By now you've probably heard that Pat Pete nearly broke the SEC record for return yards. Man did he look good - I swear I nearly forgot he was our star cornerback b/c I was so eager to watch him returning punts and kicks all night. Anyone else feel like this is a real STRENGTH this year? Since the game ended people keep saying that no team will be willing to kick/punt to him going forward. Kinda funny, cuz that's exactly what PP himself predicted (hoped) would happen. So, if teams really start ACTIVELY avoiding PP when kicking off/punting, will this help us? Will we be able to get great field position all year b/c of that? I'm just curious how you think this will affect our games going forward...
I was impressed with the few (or was it just one) times Randle had the ball, too. I hope they alternate the two more often to give PP a rest. He was wearing down in the 4th.
I think they should only use Peterson back there if it's late in the game and we absolutely NEED a something big to happen. He was awesome in that game, but our defense is young and we cannot afford for Peterson to be on the sidelines because he is gassed from returning punts. There has to be someone back there who can return punts, Gore, Boone, Randle, Ware, Reid, Wright, someone.... Last night was amazing and if he gets a few more there should be no reason at all for Peterson to at least be IN New York when the Heisman is presented.
If we're sustaining drives on offense, let him return a few. If we keep going 3-and-out and he's exerting himself too much on defense, keep Randle back there. Good problem to have because they both have explosive ability back there. I say rotate them based on how well our offense is keeping PP7 off the field.
You know how the kickers have the same number on their jersey?? Don't you think that Patrick Peterson should put on T-Bob Hebert's number when he's returning punts so the other team thinks our center/guard is back there? They won't be kicking out of bounds then...would they.:hihi:
I will hold off judgement. Because of UNCs lack of depth, their 2s were playing D so their 3s and 4s were on special teams...
College teams don't have 4s on the travel squad. You are overstating the losses. Carolina still has more talent on their second unit than San Jose States of the world. More likely, they had starters out there on special teams and they were getting gassed too. But then again, LSU plays plenty of first-unit guys on special teams and always has.
