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Speaker 1: NFL Explained is a production of the NFL in partnership

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Speaker 1: with I Heart Radio. Alright, Happy New Year, Here we go,

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Speaker 1: Here we go. It is a brand new edition of

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Speaker 1: the NFL Explained podcast on Yam as always, joined by

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Speaker 1: my Super Bowl champ Michael Robinson. Are you big new

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Speaker 1: Year's resolution guy? No, I'm not, Yams because oftentimes we

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Speaker 1: don't get our resolutions, and I have a theory behind it,

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Speaker 1: but that might be a whole another podcast. You know this,

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Speaker 1: This is the Gregorian New Year. Okay, this isn't the

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Speaker 1: earthly new year. There are only new years in March

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Speaker 1: during the equinox. Are you just making up stuff? I

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Speaker 1: don't even heard of this. No, it's not, it's not.

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Speaker 1: It's literally for real that the new year for the

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Speaker 1: earth starts during the equalnox when life springs back up

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Speaker 1: into existence. You know, when the vegetables grow. Come on, yam,

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Speaker 1: the vegetables are always growing. I am I am not

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Speaker 1: the person to dive into this topic with here here

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Speaker 1: it was, and look we're gonna be. We got a

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Speaker 1: lot of actual football stuff to discuss. In fact, it

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Speaker 1: is the art of the punt return. Little did I

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Speaker 1: know that I was gonna get like a lesson. I

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Speaker 1: just thought you were gonna tell me like, oh, yeah,

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Speaker 1: I'm I'm gonna fast, or you know, you do work out.

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Speaker 1: I don't know. Maybe I'm not gonna work out as much. No,

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Speaker 1: I'm gonna work out and I'm gonna keep working out,

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Speaker 1: and yes, I do fast. But again, I'm telling you,

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Speaker 1: that's why people's New Year's resolutions, don't know, always come

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Speaker 1: to fruition because you're doing it done the wrong part

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Speaker 1: of the year. Man. You gotta do it when life

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Speaker 1: is coming up, not when things are getting cold and

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Speaker 1: it's desolate and it's cold and there's no vegetables. Come on, yams,

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Speaker 1: all right, I'm I'm on it, and I will try

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Speaker 1: to do some Google searching when we finish up this record.

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Speaker 1: But I think when people are like the punt return,

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Speaker 1: take me through this here. I actually was pretty excited.

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Speaker 1: I got the text. I was told, hey, this is

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Speaker 1: gonna be the topic on this week's episode, and that

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Speaker 1: sometimes I think people are like well, special teams. I

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Speaker 1: don't think they get enough love. I don't think special

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Speaker 1: teamers get nearly enough love. No, we don't, And I'm

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Speaker 1: gonna say we because that was my job for almost

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Speaker 1: nine years in the National footb You know what I'm saying, right, Like,

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Speaker 1: it's it can make or break a game, and when

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Speaker 1: it goes well, it can go great, and if it

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Speaker 1: doesn't go well, it's like another situation, you know what

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Speaker 1: I mean. Yeah, Usually, you know, when you look at highlights,

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Speaker 1: when you're a special teamer or core special teamer as

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Speaker 1: I was with the San Francisco forty nine is in

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Speaker 1: the Seattle Seahawks, oftentimes we are plays don't get on

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Speaker 1: the highlight packages of these you know shows, right unless

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Speaker 1: it's something really really bad or really really good. If

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Speaker 1: you're just doing your job normal, you don't get any recognition.

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Speaker 1: There are certain players that keep you watching no matter

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Speaker 1: what you know, if it's an offensive player, if it's

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Speaker 1: a defensive player. Very rarely are there the special performers,

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Speaker 1: the return guys where you go, you know what, this

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Speaker 1: dude might be able to take it to the house,

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Speaker 1: Like I'm not gonna this is not the time for

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Speaker 1: the bathroom break, because I want to see this guy

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Speaker 1: and see what he can do. Devon Hester, for me,

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Speaker 1: is one of those players. But I think we should

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Speaker 1: start with a little bit of the history around the

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Speaker 1: punt return. This is actually something that's been a part

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Speaker 1: of the game. The first punt return for a touchdown

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Speaker 1: Week two of the nineteen twenty season, that was the

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Speaker 1: first punt return. Yes, it was when Frank Bacon recorded

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Speaker 1: the first punt return for a touchdown, his sixty yard

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Speaker 1: or that helped the Dayton Triangles beat the Columbus Panhandles

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Speaker 1: fourteen to nothing. You heard me right, the Dayton Triangles.

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Speaker 1: By the way, if you're into team names, I'm just saying,

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Speaker 1: if you want to go back to last season's NFL

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Speaker 1: Explain podcast, you will be able to go through the

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Speaker 1: history of a lot of the names for NFL teams.

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Speaker 1: I don't really remember the Columbus Panhandles. But nonetheless, there

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Speaker 1: were five punt return touchdowns in the first ever season

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Speaker 1: in nineteen twenty. More than one hundred years later, they've

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Speaker 1: only been three punt return touchdowns in two so far.

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Speaker 1: So explain to me, m Rob, why are there fewer

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Speaker 1: punt returns that you think we're seeing in the game. Well,

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Speaker 1: first and foremost, the development of offenses and you know

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Speaker 1: the game, and these quarterbacks just moving the ball up

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Speaker 1: and down the field. The opportunity for punt returns are

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Speaker 1: just getting less because the offense and defensive groups are

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Speaker 1: taking up some of the players a little bit more.

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Speaker 1: But I think it's because when you look at the

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Speaker 1: punt return play in particular, because that's what we're talking about,

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Speaker 1: it encompasses both offensive philosophy and defensive philosophy. Right, when

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Speaker 1: you're on punt return, when you're rushing the punter to

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Speaker 1: try to block the punt, that's more of a defensive thing. Right,

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Speaker 1: you're rushing, Right, you're rushing, you're trying to take the

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Speaker 1: ball away from the opposing offense because when they're punning,

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Speaker 1: they still have the ball, they still have possession that

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Speaker 1: steer their ball. So you're still trying to create good

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Speaker 1: opportunities for your team. And then when the ball is kicked,

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Speaker 1: that gets transitioned and now you're playing offense again. Punt

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Speaker 1: and punt return are the only two fastest of the

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Speaker 1: game that are like this way. One part of it

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Speaker 1: is offense, the next part of it is defense. And

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Speaker 1: so punt return, Yeah, now I gotta worry about holding.

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Speaker 1: Now I gotta worry about my relation to the punt

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Speaker 1: return or the guy with the football afterward, about all

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Speaker 1: the offensive principles to make the play a positive thing.

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Speaker 1: So yeah, I think that's why it's so hard to

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Speaker 1: get a punt return is because it's just an encompasses

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Speaker 1: so many different aspects of our game. A little bit

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Speaker 1: later in this podcast, we're gonna go through some of

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Speaker 1: the best punt returners that the game has ever seen

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Speaker 1: and some of the best ones that we have seen

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Speaker 1: in the actual game. You kind of touched on it

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Speaker 1: a little bit, but let's go a little bit more

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Speaker 1: in depth on some of the philosophies around how you

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Speaker 1: execute successfully a punt return for a touchdown. Take me

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Speaker 1: through schematically what is actually happening on the field, because well,

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Speaker 1: I think for a casual fan, you're like, yo, it's

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Speaker 1: like kill the man with the football. I've been as

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Speaker 1: crazy am I've been the returner, Like I've actually had

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Speaker 1: the opportunity have to catch the football. Here my spotter

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Speaker 1: from the sideline telling me where everybody is catching it.

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Speaker 1: Have to figure out where I am in relation to

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Speaker 1: what the return is. I've been a guy blocking for

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Speaker 1: the return, I've been a guy rushing the return. I've

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Speaker 1: I've done it all from the punt return standpoints. So

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Speaker 1: it's a little bit of a of a just a

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Speaker 1: unique position. But yes, we have plays. A lot of

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Speaker 1: times there's sideline returns or middle returns or ali returns.

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Speaker 1: And when I say ali, that means there's a part. Yeah,

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Speaker 1: I'm going to the right, there's a right return for

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Speaker 1: the returner. But from a blocking unit, part of that

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Speaker 1: blocking unit will be blocking guys out, and part of

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Speaker 1: the blocking unit will be trying to seal guys. So

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Speaker 1: you're trying to get like an alley down the numbers

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Speaker 1: part of the football field. Those are really, from a

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Speaker 1: schematic standpoint, the real plays of pump return. Yeah, you

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Speaker 1: can have reverses and specials and things like that that

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Speaker 1: comes with it, but yeah, those are really the plays

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Speaker 1: when it comes to punt return, A lot of us

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Speaker 1: luck man, A lot of it is catching the football,

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Speaker 1: the returner just having space and you want to get Look,

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Speaker 1: a returner can't make eleven guys mess at one time,

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Speaker 1: but he can make one guy miss eleven times. You

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Speaker 1: get what I'm saying. So you want to get defense.

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Speaker 1: He's want to get guys on different levels so that

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Speaker 1: if your returner is encountering a a free guy, he's

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Speaker 1: one on one with that guy and then he has

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Speaker 1: enough space to be one on one with the next person. Okay,

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Speaker 1: so you also played quarterback. You know how thick some

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Speaker 1: of those playbooks can be. What you just describe in

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Speaker 1: terms of the return game is not exactly the same playbook, no,

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Speaker 1: how much of it is dictated by where you actually

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Speaker 1: are on the field. Like I would imagine for you

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Speaker 1: when you were playing quarterback. Situationally, if you're at the

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Speaker 1: goal line, you know you're you're thinking about what three

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Speaker 1: four plays that are kind of like the go toos

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Speaker 1: in these situations. How much do you focus in on

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Speaker 1: when you're you know, trotting out there and you know

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Speaker 1: it's a fourth down from the other team they're punting,

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Speaker 1: and you go, okay, cool, like I'm at the forty

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Speaker 1: or hey, I'm inside that ten. Take me through what

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Speaker 1: you're actually thinking about in those moments. Well, it depends, right,

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Speaker 1: It depends on your opponent and who you're playing. If

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Speaker 1: you're playing a punt team, I'm just gonna throw a

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Speaker 1: name out they're like this, like like the Rams Sean McVeigh.

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Speaker 1: They'll fake upon on you, they'll throw a pass or whatever.

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Speaker 1: So whenever you get around the forty or you know,

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Speaker 1: between both forties and the fifty yard line, because if

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Speaker 1: you were to fake it there, the opposing team still

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Speaker 1: has a little bit of a ways to go to

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Speaker 1: get a touchdown. And you know you're dealing with a

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Speaker 1: team that will fake the football. Maybe then you're in

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Speaker 1: a punt safe so you do have kind of a

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Speaker 1: return on. Maybe you keep your defense out there just

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Speaker 1: to talk a punt team out from faking it. And

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Speaker 1: what you'll do is you're rush two or three guys

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Speaker 1: and then just have those guys drop back to have

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Speaker 1: a certain return that is kind of like a punt

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Speaker 1: safe deal. You maybe have somebody backed up. You may

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Speaker 1: have a rush right, and every single rush has a

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Speaker 1: sideline return with it, right, So you may have all

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Speaker 1: eight guys up at the line of scrimmage. You may

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Speaker 1: have them all rushed the punter. Hey, you guys missed.

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Speaker 1: After you guys missed, we're gonna all turn around and

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Speaker 1: now this turns into a right return for the punt return.

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Speaker 1: So again for all of our listeners and viewers out there,

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Speaker 1: the punt team it and just going out there and saying, okay,

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Speaker 1: we're just gonna catch the football and see what happens. No,

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Speaker 1: that there is a method to the madness. There is

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Speaker 1: the direction you're trying to kind of move the punt

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Speaker 1: team bodies into so that you can have a return

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Speaker 1: and in the play. On a positive note, how hard

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Speaker 1: is it to locate the football once it leaves the

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Speaker 1: puncher's foot? Very man, I can't lie, especially as a

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Speaker 1: returner um and really really the destroyers the guys who

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Speaker 1: are so again, you have a punt team, you have

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Speaker 1: a punt return team. The gunners are the guys that

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Speaker 1: on the punt team that right at the snap of

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Speaker 1: the ball there on the outside, they get to go

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Speaker 1: to the to the returner, they get to go to

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Speaker 1: the ball. The destroyers usually are in a vice grip

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Speaker 1: or have two guys out there to stop those guys

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Speaker 1: from getting the free runs on the returner. And to me,

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Speaker 1: they have one of the hardest jobs. They don't know

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Speaker 1: where the ball is. They're fighting a guy, They're trying

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Speaker 1: to block a guy running all the way downfielding their

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Speaker 1: back is to the ball and the returner. And I

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Speaker 1: can't tell you, Yams, how many times where a returner

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Speaker 1: is yelling Peter Peter, which means basically get away or

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Speaker 1: oscary or whatever the co word maybe for that punt

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Speaker 1: return team, and the destroyer just doesn't hear him because

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Speaker 1: he's engaged in a fight with the with the gunner

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Speaker 1: on that side. And then the ball lands and hits

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Speaker 1: the gunner and then it's a free ball after that.

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Speaker 1: So it's a lot of different dynamics that goes on

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Speaker 1: with the pump return team, and you gotta communicate and

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Speaker 1: oftentimes from a pump return standpoint, at that juncture of

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Speaker 1: the game, littleois is happening in the game because the

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Speaker 1: other team is punting. If you're at home, you're you know,

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Speaker 1: your crowd is excited. So it's just a lot of

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Speaker 1: different factors that go on to the pump return. Oh yeah,

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Speaker 1: on top of it's not like these are starters and

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Speaker 1: I and I was a core special teamer. If you're

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Speaker 1: a backup in the National Football League, you play special teams.

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Speaker 1: There is no qualms about it. It's only forty six

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Speaker 1: of us that are live on game based. So you

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Speaker 1: gotta do it all right outside of the safe moments

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Speaker 1: where it's just like, hey, just make sure you catch

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Speaker 1: a clean At what point is it all feel like

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Speaker 1: I gotta imagine if I'm out on of the football field,

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Speaker 1: I got ten to thousands of fans that are just screaming.

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Speaker 1: I got lights, I got banners, I got the whole thing.

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Speaker 1: You just told me. It's hard to locate the football.

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Speaker 1: You got gunners that are coming down and you know

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Speaker 1: they're bearing down on you. Is it all feel? Before

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Speaker 1: you start waving hey, you know, fair catch? Like, what's

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Speaker 1: sort of that that point in your mind when that

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Speaker 1: ball is up in the air because you're not looking

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Speaker 1: at the gunners. You gotta be looking up. Yeah, you're

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Speaker 1: just are you just feeling guys out there? Like, how

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Speaker 1: do you figure that out? There is a feel to it,

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Speaker 1: there is um, there is a spatial awareness. Then yes,

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Speaker 1: oftentimes you have the loudest coach on your coaching staff

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Speaker 1: on the sideline screaming you're good. And that was what

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Speaker 1: they said to me, Mike, you're good, You're good? Or no, No,

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Speaker 1: you hear the word no, you start crossing your hands,

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Speaker 1: you start saying no, get away, get away, get away,

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Speaker 1: and start yelling whatever your cold word is for guys

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Speaker 1: to kind of get away. But yeah, there there always

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Speaker 1: is a plan. There is a feel aspect to it,

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Speaker 1: and Um, there's also game planning. So let's say, for instance,

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Speaker 1: when I play, we would play against I'm just gonna

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Speaker 1: throw out the Pittsburgh Steelers, right. They always had a

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Speaker 1: bunch of linebackers on their roster because they were three

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Speaker 1: four teams. So you knew a teams that were three

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Speaker 1: four that have a lot of that guy. Well, you

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Speaker 1: know that their special teamers are gonna be a lot

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Speaker 1: of linebackers. Exactly. I don't want any of that. I

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Speaker 1: don't want to get hit by it, right, L No,

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Speaker 1: But if there's a lot of linebackers on your punt team, right,

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Speaker 1: maybe not the fastest guys, maybe not the most guys

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Speaker 1: with the most agility, then yeah, as a returner, as

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Speaker 1: a as a punt return team, we're gonna have a

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Speaker 1: lot more sideline returns, especially if I got a guy

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Speaker 1: like a Percy Harvard or Alan Rosson who I played

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Speaker 1: with in San Francisco, or Leon Washington we had in

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Speaker 1: Seattle before we had Percy Harvard, we got speak guys

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Speaker 1: like that, and we're playing against a bunch of linebackers.

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Speaker 1: Everything is a sideline return games, everything, And I was

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Speaker 1: that guy that would I was always the personal protector

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Speaker 1: on punt and on punt return. Basically the guys that

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Speaker 1: would you know, call off the return. I would get

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Speaker 1: the call from the special teams coordinator. I would also

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Speaker 1: be the guy to identify what's happening. Oh, this wing

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Speaker 1: is on the ball, that guy's off the ball. Alert, alert,

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Speaker 1: alert to save something's up. This ain't normal, right I

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Speaker 1: was that guy? Or when the ball is kicked, I'll

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Speaker 1: be the one drop back and be the personal protector

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Speaker 1: for the return er. So just being able to identify

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Speaker 1: the different things that the punt team is trying to

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Speaker 1: do to you. And ultimately, your goal is to give

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Speaker 1: the ball to your offense. Yeah, I'm gonna repeat that again.

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Speaker 1: The ultimate goal is to give the ball to your offense.

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Speaker 1: And if you can make a quick ten yards off

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Speaker 1: the return to that's also a goal. Hey, real quick,

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Speaker 1: here is it? Just to circle back you said, the

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Speaker 1: lottest coach is saying, Mike, you're good. You're good. No, no, no,

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Speaker 1: just for clarification purpose, you good means you're supposed to run.

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Speaker 1: You can catch it. You have enough space to go,

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Speaker 1: there's no danger, you can go and return it. If

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Speaker 1: he's saying no, he's basically saying you got too much

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Speaker 1: danger around you. Just make sure we catch the ball

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Speaker 1: and get the possession, and at that point you're going

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Speaker 1: fair catch. Yes, all right, Welcome back to the NFL

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Speaker 1: Explained Podcasts. Mike, Yam and Rob with you and Rob,

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Speaker 1: just one other thing on this you have said it's

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Speaker 1: hard to locate the football. And by the way, very

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Speaker 1: rarely on this show do I feel like I have

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Speaker 1: real world experience this one I actually do. Uh years ago,

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Speaker 1: I had try to catch a football out of a

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Speaker 1: jugs machine up in the air. I was over three,

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Speaker 1: and I couldn't get over how much spin there was

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Speaker 1: on the ball. And not only was it harder to track,

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Speaker 1: but when it was coming down, I couldn't get over

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Speaker 1: how fast it was dropping. How difficult it is it

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Speaker 1: to actually catch the football in those situations. It's very

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Speaker 1: different than if you're a wide receiver. Like the angle

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Speaker 1: of the ball is just completely different, completely different. It's

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Speaker 1: like it's falling out of the sky man literally it is.

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Speaker 1: It is well, um, the nose of the football is

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Speaker 1: very important. The nose of the football, especially in a

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Speaker 1: punt or pass. It tells you exactly where the ball

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Speaker 1: is going. If the nose is up yams right, which

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Speaker 1: I'm assuming these jug machine put that you were trying

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Speaker 1: to catch. The nose was up. When the nose is up,

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Speaker 1: the read for the returner is the back of the

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Speaker 1: ball because the nose is up, meaning at the at

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Speaker 1: its apex, the ball is gonna drop in the back

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Speaker 1: part of the ball is gonna direct it where it's going. Okay,

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Speaker 1: so you see the nose up. You notice at its

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Speaker 1: peak the nose is still up. You better get the

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Speaker 1: running up. That ball is gonna drop because if the

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Speaker 1: nose is up the back is down. That means it's

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Speaker 1: gonna drop really really fast. And when you're catching the football,

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Speaker 1: you want to keep your hands high right. Um, I

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Speaker 1: know a lot of our YouTubers can see us, but

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Speaker 1: keep your hands high, right. You want to keep your

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Speaker 1: hands as high as possible because the the the sight

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Speaker 1: of the human being. We lose the football in the

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Speaker 1: last six inches of flight. That is why that picture

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Speaker 1: you showed me. If you catching, that's why the picture

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Speaker 1: you showed me, your eyes were almost closed. The ball

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Speaker 1: was falling in your hands. We're reaching out for the

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Speaker 1: ball because it started making this started like a hard

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Speaker 1: turn on me at the last second, Again, your hands

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Speaker 1: weren't high, you weren't following the back of the ball,

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Speaker 1: so you had no idea where it was gonna fall. Now,

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Speaker 1: in contrast to that, a game ball is kicked noses

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Speaker 1: up at its apex. You see the ball turn over.

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Speaker 1: Now the nose turns over to Now the nose is down.

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Speaker 1: Now you better back up. That ball is gonna carry right,

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Speaker 1: because that was like a pass. Now it turns over

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Speaker 1: and now it's it's not gonna drop straight down when

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Speaker 1: it falls. It's gonna fall more with a with an

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Speaker 1: arc and over. So whenever when I was a return,

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Speaker 1: I saw the nose up at its peak, and I

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Speaker 1: knew it was gonna turn over. I sprint it back

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Speaker 1: now because it's easier to catch the ball going forward

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Speaker 1: than catch the ball running backwards. So you just want

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Speaker 1: to put yourself in a better body position so that

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Speaker 1: you don't fumble. All right, Not to get two into

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Speaker 1: the weeds on the technical aspect of this, but I

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Speaker 1: do think it's important to highlight here we talked about

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Speaker 1: wide receivers in the previous episode. I know this sounds counterintuitive,

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Speaker 1: but I'm gonna say it anyway. Wide receivers the best

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Speaker 1: guys catch with their hands. And I think people will say, well,

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Speaker 1: of course they catch with their hands. No, No No, What

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Speaker 1: I mean by that is they literally are only catching

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Speaker 1: with their hands and not their bodies right where the

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Speaker 1: balls kind of like they're trapping the ball around their chest.

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Speaker 1: What you were just describing to me in my own

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Speaker 1: personal experience, I had no chance of at the end

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Speaker 1: of the day, even if I had known, Like on

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Speaker 1: the third try, every single tempt there was three attempts,

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Speaker 1: every single one, I got closer the third one and

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Speaker 1: it hit my hands, Like I just couldn't think if

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Speaker 1: I had to do it again, I'm a little less

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Speaker 1: this is I'm definitely a lot older and a little

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Speaker 1: less athletic. But I think knowing where it could have been,

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Speaker 1: I could probably could have figured it out. But the

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Speaker 1: ball hit my hands. I wasn't going to catch the

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Speaker 1: ball at the speed and velocity it was going down.

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Speaker 1: Now that I'm hearing you, I think I couldn't have

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Speaker 1: caught the ball with my hands. I think I would

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Speaker 1: have needed my body. Do all punt returners and they

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Speaker 1: thinking like that, can you catch a punt with just

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Speaker 1: your hands? You can? And again you got say first

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Speaker 1: of all, we're dealing with the best athletes in the world. Okay, yeah, yeams,

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Speaker 1: I'm sorry, dealing with the best athletes in the world.

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Speaker 1: So they got hands. I got like Kenny Picket size hands.

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Speaker 1: Not sorry. And they're small too, Broy really small. But

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Speaker 1: that's a whole another conversation about draft and draft attributes. Um,

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Speaker 1: but these guys have hands, and so what happens is

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Speaker 1: you just you want to give yourself the best opportunity

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Speaker 1: for something bad not to happen. And so yes, most

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Speaker 1: time they're gonna try to catch it with their bodies right,

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Speaker 1: because the ball is coming down pretty fast. But if

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Speaker 1: you have your hands high, and you know you're a

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Speaker 1: good tracker of the football in the last six centuries,

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Speaker 1: you're gonna lose it if it does move a little bit.

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Speaker 1: Your instincts and the fact that you're one of the

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Speaker 1: top athletes in the world that parts of you kick in.

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Speaker 1: There are punts in times in my life where I've

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Speaker 1: caught the football in this out here, but I was

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Speaker 1: in a position to catch it. It's just that now

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Speaker 1: had to make a last second adjustment, and obviously it

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Speaker 1: kicks in. Yeah, those last second adjustments, that's kind of

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Speaker 1: what did me? And I just did it like it's

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Speaker 1: all good. Yeah. Well I saw at one time when

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Speaker 1: the teleprompter with blank and Yams did a last minute adjustment.

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Speaker 1: He did the last twenty seconds of the show off

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Speaker 1: the top of the dome. That is what I'm talking about.

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Speaker 1: I'm much better in those situations, trust me, than the

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Speaker 1: ones actually out on the field. I dropped his name

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Speaker 1: a little bit earlier in this podcast, Devin Hester, And

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Speaker 1: at least for me, he is still the ultimate. And

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Speaker 1: there's some other great names. And I gotta interrupt you.

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Speaker 1: I trained with DEVI came out in the same draft

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Speaker 1: we were. We trained with Tom Shaw down there um

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Speaker 1: and at the Wild World of Sports in Disney in Florida.

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Speaker 1: We were in the same draft class. I remember watching

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Speaker 1: him at Miami and when we were training, we got

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Speaker 1: a chance to talk and kind of like hang out

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Speaker 1: or whatever, and I might Devin, Bro, what's up? Man? Like,

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Speaker 1: how did you get Like it's like the minute you

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Speaker 1: step on the field for the return, the entire stadium

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Speaker 1: stands up. That guy. You know what I'm saying. He's like, Bro,

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Speaker 1: you gotta understand. Mike. During track season in high school,

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Speaker 1: we might get fifteen thousand people short up for a

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Speaker 1: track meet. I said, what he said, Yeah, it's a

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Speaker 1: little different in Florida. And so what I started to

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Speaker 1: notice is, man, yet, the speed is different. The way

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Speaker 1: that they respect speed down there in Florida is a

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Speaker 1: little bit different. And Devin had no fear. All of

422
00:20:32,826 --> 00:20:35,906
Speaker 1: the greatest returners that I've ever tried to tackle, I've

423
00:20:35,906 --> 00:20:38,146
Speaker 1: ever tried, I've ever had the block four, they had

424
00:20:38,186 --> 00:20:41,146
Speaker 1: no fear. Not saying that they didn't understand that there

425
00:20:41,186 --> 00:20:42,866
Speaker 1: may be a couple of hitters on the plant team

426
00:20:42,866 --> 00:20:45,266
Speaker 1: with a kickoff team or anything like that. But when

427
00:20:45,266 --> 00:20:47,146
Speaker 1: they caught the ball, they put their foot in the

428
00:20:47,186 --> 00:20:50,386
Speaker 1: grint and they decided to go forward. There was no fear.

429
00:20:50,506 --> 00:20:52,346
Speaker 1: There was no doubt that they were going to get

430
00:20:52,386 --> 00:20:55,306
Speaker 1: past the combat zone, which is when I say combat zone,

431
00:20:55,346 --> 00:20:58,266
Speaker 1: that's really usually the ten or fifteen yard zone where

432
00:20:58,306 --> 00:21:01,346
Speaker 1: all the blocking and stuff happens. Right, they were always

433
00:21:01,426 --> 00:21:03,866
Speaker 1: confident they were going to get through. And the second

434
00:21:03,906 --> 00:21:08,866
Speaker 1: thing that made Devin Hester ridiculously good and most returners,

435
00:21:08,906 --> 00:21:12,386
Speaker 1: you ready for this, jams, it's something that's biological. Okay,

436
00:21:12,666 --> 00:21:16,826
Speaker 1: dude ain't had no hips. Dude ain't had no hips, bro, Like,

437
00:21:16,866 --> 00:21:19,826
Speaker 1: what do you mean when you tackle somebody right and

438
00:21:19,906 --> 00:21:22,746
Speaker 1: you grab them a lot of times you're falling off

439
00:21:23,386 --> 00:21:27,866
Speaker 1: until you meet assid hips. Hopefully I can say that. Okay, Yeah,

440
00:21:27,946 --> 00:21:32,066
Speaker 1: it's all good. Okay. With Devin, he was straight up

441
00:21:32,066 --> 00:21:37,266
Speaker 1: and down. Cribs straight up and down, Dante Hall straight up,

442
00:21:37,266 --> 00:21:39,786
Speaker 1: and they're all they all with. You know, most of

443
00:21:39,826 --> 00:21:43,626
Speaker 1: these returners have the same physical attributes, you see what

444
00:21:43,666 --> 00:21:45,386
Speaker 1: I'm saying, and so when you try to tackle them,

445
00:21:45,586 --> 00:21:48,906
Speaker 1: these guys slipped right out of tackles. And then Devin

446
00:21:49,546 --> 00:21:52,346
Speaker 1: once he started returning kicks, now all of a sudden

447
00:21:52,386 --> 00:21:54,626
Speaker 1: he's in the punt team's head. And I remember playing

448
00:21:54,626 --> 00:21:56,706
Speaker 1: against him as a rookie. I remember, actually, I think

449
00:21:56,706 --> 00:21:59,066
Speaker 1: I played against Devon every single year in my career

450
00:21:59,826 --> 00:22:03,706
Speaker 1: and going out as a punt team, he creates anxiety

451
00:22:03,786 --> 00:22:05,986
Speaker 1: through the out them what could happen to you? Because

452
00:22:06,026 --> 00:22:08,546
Speaker 1: you know it can happen. You're sitting there with the

453
00:22:08,546 --> 00:22:11,266
Speaker 1: plump Like literally I plump returned. I mean our special

454
00:22:11,306 --> 00:22:14,386
Speaker 1: teams coach Brian Schneider. Uh, he was with the Seattle Seahars.

455
00:22:14,386 --> 00:22:16,146
Speaker 1: I think he's with the San Francisco for the Niners

456
00:22:16,266 --> 00:22:18,746
Speaker 1: right now. We will be on the sideline like, yo,

457
00:22:18,906 --> 00:22:21,426
Speaker 1: are we kicking it to him? We're like yeah, because

458
00:22:21,466 --> 00:22:23,746
Speaker 1: it's an ego thing. Damn right, We're gonna kick it

459
00:22:23,786 --> 00:22:25,866
Speaker 1: the deaf ass and I'm gonna make the tackle in

460
00:22:25,866 --> 00:22:29,546
Speaker 1: the minute he catches it. You can feel the energy

461
00:22:29,586 --> 00:22:33,026
Speaker 1: of the stadium. It's like I'm watching a video game.

462
00:22:33,106 --> 00:22:35,826
Speaker 1: It's like you can hear a fan start going real fans.

463
00:22:35,906 --> 00:22:39,066
Speaker 1: It's like it's like the energy turns up. And then

464
00:22:39,106 --> 00:22:41,706
Speaker 1: all of a sudden, I'm I'm running down the middle

465
00:22:41,746 --> 00:22:43,946
Speaker 1: of the field. He's in front of me. Then all

466
00:22:43,986 --> 00:22:46,346
Speaker 1: of a sudden, I start turning, and I'm turning, he's

467
00:22:46,346 --> 00:22:48,146
Speaker 1: turning the corner. And then all of a sudden, you

468
00:22:48,186 --> 00:22:50,026
Speaker 1: start thinking, I'm gonna get cracked back on. Let me

469
00:22:50,066 --> 00:22:53,066
Speaker 1: start looking, and you start looking, and then he's gone,

470
00:22:54,066 --> 00:22:56,546
Speaker 1: and he's gone in its touchdown. Bro, It's some of

471
00:22:56,586 --> 00:22:59,186
Speaker 1: the weirdestuff've ever seen. Patrick Peterson had the same effect,

472
00:22:59,346 --> 00:23:00,826
Speaker 1: and he first got in the legal we would kick

473
00:23:00,826 --> 00:23:02,986
Speaker 1: it to him. I remember telling our coach, hey, bro,

474
00:23:02,986 --> 00:23:05,466
Speaker 1: I don't kick the Patrick. He's too young and fast.

475
00:23:06,146 --> 00:23:08,266
Speaker 1: He just is I remember said looking at I had

476
00:23:08,346 --> 00:23:11,706
Speaker 1: Jeff albrig who's the defense coordinator um for the Jets

477
00:23:11,826 --> 00:23:14,906
Speaker 1: right now? We want special teams together. He farewell, we

478
00:23:14,906 --> 00:23:17,066
Speaker 1: were on special teams together. I think he's the special

479
00:23:17,066 --> 00:23:20,426
Speaker 1: teams coordinator up there in Buffalo. I remember having conversations

480
00:23:20,426 --> 00:23:23,986
Speaker 1: with these guys like, Bro, we can't tackle him. These

481
00:23:24,026 --> 00:23:27,506
Speaker 1: are real conversations on the side. So why because we're

482
00:23:27,546 --> 00:23:30,666
Speaker 1: at home hoping that you can't know him? Right? So,

483
00:23:31,786 --> 00:23:33,586
Speaker 1: like we all get it now, this is the first

484
00:23:33,586 --> 00:23:36,386
Speaker 1: time I've ever heard it articulated. Why are you even

485
00:23:36,426 --> 00:23:39,466
Speaker 1: bothering kicking to these guys? Well, because again, you get

486
00:23:39,466 --> 00:23:41,626
Speaker 1: a guy like real Mike rob who I was a

487
00:23:41,666 --> 00:23:44,266
Speaker 1: special teamer, pro bowler, all of those things you talk

488
00:23:44,466 --> 00:23:47,706
Speaker 1: your special teams coach and then making some stupid decisions.

489
00:23:47,706 --> 00:23:49,866
Speaker 1: But coach, we can do it. But that got the coach.

490
00:23:50,466 --> 00:23:52,386
Speaker 1: He's one of the best punters and at least the

491
00:23:52,666 --> 00:23:54,586
Speaker 1: putting I think I think he punts for the Arizona

492
00:23:54,626 --> 00:23:58,106
Speaker 1: Cardinals right now. Okay, yes, one of the best punters

493
00:23:58,106 --> 00:23:59,666
Speaker 1: in the league. We can pin him to the side.

494
00:23:59,826 --> 00:24:02,146
Speaker 1: We've worked on this all week. We penned him two

495
00:24:02,186 --> 00:24:04,786
Speaker 1: yards from the sideline. He's gonna catch it. Then we

496
00:24:04,826 --> 00:24:07,946
Speaker 1: can corral him. Make sure our backside wing stays in

497
00:24:07,946 --> 00:24:11,066
Speaker 1: his lane because he's gonna show up. Guess what backside

498
00:24:11,066 --> 00:24:13,306
Speaker 1: wing thinks he can make. The tackle gives up the edge,

499
00:24:13,506 --> 00:24:16,786
Speaker 1: Devin has to score another such Percy Harvd was elite

500
00:24:16,826 --> 00:24:20,186
Speaker 1: at that too. Yeah, well look not no, no, I

501
00:24:20,906 --> 00:24:23,946
Speaker 1: love it. It actually paints a really good picture of

502
00:24:23,946 --> 00:24:25,866
Speaker 1: of what we're discussing here. By the way, just for

503
00:24:26,066 --> 00:24:27,986
Speaker 1: some of the fans who might not be familiar with

504
00:24:27,986 --> 00:24:30,746
Speaker 1: Devin Hester, just a couple of things I'll throw out

505
00:24:30,826 --> 00:24:32,666
Speaker 1: your way. Four time pro bowler. I'm looking at some

506
00:24:32,706 --> 00:24:35,946
Speaker 1: of my notes. Fourteen career punt return touchdowns. That is

507
00:24:35,986 --> 00:24:39,586
Speaker 1: the most in NFL history. He had four of them

508
00:24:39,586 --> 00:24:42,106
Speaker 1: in two thousand seven. That ties for the most in

509
00:24:42,146 --> 00:24:45,066
Speaker 1: a season in NFL history. Can you mention having four

510
00:24:45,106 --> 00:24:47,946
Speaker 1: of those in the season? They are who we thought

511
00:24:47,466 --> 00:24:52,626
Speaker 1: they went, not like we gave it to him. I

512
00:24:52,786 --> 00:24:54,466
Speaker 1: sent a kick to the devil. Hester. Why did I

513
00:24:54,506 --> 00:24:59,586
Speaker 1: listen to Mike rob my special teams captain. That's probably yeah,

514
00:24:59,626 --> 00:25:01,226
Speaker 1: he didn't drop that on it, but we did get

515
00:25:01,306 --> 00:25:03,746
Speaker 1: a memorable sound bite. The other two leaders on the

516
00:25:03,786 --> 00:25:06,626
Speaker 1: most punt return yards game in a career. The NFL history.

517
00:25:06,866 --> 00:25:11,506
Speaker 1: Ryan Mitchell nearly five thousand, four thousand, Dave Megat. I

518
00:25:11,506 --> 00:25:13,626
Speaker 1: remember him just bawling out with the Giants back in

519
00:25:13,666 --> 00:25:16,186
Speaker 1: the day three thousand, seven hundred eight yards, and then

520
00:25:16,226 --> 00:25:21,906
Speaker 1: Hester just behind him three thousand, six hundred Brian Mitchell,

521
00:25:22,106 --> 00:25:25,666
Speaker 1: Dave Megat. They came from a generation or the end

522
00:25:25,706 --> 00:25:29,586
Speaker 1: of the running back generation, right. I mean, this game

523
00:25:29,626 --> 00:25:31,866
Speaker 1: for so long ran through the backs. I mean we

524
00:25:31,906 --> 00:25:34,506
Speaker 1: had fullbacks going touch I think Frank o' harris who

525
00:25:34,546 --> 00:25:37,026
Speaker 1: just passed out too long ago, I think his official

526
00:25:37,066 --> 00:25:39,386
Speaker 1: position with fullback or something like that at some point

527
00:25:39,626 --> 00:25:43,306
Speaker 1: um in his career. So those guys, Dave Megan, Brian Mitchell,

528
00:25:43,466 --> 00:25:46,466
Speaker 1: they were toward the end the back half of offenses

529
00:25:46,506 --> 00:25:49,466
Speaker 1: being dominated, teams being dominated by the running back. And

530
00:25:49,506 --> 00:25:52,746
Speaker 1: it's because again just think about it, yams. They got

531
00:25:52,786 --> 00:25:54,906
Speaker 1: great hands when they get the ball in their hands,

532
00:25:54,946 --> 00:25:57,626
Speaker 1: they're a tough person to bring down to the ground.

533
00:25:57,626 --> 00:25:59,946
Speaker 1: And I think when you look from a return standpoint,

534
00:26:00,146 --> 00:26:01,906
Speaker 1: that's what guys were looking for back in the day.

535
00:26:01,946 --> 00:26:03,506
Speaker 1: If you do like running backs, you want to hear

536
00:26:03,506 --> 00:26:06,106
Speaker 1: about the decline of that position. Oh, we just did

537
00:26:06,106 --> 00:26:11,386
Speaker 1: an episode on that one. The reevaluation of the running

538
00:26:11,386 --> 00:26:16,466
Speaker 1: back position. You can frame it. However, office coordinators think

539
00:26:16,466 --> 00:26:18,466
Speaker 1: they want to throw the ball all over the place

540
00:26:19,066 --> 00:26:21,786
Speaker 1: running backs man, let's go okay, well, you you be

541
00:26:21,826 --> 00:26:25,106
Speaker 1: the judge of it, and you can decide one of

542
00:26:25,426 --> 00:26:28,226
Speaker 1: Henry irony. No, No, I wouldn't say that to face,

543
00:26:28,306 --> 00:26:30,346
Speaker 1: and I wouldn't say it about him. How about that,

544
00:26:30,386 --> 00:26:34,386
Speaker 1: I'll double down, no decline in the king. There have been,

545
00:26:34,426 --> 00:26:36,826
Speaker 1: by the way, some real changes to punt returns over

546
00:26:36,866 --> 00:26:38,786
Speaker 1: the years in order to increase a little bit of

547
00:26:38,826 --> 00:26:42,946
Speaker 1: action and tempo, including restrictions placed on members of the

548
00:26:42,946 --> 00:26:45,866
Speaker 1: punt team in order to open up return possibilities. Give

549
00:26:45,906 --> 00:26:49,146
Speaker 1: you an example. Seventy four, the NFL barred all offensive

550
00:26:49,146 --> 00:26:52,226
Speaker 1: players except for the two farthest from the ball. Those

551
00:26:52,266 --> 00:26:54,866
Speaker 1: are the gunners that m rob made reference to, from

552
00:26:54,946 --> 00:26:58,306
Speaker 1: crossing the line of scrimmage until the ball was punted. Then,

553
00:26:58,346 --> 00:27:01,066
Speaker 1: in nineteen seventy nine, players on the punt return team

554
00:27:01,066 --> 00:27:04,026
Speaker 1: were barred from blocking below the waist for safety reasons,

555
00:27:04,026 --> 00:27:06,946
Speaker 1: which is definitely a huge one. I couldn't imagine running

556
00:27:06,986 --> 00:27:10,426
Speaker 1: down team and having the guard against a low block.

557
00:27:10,706 --> 00:27:17,666
Speaker 1: Are you kidding me? Hill? Hill Asau about that? Even

558
00:27:17,706 --> 00:27:19,746
Speaker 1: the changes that were made to open up the punt

559
00:27:19,746 --> 00:27:23,586
Speaker 1: return game, the average yards on punt return steadily decreased

560
00:27:23,826 --> 00:27:27,906
Speaker 1: from eleven to nineteen before increasing the past couple of seasons,

561
00:27:27,986 --> 00:27:32,866
Speaker 1: just for context purposes, punt return average yards per return

562
00:27:33,346 --> 00:27:37,066
Speaker 1: nine point six. Let's fast forward to all the way

563
00:27:37,066 --> 00:27:39,866
Speaker 1: down to seven point six, and then once again over

564
00:27:39,866 --> 00:27:42,946
Speaker 1: the last three seasons there's been an increase eight point eight,

565
00:27:42,986 --> 00:27:45,986
Speaker 1: eight point eight, and then this season we're sitting at nine.

566
00:27:46,386 --> 00:27:48,786
Speaker 1: The player who actually holds the record for the highest

567
00:27:48,826 --> 00:27:53,186
Speaker 1: average punt return yardage is Chicago Bear George McAfee, who

568
00:27:53,186 --> 00:27:57,946
Speaker 1: played ninety one and then forty five to fifty. Man

569
00:27:58,306 --> 00:28:03,306
Speaker 1: for real, I mean, I'm a little surprised. I mean,

570
00:28:03,386 --> 00:28:05,346
Speaker 1: but I mean I always and again, I know some

571
00:28:05,426 --> 00:28:08,186
Speaker 1: of the ore legends players a good outset with me

572
00:28:08,266 --> 00:28:10,666
Speaker 1: for saying this. I just I just wondered about the

573
00:28:10,666 --> 00:28:13,746
Speaker 1: competition back in the days, right, like, you know, the

574
00:28:13,786 --> 00:28:15,786
Speaker 1: average almost thirteen yards of punt return. But who are

575
00:28:15,786 --> 00:28:18,666
Speaker 1: you going again? All right? You took me into the

576
00:28:18,666 --> 00:28:21,666
Speaker 1: weeds when it comes to the philosophy and the mechanics

577
00:28:21,946 --> 00:28:24,386
Speaker 1: of the punt return. So we've already covered that. But

578
00:28:24,426 --> 00:28:27,066
Speaker 1: when we come back on the NFL Explaining podcast, we'll

579
00:28:27,066 --> 00:28:29,226
Speaker 1: discuss some of the greats and some of the biggest

580
00:28:29,226 --> 00:28:39,106
Speaker 1: punt returns the game has ever seen. All Right, this

581
00:28:39,186 --> 00:28:41,826
Speaker 1: is my second favorite thing that we do in the show.

582
00:28:42,306 --> 00:28:44,546
Speaker 1: You know what it is that just tell people, you

583
00:28:44,586 --> 00:28:47,986
Speaker 1: know where the d M R don't don't, don't d

584
00:28:48,186 --> 00:28:50,306
Speaker 1: M d M yeah you d M By the way,

585
00:28:50,426 --> 00:28:52,706
Speaker 1: they actually have been coming fast and furious, like there

586
00:28:52,786 --> 00:28:56,666
Speaker 1: is something to consistency and constantly promoting things. So if

587
00:28:56,706 --> 00:28:59,626
Speaker 1: you have a question for the NFL Explained crew and

588
00:28:59,666 --> 00:29:01,786
Speaker 1: you want us to do answer that question for you,

589
00:29:02,146 --> 00:29:04,546
Speaker 1: send me the note. Legitimately you're on the threat. I know.

590
00:29:04,706 --> 00:29:08,026
Speaker 1: I say this every every on he actually you know,

591
00:29:08,106 --> 00:29:10,466
Speaker 1: takes a screenshot. He actually puts it on the thread.

592
00:29:10,506 --> 00:29:12,986
Speaker 1: But it's good for me too, because you know, I'm

593
00:29:12,986 --> 00:29:15,106
Speaker 1: an analyst. I've forgotten more football than a lot of

594
00:29:15,106 --> 00:29:17,186
Speaker 1: people know. And at the end of the day sometimes

595
00:29:17,186 --> 00:29:20,226
Speaker 1: I gloss over stuff just thinking everybody understands what I'm

596
00:29:20,226 --> 00:29:23,066
Speaker 1: talking about. So the questions are just a good reminder

597
00:29:23,106 --> 00:29:25,866
Speaker 1: that not everybody understands it at the level that we do,

598
00:29:26,026 --> 00:29:27,426
Speaker 1: and it just gives us a chance to break some

599
00:29:27,466 --> 00:29:29,906
Speaker 1: things down that you use we there. You know how

600
00:29:29,906 --> 00:29:31,546
Speaker 1: many times I've seen the question. I'm like, that is

601
00:29:31,546 --> 00:29:33,666
Speaker 1: like the best question ever. And I hit him back

602
00:29:33,666 --> 00:29:35,626
Speaker 1: and I'm like, Yo, that's an awesome one. We'll get

603
00:29:35,666 --> 00:29:37,546
Speaker 1: it in. And you know, and there's been a few

604
00:29:37,586 --> 00:29:39,266
Speaker 1: of these times where I've said I've asked the same

605
00:29:39,306 --> 00:29:41,746
Speaker 1: exact question. I promise we'll work this too, one of

606
00:29:41,746 --> 00:29:44,826
Speaker 1: those mail bag episodes. So keep the questions coming. We

607
00:29:44,866 --> 00:29:47,066
Speaker 1: really do appreciate it. But we are talking about the

608
00:29:47,186 --> 00:29:49,266
Speaker 1: art of the punt return and Rob did a great

609
00:29:49,306 --> 00:29:56,066
Speaker 1: job explaining some of the fundamentals around those situations, technique, philosophies, schematically,

610
00:29:56,066 --> 00:29:58,346
Speaker 1: what we see on the field, what we want to do. Though,

611
00:29:58,546 --> 00:30:00,746
Speaker 1: you start talking about some of the records and some

612
00:30:00,786 --> 00:30:03,866
Speaker 1: of the individuals who actually execute what m Rob was

613
00:30:03,906 --> 00:30:06,746
Speaker 1: talking about. So the team actually the most punt return

614
00:30:06,826 --> 00:30:12,106
Speaker 1: touchdowns in the season nineteen fifty nine, Chicago Cardinals, Yes,

615
00:30:12,186 --> 00:30:14,986
Speaker 1: you heard me, Ryan, the only team in NFL history

616
00:30:14,986 --> 00:30:18,506
Speaker 1: to have five punt return touchdowns in a single season.

617
00:30:18,546 --> 00:30:20,586
Speaker 1: By the way, I said that, Devin Hester tied the

618
00:30:20,626 --> 00:30:23,546
Speaker 1: record four in one season. How about this the record

619
00:30:23,666 --> 00:30:26,586
Speaker 1: for a whole year, Chicago Cardinals in nineteen fifty nine.

620
00:30:26,706 --> 00:30:30,106
Speaker 1: That's crazy. And to also see that the Arizona Cardinals

621
00:30:30,106 --> 00:30:32,706
Speaker 1: in twenty eleven, I think that's the Patrick Peterson time

622
00:30:33,106 --> 00:30:35,586
Speaker 1: when he was there was a part of that. Again again,

623
00:30:35,586 --> 00:30:37,906
Speaker 1: when when you have these exciting returners made, it just

624
00:30:37,946 --> 00:30:40,866
Speaker 1: affects so many different aspects of you football team. Four

625
00:30:40,906 --> 00:30:44,546
Speaker 1: players that have scored four punt returns for a touchdown

626
00:30:44,626 --> 00:30:49,466
Speaker 1: in a season in NFL history four total. Check this out. Peterson,

627
00:30:49,506 --> 00:30:51,066
Speaker 1: who you made reference too, good call, that was that

628
00:30:51,466 --> 00:30:54,226
Speaker 1: eleven team he had four by himself. Devin Hester two

629
00:30:54,266 --> 00:30:59,066
Speaker 1: thousand seven with the Bears he had fourteen, Rick up

630
00:30:59,146 --> 00:31:02,506
Speaker 1: Church had the four, and then in nineteen fifty one

631
00:31:02,946 --> 00:31:07,706
Speaker 1: from Detroit, Jack Christiansen all show with four. I'm almost

632
00:31:07,706 --> 00:31:10,866
Speaker 1: surprised that we haven't had a right over the last

633
00:31:10,866 --> 00:31:14,386
Speaker 1: few years or so, like one dude who well, especially

634
00:31:14,426 --> 00:31:19,066
Speaker 1: with the the type of athletes that right like today.

635
00:31:19,106 --> 00:31:21,786
Speaker 1: But I also think when you think about Hester, and

636
00:31:21,986 --> 00:31:24,466
Speaker 1: you know when Patrick Peterson was coming along, that's when

637
00:31:24,466 --> 00:31:26,586
Speaker 1: Hester was kind of on his way out. I just

638
00:31:26,666 --> 00:31:30,986
Speaker 1: think that you had organizations embraced special team. I mean

639
00:31:31,106 --> 00:31:34,186
Speaker 1: just throughout history, you just don't see teams embracing and

640
00:31:34,186 --> 00:31:36,026
Speaker 1: when you usually when you think of special teams, you

641
00:31:36,026 --> 00:31:39,546
Speaker 1: think about kicker, snapper, holder, You don't necessarily think returner

642
00:31:39,786 --> 00:31:42,466
Speaker 1: or the personal protector or you know, some of the

643
00:31:42,466 --> 00:31:44,506
Speaker 1: different things that your punter can do. So yeah, it's

644
00:31:44,506 --> 00:31:47,066
Speaker 1: pretty cool. I just think in that time in football history,

645
00:31:47,306 --> 00:31:50,666
Speaker 1: teams embraced special teams. So I've made reference to this

646
00:31:50,706 --> 00:31:52,706
Speaker 1: on this podcast. It's not breaking news, but I spent

647
00:31:52,746 --> 00:31:54,906
Speaker 1: a large portion of my career over the last ten

648
00:31:54,946 --> 00:31:57,146
Speaker 1: years or so covering college football. What it reminds me

649
00:31:57,146 --> 00:32:00,906
Speaker 1: of Christian McCaffrey when he was at Stanford. I mean,

650
00:32:00,986 --> 00:32:03,666
Speaker 1: he's another guy where you just stopped just to make

651
00:32:03,666 --> 00:32:05,986
Speaker 1: sure whenever Stanford was on offense, but sir le on

652
00:32:06,026 --> 00:32:08,746
Speaker 1: special teams, his ability to cut loose. Here now he's

653
00:32:08,746 --> 00:32:11,186
Speaker 1: with the forty Niners. Ryer McLeod does a great job

654
00:32:11,506 --> 00:32:13,786
Speaker 1: for those guys. I can't imagine, though, can you imagine

655
00:32:13,826 --> 00:32:16,826
Speaker 1: if McCaffrey was back. I guarantee and I don't notice

656
00:32:16,866 --> 00:32:18,866
Speaker 1: for a fat I ain't been to a Servantisco for

657
00:32:18,986 --> 00:32:20,506
Speaker 1: the out of practice and probably I don't know three

658
00:32:20,586 --> 00:32:23,506
Speaker 1: years now since the last time practice. I guarantee you

659
00:32:23,546 --> 00:32:26,826
Speaker 1: he catches punts still to this day. I guarantee you.

660
00:32:26,866 --> 00:32:29,226
Speaker 1: That is just in case, in case somebody gets hurt

661
00:32:29,306 --> 00:32:31,946
Speaker 1: or whatever, or Kyle may just come him and say, look, bro,

662
00:32:31,986 --> 00:32:33,666
Speaker 1: I just needed you to catch it. You the guy

663
00:32:33,786 --> 00:32:35,746
Speaker 1: trust go out there and catch it, guarantee you. He

664
00:32:35,786 --> 00:32:37,626
Speaker 1: still catches punts, you know. And it's weird too because

665
00:32:37,626 --> 00:32:39,666
Speaker 1: some guys have success at the college level in that

666
00:32:39,746 --> 00:32:43,186
Speaker 1: and then they don't necessarily have the same success. Well again,

667
00:32:43,186 --> 00:32:46,506
Speaker 1: it's not as glorified man, Like I'm telling you, Like,

668
00:32:46,546 --> 00:32:48,346
Speaker 1: when you get to the National Football League, you want

669
00:32:48,346 --> 00:32:50,426
Speaker 1: to you know, you want to go to the money spots.

670
00:32:50,426 --> 00:32:54,626
Speaker 1: You know, quarterback pass well left. What's the pay scale

671
00:32:54,826 --> 00:32:58,666
Speaker 1: for overturner? Like, where's that coming to? We're still debating,

672
00:32:58,866 --> 00:33:02,026
Speaker 1: which I don't. I think the debate is ridiculous. But

673
00:33:02,106 --> 00:33:04,266
Speaker 1: people are still debating on whether Devin has to should

674
00:33:04,266 --> 00:33:06,586
Speaker 1: be a Hall of Famer. Like when you impact, when

675
00:33:06,586 --> 00:33:09,466
Speaker 1: you impact, feel position like that and you were exciting

676
00:33:09,466 --> 00:33:11,786
Speaker 1: the way Devin Hester was definitely a Hall of Fame.

677
00:33:11,906 --> 00:33:14,506
Speaker 1: I saw Dante Pettis set an n C double a

678
00:33:14,546 --> 00:33:16,946
Speaker 1: record in the return game and yet and he does

679
00:33:16,986 --> 00:33:20,226
Speaker 1: still return in the league. We see that occasionally, but

680
00:33:20,306 --> 00:33:22,946
Speaker 1: it's it's you know, well it's different too. It's different

681
00:33:22,946 --> 00:33:24,866
Speaker 1: guys running down there, because I ain't gonna lie like

682
00:33:25,906 --> 00:33:27,906
Speaker 1: I'm running down in the last of the football league.

683
00:33:27,946 --> 00:33:31,786
Speaker 1: This tackle is going to being I pay my bills,

684
00:33:32,026 --> 00:33:34,306
Speaker 1: the reason why my little girl has food in her mouth.

685
00:33:34,346 --> 00:33:37,306
Speaker 1: So yeah, you're gonna get if you're gonna get this work, gams,

686
00:33:37,626 --> 00:33:43,706
Speaker 1: It's just guy breaks off a big return for a

687
00:33:43,746 --> 00:33:46,346
Speaker 1: touchdown in the punt game. What's it like on the sideline?

688
00:33:46,706 --> 00:33:49,826
Speaker 1: So is this against us? Or give me both pump return.

689
00:33:49,946 --> 00:33:53,026
Speaker 1: Let's start with the positive. Positive, So pump return, we

690
00:33:53,146 --> 00:33:56,346
Speaker 1: blocked for a good punt return, whatever, a lot of

691
00:33:56,386 --> 00:33:58,386
Speaker 1: excitement on the sideline. I'm not gonna lie. From a

692
00:33:58,426 --> 00:34:03,626
Speaker 1: special teamer standpoint, I'm thinking, Okay, did I block my guy?

693
00:34:03,826 --> 00:34:08,706
Speaker 1: Did I get full points in the special team points system? Okay?

694
00:34:08,746 --> 00:34:11,146
Speaker 1: Did I get pluses? I ain't get no negatives on this.

695
00:34:11,226 --> 00:34:13,066
Speaker 1: We all got a game change in place, so that's

696
00:34:13,106 --> 00:34:15,786
Speaker 1: extra points because you know, I know in Seattle we

697
00:34:15,826 --> 00:34:17,506
Speaker 1: had like top park of the week. You know what

698
00:34:17,586 --> 00:34:19,466
Speaker 1: I'm saying. It's like a point system. We were gett

699
00:34:19,466 --> 00:34:20,906
Speaker 1: and then we'd have talk top park of the year.

700
00:34:20,906 --> 00:34:22,506
Speaker 1: Out of my four years, I got it two years.

701
00:34:22,706 --> 00:34:24,546
Speaker 1: The fire War got it two years too. We kind

702
00:34:24,546 --> 00:34:26,506
Speaker 1: of used to go back and fadge of honor has

703
00:34:26,506 --> 00:34:28,946
Speaker 1: a badger on them at the shirts and everything. You

704
00:34:28,946 --> 00:34:30,986
Speaker 1: know what I'm saying. But I would always think about

705
00:34:30,986 --> 00:34:33,786
Speaker 1: about the point system number one, and can I be

706
00:34:33,826 --> 00:34:37,626
Speaker 1: honest with you, I would think, get your win together.

707
00:34:37,666 --> 00:34:40,906
Speaker 1: You got kick off, like literally you you just don't

708
00:34:40,946 --> 00:34:43,906
Speaker 1: have enough time to sit and just think, oh, we

709
00:34:43,986 --> 00:34:47,786
Speaker 1: just did this, heyy happy happy, No, I'm thinking about

710
00:34:47,826 --> 00:34:49,626
Speaker 1: what I gotta do next. People always ask me what

711
00:34:49,626 --> 00:34:51,346
Speaker 1: I did on Beast Quake when he ran and did

712
00:34:51,386 --> 00:34:53,106
Speaker 1: all that time. I said, but I was thinking about Kioff.

713
00:34:53,106 --> 00:34:54,866
Speaker 1: I was blocking. But I don't think about kickoff on

714
00:34:54,906 --> 00:34:57,346
Speaker 1: the next play. And at the end of the day, man,

715
00:34:57,786 --> 00:35:00,346
Speaker 1: you don't get a chance to really celebrate those long returns,

716
00:35:00,346 --> 00:35:02,666
Speaker 1: of those big time returns until the defense goes back

717
00:35:02,666 --> 00:35:04,866
Speaker 1: out there. And one would think that the defense will

718
00:35:04,866 --> 00:35:07,986
Speaker 1: be upset because now they just they forced the punt.

719
00:35:08,626 --> 00:35:10,706
Speaker 1: They go out there, get a scored award, and they

720
00:35:10,706 --> 00:35:12,746
Speaker 1: gotta go back out there for you know, some of

721
00:35:12,786 --> 00:35:15,586
Speaker 1: them have field goal, you know, extra point protection. Then

722
00:35:15,586 --> 00:35:16,986
Speaker 1: they got to go back out there and kick off

723
00:35:16,986 --> 00:35:20,106
Speaker 1: and then defense, so they're excited. Anytime we're scoring points,

724
00:35:20,106 --> 00:35:22,506
Speaker 1: the defense is excited. And oftentimes the more points it

725
00:35:22,586 --> 00:35:25,506
Speaker 1: puts the opposing offense in like, um, you know, one

726
00:35:25,586 --> 00:35:28,826
Speaker 1: dimensional game. So they like that, alright. Uh. One of

727
00:35:28,826 --> 00:35:30,786
Speaker 1: the note, by the way, on Devon Hester, I feel

728
00:35:30,786 --> 00:35:33,306
Speaker 1: like there's like a lot of homage that we're paying him,

729
00:35:33,306 --> 00:35:37,666
Speaker 1: and rightfully, yeah, no doubt. He does hold the career

730
00:35:37,706 --> 00:35:41,186
Speaker 1: record for punt return touchdowns with fourteen. That's actually four

731
00:35:41,266 --> 00:35:43,546
Speaker 1: more than the next guy on the list. Eric Metcalf

732
00:35:43,626 --> 00:35:45,866
Speaker 1: is that guy with tim We made reference to Brian

733
00:35:45,906 --> 00:35:49,146
Speaker 1: Mitchell earlier in the podcast. He has nine, but Emerald

734
00:35:49,266 --> 00:35:51,586
Speaker 1: in the mid two thousand's punts were actually returned to

735
00:35:51,626 --> 00:35:54,186
Speaker 1: the fifty percent of the time. That's dropped to a

736
00:35:54,226 --> 00:35:58,346
Speaker 1: low of fort in recent years, which makes the record

737
00:35:58,426 --> 00:36:00,706
Speaker 1: for the most punt returns for a touchdown in a

738
00:36:00,786 --> 00:36:05,386
Speaker 1: career ridiculously impressive. Mitchell, whose number we gave before, with nine,

739
00:36:05,786 --> 00:36:08,346
Speaker 1: he's returned a hundred more punts than any other player

740
00:36:08,346 --> 00:36:12,866
Speaker 1: in NFL history. More opportunity, isn't that wild? More chances

741
00:36:13,146 --> 00:36:15,786
Speaker 1: to get into the end zone. That is pretty crazy, man.

742
00:36:15,826 --> 00:36:18,146
Speaker 1: And again, the more chances you get, the more opportunities

743
00:36:18,186 --> 00:36:21,706
Speaker 1: you get for an explosive play and explosive touchdowns. But man,

744
00:36:22,026 --> 00:36:24,786
Speaker 1: Brian Mitchell was a dog man, and I'm saying that

745
00:36:24,826 --> 00:36:26,746
Speaker 1: in a good way. He was a dog man when

746
00:36:26,746 --> 00:36:28,186
Speaker 1: he gets the ball in his he was tough to

747
00:36:28,226 --> 00:36:30,266
Speaker 1: bring down. Yeah, you want dogs on your team. Uh.

748
00:36:30,386 --> 00:36:32,226
Speaker 1: Danny Rees, by the way, holds the record for the

749
00:36:32,266 --> 00:36:35,586
Speaker 1: most punt returns in a season in NFL history nineteen

750
00:36:35,666 --> 00:36:41,186
Speaker 1: seventy nine, seventy of them wild ex from a cluster,

751
00:36:41,226 --> 00:36:44,266
Speaker 1: by the way, in the most recent with fifty eight

752
00:36:44,626 --> 00:36:48,426
Speaker 1: punt returns in a season. You mentioned special teams, right, Like,

753
00:36:48,466 --> 00:36:51,026
Speaker 1: how does a player just go and say, you know what,

754
00:36:51,106 --> 00:36:53,746
Speaker 1: this is gonna be my career. I'm gonna be special teams? Dude, Well,

755
00:36:53,826 --> 00:36:58,466
Speaker 1: so you know I do USFL games. And the m

756
00:36:58,546 --> 00:37:01,586
Speaker 1: VP of that league, Cavante Turpin, ended up getting an

757
00:37:01,586 --> 00:37:04,506
Speaker 1: opportunity with the Dallas Cowboys as a turn and a monster,

758
00:37:04,666 --> 00:37:07,666
Speaker 1: and he has been a monster. And I think what

759
00:37:07,826 --> 00:37:11,186
Speaker 1: happened was he developed a reputation his speed jumps off

760
00:37:11,226 --> 00:37:12,506
Speaker 1: the tape and I think he's gonna be in the

761
00:37:12,586 --> 00:37:14,466
Speaker 1: National Football League for a while now. I mean he's

762
00:37:14,466 --> 00:37:17,546
Speaker 1: a real weapon. I think you at least gotta have

763
00:37:17,706 --> 00:37:21,146
Speaker 1: the threat of getting touchdowns almost every single time touch

764
00:37:21,226 --> 00:37:25,226
Speaker 1: the ball. I think you have to have Opposing special

765
00:37:25,226 --> 00:37:28,666
Speaker 1: team coaches have to put you up on the big

766
00:37:28,706 --> 00:37:31,946
Speaker 1: board on Monday when you first start your game planning,

767
00:37:31,946 --> 00:37:34,266
Speaker 1: and then everybody has to worry about you again. I

768
00:37:34,306 --> 00:37:36,746
Speaker 1: played with Alan rossellm I played against Allen Rossum and

769
00:37:36,786 --> 00:37:40,066
Speaker 1: I blocked for Allen Rossum. When you played against him, yes,

770
00:37:40,186 --> 00:37:42,306
Speaker 1: you knew Monday you was gonna have a problem. Dude

771
00:37:42,346 --> 00:37:44,186
Speaker 1: was a track star and he could run through tackles.

772
00:37:44,266 --> 00:37:47,306
Speaker 1: Leon Washington same type of dude. Percy Harvard the same

773
00:37:47,306 --> 00:37:49,266
Speaker 1: type of dude. And obviously we talked about Devin Hester,

774
00:37:49,386 --> 00:37:52,546
Speaker 1: Patrick Peterson and those guys. I just think that there's

775
00:37:52,586 --> 00:37:55,746
Speaker 1: an energy that these guys bring to a team. And yeah,

776
00:37:56,026 --> 00:37:58,186
Speaker 1: as the numbers bear out, they don't score a lot

777
00:37:58,226 --> 00:38:00,386
Speaker 1: of points, they don't score all the time. But at

778
00:38:00,386 --> 00:38:02,266
Speaker 1: the end of the day, if you can flip field position,

779
00:38:02,306 --> 00:38:05,386
Speaker 1: if you can average getting that ten to fifteen yards

780
00:38:05,746 --> 00:38:07,746
Speaker 1: a single time you get a return, that's the first down.

781
00:38:07,866 --> 00:38:09,786
Speaker 1: That was one of our goals as a special teams group.

782
00:38:10,386 --> 00:38:13,146
Speaker 1: Retain the football, have the possession and get a first down.

783
00:38:13,146 --> 00:38:15,106
Speaker 1: The minute you get the football, get those ten yards

784
00:38:15,266 --> 00:38:17,586
Speaker 1: turned bad into good. What's crazy about this is I

785
00:38:17,626 --> 00:38:20,106
Speaker 1: said the record for hester in a single season was four.

786
00:38:22,066 --> 00:38:25,466
Speaker 1: I guess subconsciously I knew it wasn't a bigger number

787
00:38:25,506 --> 00:38:27,466
Speaker 1: than that. But if I think back to that era

788
00:38:27,626 --> 00:38:30,706
Speaker 1: and watching him that season, you would have thought it

789
00:38:30,786 --> 00:38:34,226
Speaker 1: was happening like every game because we participated, right, Yeah,

790
00:38:34,426 --> 00:38:36,786
Speaker 1: you got ready for it. And again it's the vibe

791
00:38:36,826 --> 00:38:39,386
Speaker 1: around and did he grated the whole press confice man,

792
00:38:40,226 --> 00:38:42,106
Speaker 1: we thought they were. I don't know why you kicked

793
00:38:42,106 --> 00:38:51,306
Speaker 1: it to him? Yeah, exactly because there was that best Uh.

794
00:38:51,346 --> 00:38:53,506
Speaker 1: You know, this actually surprised me going through the notes here.

795
00:38:53,626 --> 00:38:56,746
Speaker 1: There's only been one punt return in NFL history that's

796
00:38:56,746 --> 00:38:58,866
Speaker 1: gone for a hundred plus yards. You would have thought

797
00:38:58,866 --> 00:39:02,866
Speaker 1: that it was higher. Robert Bailey a hundred and three

798
00:39:02,906 --> 00:39:05,746
Speaker 1: yard returned. Patrick Peterson, by the way, who's we've loved up.

799
00:39:05,786 --> 00:39:07,666
Speaker 1: He had nine yards, so he was knocking on the

800
00:39:07,666 --> 00:39:10,066
Speaker 1: door there. And just a little side note, I know

801
00:39:10,106 --> 00:39:13,026
Speaker 1: the Super Bowl is right around the corner here. Uh,

802
00:39:13,106 --> 00:39:15,226
Speaker 1: it has never happened a punt return for a touchdown

803
00:39:15,746 --> 00:39:17,786
Speaker 1: in a super Bowl, so I know that can't be

804
00:39:17,826 --> 00:39:20,426
Speaker 1: one of your favorite memories because it hasn't happened yet.

805
00:39:20,506 --> 00:39:22,706
Speaker 1: At some point it will. That dude might be your

806
00:39:22,746 --> 00:39:25,106
Speaker 1: Super Bowl MVP when it does happen. By the way,

807
00:39:25,306 --> 00:39:27,066
Speaker 1: is there one that stands out to you when you

808
00:39:27,106 --> 00:39:28,946
Speaker 1: were either player on the sideline, when you were a

809
00:39:28,986 --> 00:39:31,426
Speaker 1: kid watching the games? Like, is there that one iconic

810
00:39:31,466 --> 00:39:34,586
Speaker 1: moment for you? Iconic moment? I don't know if it's

811
00:39:34,626 --> 00:39:37,186
Speaker 1: an iconic moment. I mean, obviously we remember, you know,

812
00:39:37,266 --> 00:39:40,146
Speaker 1: Desmond Howard's when he got Super m v P. You know,

813
00:39:40,306 --> 00:39:42,226
Speaker 1: the big one that we talked about that was a

814
00:39:42,306 --> 00:39:43,786
Speaker 1: kickoff I think you know what I mean. But he

815
00:39:43,826 --> 00:39:46,146
Speaker 1: did have ninety return yards in the punt return game,

816
00:39:46,346 --> 00:39:47,826
Speaker 1: I mean, you know, in the part return game in

817
00:39:47,866 --> 00:39:49,946
Speaker 1: that Super Bowl and he won m v P. Obviously

818
00:39:49,986 --> 00:39:54,546
Speaker 1: we talked about Patrick Peterson, Um, Devin Hester, Dante Hall. Uh.

819
00:39:54,586 --> 00:39:56,226
Speaker 1: You know, I think we ought to give him a

820
00:39:56,266 --> 00:39:58,946
Speaker 1: little bit of credits to I forget what year it was,

821
00:39:58,986 --> 00:40:00,106
Speaker 1: and I don't even know if I was in the

822
00:40:00,146 --> 00:40:02,066
Speaker 1: league when it happened. I think he was playing the

823
00:40:02,066 --> 00:40:04,986
Speaker 1: Denver Broncles. He did some spinning around and it was

824
00:40:05,066 --> 00:40:07,066
Speaker 1: in a flatty caught the ball. He spent like three

825
00:40:07,106 --> 00:40:09,666
Speaker 1: or four times. I interviewed him about it a few

826
00:40:09,746 --> 00:40:13,146
Speaker 1: years ago and he said that play was when he

827
00:40:13,226 --> 00:40:15,946
Speaker 1: knew he could make a career out of being a returner.

828
00:40:15,986 --> 00:40:18,066
Speaker 1: It was like this minute he got to the sideline,

829
00:40:18,506 --> 00:40:20,786
Speaker 1: everybody was like, dude, we gotta get to the ball.

830
00:40:20,866 --> 00:40:23,146
Speaker 1: That So that's when he knew he had found he

831
00:40:23,386 --> 00:40:25,586
Speaker 1: had found this place. But, um, this game has had

832
00:40:25,626 --> 00:40:28,346
Speaker 1: some really really unique returners in his history. I've played

833
00:40:28,386 --> 00:40:31,226
Speaker 1: against a lot of them. Again, Um, Joshua Cribs, we

834
00:40:31,266 --> 00:40:33,586
Speaker 1: still have you know, we haven't talked about and guys

835
00:40:33,626 --> 00:40:37,306
Speaker 1: like that, But these guys are unique. These guys are

836
00:40:37,386 --> 00:40:42,906
Speaker 1: have no fear and they take returns very seriously. I

837
00:40:42,946 --> 00:40:46,066
Speaker 1: mean again, a guy like Leon Washington, dude just dreamed

838
00:40:46,106 --> 00:40:48,186
Speaker 1: about returning the ball. And he was one of my

839
00:40:48,186 --> 00:40:50,666
Speaker 1: best friends on the team. So yeah, man, big time

840
00:40:50,706 --> 00:40:53,426
Speaker 1: influence on team. It's funny. I'm looking at Dante Hall

841
00:40:53,466 --> 00:40:55,746
Speaker 1: and and his success. He was a two time pro bowler.

842
00:40:55,786 --> 00:40:58,226
Speaker 1: He has got six career punt returns for a touchdown.

843
00:40:58,306 --> 00:41:02,066
Speaker 1: That's the ninth most in NFL history. Five punt returns

844
00:41:02,266 --> 00:41:04,466
Speaker 1: for a touchdown in seven years with Kansas City. By

845
00:41:04,506 --> 00:41:06,226
Speaker 1: the way, just in case you're wondering, Yes, of course,

846
00:41:06,426 --> 00:41:08,986
Speaker 1: what about that Sean Jackson went against the what was

847
00:41:09,026 --> 00:41:11,946
Speaker 1: it against the Giants? He played for Philly. When I

848
00:41:12,106 --> 00:41:15,546
Speaker 1: kick that, he kind of around. Oh, that was so dope.

849
00:41:15,746 --> 00:41:17,946
Speaker 1: When I remember seeing that, I said, dude, it was

850
00:41:17,946 --> 00:41:19,986
Speaker 1: the personal protector. I was like, because you know, as

851
00:41:19,986 --> 00:41:23,026
Speaker 1: a personal protector, when you're puntingat you gotta be the

852
00:41:23,026 --> 00:41:25,106
Speaker 1: one right over the football man and if he cuts back,

853
00:41:25,146 --> 00:41:29,146
Speaker 1: that's your tackle. Oh that was a walk off. Let's go. Uh,

854
00:41:29,186 --> 00:41:31,066
Speaker 1: you know, it's one of the things I remember watching

855
00:41:31,066 --> 00:41:32,946
Speaker 1: that game live. One of the things that I do

856
00:41:33,026 --> 00:41:37,146
Speaker 1: remember was Coughlin just going berserk because he probably said

857
00:41:37,266 --> 00:41:39,706
Speaker 1: he shouldn't kick it to him, and he got talked

858
00:41:39,746 --> 00:41:42,986
Speaker 1: into allowing it to happen, and he was probably wanting

859
00:41:43,026 --> 00:41:45,306
Speaker 1: to punch himself for kicking it to him. He was

860
00:41:45,346 --> 00:41:48,346
Speaker 1: going nuts. Matt Dodd, who was the punter, it just

861
00:41:48,466 --> 00:41:52,106
Speaker 1: I do vividly remember, you know. And Tom had that

862
00:41:52,186 --> 00:41:55,066
Speaker 1: like that glow about him and when I got cold,

863
00:41:55,106 --> 00:41:56,866
Speaker 1: like his whole face would be read and it was

864
00:41:56,906 --> 00:41:58,466
Speaker 1: just kind of kind of go. But I remember like

865
00:41:58,506 --> 00:42:02,146
Speaker 1: he was blowing a gasket ball field, but a ton

866
00:42:02,186 --> 00:42:04,066
Speaker 1: of fun I actually when I heard it, I was like, Oh,

867
00:42:04,106 --> 00:42:05,666
Speaker 1: this will be cool. I didn't think we go to

868
00:42:05,786 --> 00:42:09,026
Speaker 1: slong on this is this lihouse, ma'am? Yeah? No, man,

869
00:42:10,106 --> 00:42:12,386
Speaker 1: kind of like digging deep on this. I hope everyone

870
00:42:12,506 --> 00:42:16,106
Speaker 1: enjoyed this episode. The art of the punt return explained.