That's now FOUR blocked punts we've given up this season thanks to the "spread" punt formation. Why Urban and co. feel the need to keep running this STUPID formation is beyond me. I hate it. I have always hated it. Almost every time I watch it (including other teams running it) I see the punt getting blocked. It seriously has to be as high as 25%, maybe even 30%. I have no clue why teams (especially us) continue to use that god awful formation.
/rant
I'm a fan of the rugby-style punt personally. You do get the occasional terrible, 20-30 yard kick out of it, but it almost never gets blocked. As opposed to the spread style which consistently gets 40-45 yard punts, but seems to get blocked at the rate you were talking about when the other team runs punt block.
I'll take that exchange rate, go with the rugby style.
I hear ya. I don't understand why Meyer doesn't make an adjustment.
I will say though, I think the biggest thing hurting us is that because of our injuries, we have a Freshman LB (Cam Williams) back there in the most important punt protection position. The guy that blocked the punt today ran right passed him because he (Cam) cheated over to help someone block their guy in the middle, and missed the other guy running off to the middle-right. A good veterun punt protector might have made that block.
Agree we need to put someone like Boren or Shazier as the 'personal protector' position, but that still doesn't answer the question why we run that god awful punt formation!
The 'personal protector' can't block 3 guys. That stupid spread formation opens gaping holes and it feels like there's always 3 guys in there right away because of the holes.
I've had a half fifth of Crown Royal and I'm 90% sure I could have blocked it. P.S. I'm a 100% sure I could have stood in the endzone along with everyone else and watched Penn score on that pass play!!!
An angry fan...rooting for an angry team...led by angry coaches
Standing around watching football is harder than it looks. I'm only up to laying/sitting and watching football.
Boren is a personal protector and completely ran away from the penn state player coming through the middle.
Agreed, WSIDE. That block was on Boren.
The 2012 National Champions.
Buchanan holds the ball way too long though. We had one blocked before he even kicked it. The ball was still falling towards his foot.
Boren went to block someone else I think. He pretty much had to block two guys to stop a block. That may be the problem with the formation - PSU just saw what IU/UAB/whoever else did and copied the same thing. I'm tired of seeing it happen, too - no excuse. Stop running that $#@!ing formation!
Class of 2010.