Question: Trent Richardson as our return man....

[Black Warrior]

Anybody think that with the injury to MI that Trent will no longer be one of the return guys? And if so, who do you imagine that will be?
I just think he's too important now to be running back punts or KOs.

 

[bayoutider]

If he is best at running back punts and kickoffs let him. You can't play worrying about being injured you can get injured running back a kick, running a play or slipping in the shower. You can't play scared.

 

[Texas Tider]

I just think he's too important now to be running back punts or KOs.

I agree with you. Maybe Maze could take Trent's place?

 

[GreatDanish]

I'm pretty sure he'll still return kicks.

 

[BJ4TIDE]

Yeah, but what if Maze gets hurt and can't make those sweet catches he seems to pull out of his you-know-what? I know, let Goode do it....wait, then if he gets hurt, we are down another RB!! Hmmm, maybe Corey Grant.....No, he is a future weapon for SURE. Man....maybe we should just down kickoffs and punts so noone will get hurt.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

If Julio is going to return punts, then Trent is going to return kickoffs...

 

[kyallie]

If Julio is going to return punts, then Trent is going to return kickoffs...

I agree, I also think MAze will be used in the mix.

 

[BamaFossil]

I understand all the "play your best people & don't play scared" thinking. I still hope someone else takes over the return duties. I want TR fresh when Bama starts a new series... not tired after a runback.

 

[Alasippi]

With Ingram's injury you get Trent OFF the return teams.

I, for one, don't like Julio returning punts either.

In the first place, he's not very good at it. He has good hands, but he's not quick.

He will catch the ball, make a lanky step and get tackled.

He's a straight ahead speed guy. Javy was a jitterbug. That's what you have to have to be a successful punt returner.

We have better punt returners than Julio.

But Coach Saban is looking for someone who can make a safe fair catch and not make a critical turnover on a punt, like a freshman may do.

Especially early. I can understand that.

But with Ingram out. Get Trent off the kickoff return team.

If Ingram can get hurt, Trent can get hurt. And we need to minimize the possibility.

sip

 

[Alabama Larry in Ky]

Mark/Shaun/Major/Siran/ didn't return kicks very often, so Trent shouldn't either. While Mark is out.

 

[THE BAMA IRISHMAN]

If he is best at running back punts and kickoffs let him. You can't play worrying about being injured you can get injured running back a kick, running a play or slipping in the shower. You can't play scared.

Bingo. That is True. He is an exciting player and worth watching every second he touches the ball. As bayoutider stated you can not play Scared.

 

[jps1983]

With Ingram's injury you get Trent OFF the return teams.

I, for one, don't like Julio returning punts either.

In the first place, he's not very good at it. He has good hands, but he's not quick.

He will catch the ball, make a lanky step and get tackled.

He's a straight ahead speed guy. Javy was a jitterbug. That's what you have to have to be a successful punt returner.

We have better punt returners than Julio.

But Coach Saban is looking for someone who can make a safe fair catch and not make a critical turnover on a punt, like a freshman may do.

Especially early. I can understand that.

But with Ingram out. Get Trent off the kickoff return team.

If Ingram can get hurt, Trent can get hurt. And we need to minimize the possibility.

sip

Agreed. Especially considering TR will be our feature back for a little while, I'd keep him off ST just to keep him more fresh since he'll be getting a good # of the carries probably until MI gets back.

 

[EscaTider]

I, for one, don't like Julio returning punts either.

In the first place, he's not very good at it. He has good hands, but he's not quick.

He will catch the ball, make a lanky step and get tackled.

He's a straight ahead speed guy. Javy was a jitterbug. That's what you have to have to be a successful punt returner.

We have better punt returners than Julio.

But Coach Saban is looking for someone who can make a safe fair catch and not make a critical turnover on a punt, like a freshman may do.


sip

Check out Julio's kick return at 0:50. I think Julio will be just fine at returning kicks and punts. As good as Javy? Nope. Then again, the argument could be made that Javy is the best returner in SEC history.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdkKiphw4f4"]YouTube - Julio Jones Highlights 2009[/ame]

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Agreed. Especially considering TR will be our feature back for a little while, I'd keep him off ST just to keep him more fresh since he'll be getting a good # of the carries probably until MI gets back.

There was similar fretting about Javvy returning punts and then playing DB (which involves much more running every play than RB). Didn't seem to bother him...

 

[TheRealPokeChop]

Playing football is dangerous whatever phase of the game. Prothro was a starter at WR, PR, and KR. His injury came on offense. You play the best player at the position, perhaps they will rotate return men, however come saturday if TR is the best return man, he'll probably be returning kicks.

 

[MemphisBamaDude]

I could watch that bubble screen to Julio vs LSWho all dang day.

 

[bayoutider]

LOL I see this going down the road of someone should be kicking besides Tiffin.

 

[Black Warrior]

I don't mean to stir the pot here, but I beg differ with those that wouldn't pull TR and JJ off kick returns.
Let's look at the NCG and the hit that McCoy took from Dareus as an example. Many have posted, and many of those were Bama fans, that he shouldn't have been trying to run the ball on our D. I agree with that. If it had been a UT running back injured, the game wouldn't have changed that much. After McCoy, there was a big drop off. If key personnel get injured, the game can change on a dime. (No way am I saying that UT should or could have won).
Look what happened when Brodie Croyle went down. We have a lot more depth now but what if say, AJ had been Brodie's backup. The scenario is still the same. There's gonna be a drop off and that drop off might be the difference in games.
I think the "don't play scared" voices are wrong. Scared, no. Smart, yes. That doesn't mean you shouldn't play smart by protecting the two guys that are potentially the biggest game changers on the squad. I just can't see betting the whole wad on a few returns. There's got to be somebody else with the speed and moves we could put on the field.

 

[socalbamafan]

now that ingram is hurt, no way he returns kickoffs

 

[Jack Bourbon]

The problem is that the KR will be winded when the ball is snapped on first down, is it not? KR's typically involve pretty intense running or blocking except for touchbacks which are now rare. You want your best players fresh for the possession series. With Ingram healthy, Richardson could sit a couple of plays before coming in. If he's to return KO's then Lacy will likely have to start at TB for the first couple of plays each series. Then again I'm not an experienced player so I'm not really sure.

Javy returned punts but then sat on the bench for the offensive series.

In other words, I don't think injuries is the issue. KRs seem to rarely get hurt on returns after all, from my experience watching.