USD Football 1992

SEEKING A FAVORABLE RETURN

player in the nation last season, the I99 I NCAA punt return champion was Bo Campbell of Virginia Tech, who averaged an incredible 18.2 yards on 15 punt returns. Howard returned the same num– ber, for a 17.4-yard average. Thanks to Palmer, who ranked third, the team champion was Alabama, with 28 punt returns that averaged I6.9 yards each. Michigan ranked second with a I5.8-yard average on 20 punt returns. For everyone playing the position, to return or not return remains the fine-line question. "It's a judgement call for Williams," said Arnold. "Our rule of thumb is that any time the opposing team is kicking to our end zone, you put your heels on the I0- yard line and if it goes over your head, you let it go. But sometimes they (return men) don't do that. They have a feel for how they're being played and if they have a cushion. So you've got to let them know you've got confidence in them. Part of the deal is looking at how punters kick in pre– game warmups." The goal of every punt return unit, of course, is to spring the return man for one of those scintillating sprints that goes all the way to the end zone. " When a team returns a punt all the way," said James, "it's almost like a gimme. You got something you shouldn't get. I don't know what the average return is. Our defensive goal is to keep people averaging 3 yards or less. Our offensive goal is IO yards per kick." "It's a big bonus," echoed Arnold. "You get points without the offense being on the field. I have never heard people get so excited, especially when we're playing at home in the Orange Bowl. The fans expect it all the more." Indeed, any team that returns punts with recurrent success will spoil its fans into expecting as much from every kick and probably will lose the opportunity to con– tinue the trend. Williams discovered as much at Miami shortly after he hauled those two punts back to the opposition's one-yard line, early in the season. "After all that success, people start kick– ing away from you and that's frustrating to Kevin," said Arnold. "He wants the ball. So you have to point out, if they (oppo– nents) do that, they're being forced into doing something they don't want 10 do, and they're taking a chance of shanking a Screening is one method used to break a big return. Each man is responsible for whomever is in front of him. Remember though, these guys are moving fast downfield so it's not as structured as it looks.

are some guys who are really quick, but if they can't hang onto the ball, it's a big, big mistake. When you fumble back there, it averages 40 yards (in lost field position).

Miami Hurricanes, said, "Your punt returner has got to be courageous and dar- ing. You want a guy who can run, but more than that, a guy who can stand out there in front of maybe I00,000 people

Your return guy should be a running back, and catch the ball ~------~------~ wide receiver-type with IO people bear- He's got to make who is a really good ing down on him, runner in the open hoping to knock him good decisions, field. You need a guy down." who can catc h and Indeed, in contrast and he has to have make something hap- to the kickoff return, soft hands." pen in the open where there is twice field." as much room to stan J B d Arnold has a player bringing the ball back erry ern t who fits that descrip- upfield, the punt tion in Kevin Will -

iams, who turned in some marvel ous return work last season, when he brought back three punts for touchdowns (one short of the NCAA record), had two TD returns called back by penalties and took two others to the opponent's one-yard line. " He has those qualities," Arnold admired. "He can catch it and turn it into a big play. That's the trait of all the great ones." It also helps to have just the slightest hint of swagger, even when you' re a fresh– man like 5-foot-9 David Palmer, who set school records for punt return yards (386) and punt returns for touchdowns (3) last season at Alabama, a team that has been playing the game for only 99 years. With a style he describes as "flashy," Palmer won his spot on the Crimson Tide special teams roster in a rather unique way, by returning five punts in a scrim– mage. "I ran them all back," said Palmer. "Not all were for touchdowns. Some were just 60 or 70 yards." Incidentally, while Howard may have been the most decorated special teams

return almost always has to be executed more quickly and at closer proximity to the opposing players. It calls for smart decisions made in a split second, during the heat of battle. While there are general rules that apply to returning punts, like, "Never touch the ball inside your own IO-yard line," a return man like Howard, who knows his craft, also recognizes that the stunning break– away return often comes only after the conventional, safety-first strategy has been abandoned. "He's got to be disciplined enough to know when to take chances, and when not to," said Temple Coach Jerry Berndt. "He's got to have courage, because a lot of guys will be flying down the field toward him and the ball has only a 4.1- to 4.4-sec– ond hang time. He's got to make good decisions, and he has to have soft hands. You can't have a hard-hands guy back there. The ball is going to come in funny, with weird spins, twists and turning. It's a unique combination of abilities." "The first and overriding requisite is 'Catch the Ball,"' stressed James. "There

BASIC PUNT RETURN BLOCKING

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TOUCHDOWN ILLUSTRATED