Seems like we should just let goody fair catch punt returns and saved neal.

 

The horse it out of the barn now and maybe one day he might get a returnable punt and do some damage. But as of now, it would be nice to have him with a full 4 years left.

 

How sweet is it knowing that we could have eifert and wood back next year?

 

How sad was it knowing that we wasted jonas gray's freshmen year?

It does not matter who we have back there at all. We're never going to return one if we don't change the blocking scheme! I hate the way we set up for punt returns, it makes absolutely no sense! You can just tell how badly Neal wants to have a shot at one to! I would be so frustrated

I am very surprised he hasn't tried to use Neal more. He came out of the gates and was used with some reverses. I thought that was a sign of easing him in and we would see more and more of him. I still think we see him get some more snaps on O before it's all said and done.

How sweet is it knowing that we could have eifert back next year?

 

Is this not his senior season?

Is this not his senior season?

 

He has another year available. Made you smile didn't it?

It does not matter who we have back there at all. We're never going to return one if we don't change the blocking scheme! I hate the way we set up for punt returns, it makes absolutely no sense! You can just tell how badly Neal wants to have a shot at one to! I would be so frustrated

 

Amen! We rush three guys and they stop in front of the punt protect wall every damn time. Why not stop rushing those three guys and peel back to block so Neal can get a return?

We rush three to avoid a punt fake. If the other 7 guys would get involved, we might have a chance.

Kelly is not wasting Neal & not blowing anything------he is simply getting him involved slowly which has been his approach to freshman an approach that and has been very successful so far.

 

Neal will start to make some noise in the second half of the season.

 

 

Eifert WILL NOT be back next season---thtas a guarantee!

 

aloha's

I would like to see Neal get a screen play or a reverse that Toma seems to be getting a lot... In my opinion, those are ideal for Neal with his combination of speed and agility.

My take?

 

Toma has been here for 4 years. He knows the system better, and has done NOTHING to earn a shorter share of reps. Kid has good hands, has a knack for getting open, runs hard after the catch, and does the most he can with what he's got in occupying defenders in the run game. That, and for whatever it's worth, he seems to be a galvanizing presence on the roster amongst his teammates. You saw how they reacted to his TD scamper vs. Navy.

 

Frankly, Neal looks like a kid out there. Talented? No question. While our punt return unit looks like a disaster in setting up blocks most every week, the kid has impressed with the one good return he's been afforded. But from where I sit, Davonte has made some poor decisions on running it when he shouldn't, and has goofed in letting the ball bounce at times he should have gone after it aggressively to save yards. I understand being eager, but know the role.

 

Make the kid earn 'em. He didn't come here to sit and watch from the sideline, so I'm glad they're giving him an opportunity to get his feet wet and get acclimated. But if he wants the slot job? If he wants a #19 package? If he wants a role as a do-it-all scat back/receiver? Go out and take it. Toma wasn't getting this many reps week 1 or 2, but he's a fixture out there now. Willing to bet he's done something to earn them, and that Neal is still figuring it out. No harm in giving a player what they're ready for when it's their time.

 

Don't fall for recruiting hype just because it's fun to day dream, and don't mess with a good thing.

My take?

 

Toma has been here for 4 years. He knows the system better, and has done NOTHING to earn a shorter share of reps. Kid has good hands, has a knack for getting open, runs hard after the catch, and does the most he can with what he's got in occupying defenders in the run game. That, and for whatever it's worth, he seems to be a galvanizing presence on the roster amongst his teammates. You saw how they reacted to his TD scamper vs. Navy.

 

Frankly, Neal looks like a kid out there. Talented? No question. While our punt return unit looks like a disaster in setting up blocks most every week, the kid has impressed with the one good return he's been afforded. But from where I sit, Davonte has made some poor decisions on running it when he shouldn't, and has goofed in letting the ball bounce at times he should have gone after it aggressively to save yards. I understand being eager, but know the role.

 

Make the kid earn 'em. He didn't come here to sit and watch from the sideline, so I'm glad they're giving him an opportunity to get his feet wet and get acclimated. But if he wants the slot job? If he wants a #19 package? If he wants a role as a do-it-all scat back/receiver? Go out and take it. Toma wasn't getting this many reps week 1 or 2, but he's a fixture out there now. Willing to bet he's done something to earn them, and that Neal is still figuring it out. No harm in giving a player what they're ready for when it's their time.

 

Don't fall for recruiting hype just because it's fun to day dream, and don't mess with a good thing.

 

agreed, look at Kelly's past player progress

 

GA3: year 1: kick returner

year 2: making a dent at RB: Long one against Navy, Miami

year 3: projecting him co-starter with Wood, (possibly 1000 yards)

year 4: All American, possible Heisman candidate

 

 

Neal:

 

Year 1: punt returner

Year 2: starter at slot(we're not as deep there, Toma Graduates)

year 3: gamebreaker

year 4: I can't wait

Neal is one of those guys who may be talented enough to skip his 4th year anyway.

My take?

 

Toma has been here for 4 years. He knows the system better, and has done NOTHING to earn a shorter share of reps. Kid has good hands, has a knack for getting open, runs hard after the catch, and does the most he can with what he's got in occupying defenders in the run game. That, and for whatever it's worth, he seems to be a galvanizing presence on the roster amongst his teammates. You saw how they reacted to his TD scamper vs. Navy.

 

Frankly, Neal looks like a kid out there. Talented? No question. While our punt return unit looks like a disaster in setting up blocks most every week, the kid has impressed with the one good return he's been afforded. But from where I sit, Davonte has made some poor decisions on running it when he shouldn't, and has goofed in letting the ball bounce at times he should have gone after it aggressively to save yards. I understand being eager, but know the role.

 

Make the kid earn 'em. He didn't come here to sit and watch from the sideline, so I'm glad they're giving him an opportunity to get his feet wet and get acclimated. But if he wants the slot job? If he wants a #19 package? If he wants a role as a do-it-all scat back/receiver? Go out and take it. Toma wasn't getting this many reps week 1 or 2, but he's a fixture out there now. Willing to bet he's done something to earn them, and that Neal is still figuring it out. No harm in giving a player what they're ready for when it's their time.

 

Don't fall for recruiting hype just because it's fun to day dream, and don't mess with a good thing.

 

Look, that is fine but Neal can run a reverse and is far more if a threat than Toma on that play. Again, get playmakers the ball. Seems like BK and co. got that in regards to Wood and GAIII over the bye...

I would like to see Neal get a screen play or a reverse that Toma seems to be getting a lot... In my opinion, those are ideal for Neal with his combination of speed and agility.

 

We seem to be allergic to the screens this season. At least, so far...

i've been dissapointed in our punt return game and i don't think it's neals fault, they just dont seem to be blocking very well for him at all.

Actually, the person I am questioning as far as getting burn is Ronnie Stanley. He got in for mop up duty at Navy. I know we were thin there with Nichols down but I'd imagine we could have made something work. I believe he appeared briefly in the Michigan game as well.

 

But, he didn't play from what I could tell in mop up duty against Miami. It was N. Martin, Hanratty, Hegarty, Heggie and Nichols in at the end.

 

I feel like in 3 years we are going to look back and be bummed that he played this year.

Neal is one of those guys who may be talented enough to skip his 4th year anyway.

 

Which means we get a couple of spectacular years for him to be early draft worthy...

I feel like in 3 years we are going to look back and be bummed that he played this year.

i agree. the coaching staff seems to be real high on stanley but why waste a year just for mop up duty, leave that to the current sophmores and juniors on the team.

Kelly is 5-0 and in the top ten right now, yet a lot of people here are questioning his choices. If he keeps winning like this, we will have a cupboard that will simply re-load when guys like Neal and Stanley ship out.

 

I KNOW Neal will have his day in the sun, and like many of you, it drives me NUTS to have such a crappy PR plan, but Kelly has earned my trust until I see some Tulsa-esque decisions this year.

 

I feel like in 3 years we are going to look back and be bummed that he played this year.

 

if things continue as they have this season, we'll have no problems recruiting better studs on the line...

if things continue as they have this season, we'll have no problems recruiting better studs on the line...

 

I know, and I agree. And, I should expect that more and more players will leave early with the success were starting to see. Really, it's just a new dynamic at ND that we haven't had to deal with a whole lot.