on fire that it didn't matter.
November 21st, 2016 at 2:25 PM ^
Blocking punts is tricky, and really, you don't want to send your dumbest players to block punts. It's a job that would seemingly lend itself to your biggest athletic freaks, but those aren't always the guys who are smart enough to stay off the punter. That's why intelligent guys like Tyree Kinnel, Jordan Glasgow, Khaleke Hudson, etc. are the ones blowing things up in the backfield.
November 21st, 2016 at 2:34 PM ^
November 21st, 2016 at 2:38 PM ^
The 2nd one shouldn't have been a penalty (as covered by many people). He was clearly outside the pocket. It was cause O'Neill's crew do not know basic rules.
November 21st, 2016 at 3:57 PM ^
Serious question. Have you ever seen a running into the punter flag picked up because the punter was outside of the tackle box? If the refs won't eat their flag then the actual rule is irrelevant.
November 21st, 2016 at 2:53 PM ^
November 21st, 2016 at 6:40 PM ^
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November 21st, 2016 at 9:23 PM ^
I remember how dumb I thought it was to go for the block early in the game last season, which resulted in a penalty and an OSU first down.