I wasn't overly concerned about the punt returns from the Rice game, but it is something I'd like to see cleaned up, and I do think a viable punt return matters a bit.
I'm not surprised we had a very short punt return average last year, because punters were kicking to McCaffrey, so they're going to kick it either to a sideline or very high in the air, or both, and the angle and higher arc can take a good chunk off the total distance and can impact field position on almost every drive.
If a team has a weak punt return with unreliable returners, punters can start putting a little more spin or angle on it to try to create a turnover, or they can kick the ball at a sightly lower angle so it'll go further.
So, I think it does matter some. I think a team can be great with no punt reurn yardage, but I would much rather have a strong returner, which is why I think the team has often placed many of their top players on specialty teams.
Who can forget that 97 yard punt return by McCaffrey against K-State that was called back?
I'm not surprised we had a very short punt return average last year, because punters were kicking to McCaffrey, so they're going to kick it either to a sideline or very high in the air, or both, and the angle and higher arc can take a good chunk off the total distance and can impact field position on almost every drive.
If a team has a weak punt return with unreliable returners, punters can start putting a little more spin or angle on it to try to create a turnover, or they can kick the ball at a sightly lower angle so it'll go further.
So, I think it does matter some. I think a team can be great with no punt reurn yardage, but I would much rather have a strong returner, which is why I think the team has often placed many of their top players on specialty teams.
Who can forget that 97 yard punt return by McCaffrey against K-State that was called back?