ONE OR TWO PUNT RETURNERS?
Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 7:54 pm
PUNT RETURNS WILL BE MORE EXITING THIS SEASON
The new rules preventing kickers from kicking the ball out of bounds outside the 20 yard lines (or be penalized) combined with a return to the old punt blocking rules (what were Wally and the rules committee thinking last season) will make punt returns much more exciting again this season. However, the extra two special team players will also make punt returns challenging enough.
THE TWO OPTIONS
This post will focus on the concept of whether it's better to utilize one or two punt returners on any given punt return. I'll focus on the blocking strategies of punt returns in another post at a later time. There was a time when CFL teams mostly used two punt return players for each punt. One was usually lined up short while the second punt returner lined up deeper. Once in a while CFL teams spread them out to cover more field.
THE BACKGROUND OF NFL AND CFL PUNT RETURN GAMES
In the NFL it was more common to have a single punt returner. NFL punting rules, the fair catch rule, the narrower field (the CFL field is 15 yards wider) made a single punt returner, on most occasions, the sensible thing to do. However, on occasion, you will see two punt returners on a punt play in the NFL. You'll also see it in the CFL, especially in games where the weather is bad, especially in windy conditions, when a team is punting into the wind.
However, in recent years CFL teams have also moved to a single punt returner, modeling our southern counterparts on punt returns. I've often wondered about the strategy. Lets take a closer look at both options.
TWO PUNT RETURNERS
There are a number of advantages to having two punt returners on a punt play. The first is field position. It provides a much higher percentage that a punt will be fielded on the fly and often the punt returner is in a much better position, upon catching the football, to begin his run. The second punt returner is also in a good position to block for the punt returner catching the football, if the punt is kicked deep.
SINGLE PUNT RETURNER
There are also two advantages to utilize a single punt returner. While there is a greater chance the ball will not be fielded in the air and the punt returner often has to run a further distance to catch the football, it does put the football in the hands of your team's best punt returner. A single punt returner also means that your team can put an extra player on the line of scrimmage to block a punt and provides an extra blocker to run down the field to set up a wall.
WHICH IS THE BEST OPTION?
There is no conclusive proof that one option is better than the other in good weather. However, in bad weather, the two punt returner option has definite advantages that have been proven statistically. There are obviously times in a game when both options could prove advantageous.
However, if I could only choose between one of the two options exclusively I would go with the two punt returner option. Too often, even in good weather, punts are not fielded in the air. The wider CFL field, with punters angling the football towards the sidelines create additional challenges for punt returners. The first priority should always be field position. The chances of a punt bouncing and then going deep downfield are increased. The increased chance of fumbles also increases when a punt returner attempts to field a bouncing, unpredictable football.
Secondly, the punt returner has a much better chance of fielding the football in a good position to begin the runback. Most punts will be returned by your primary punt returner in the two punt returner scheme but short punts, shanked punts, line drive punts will be more effectively returned this way. Deep punts, returned by the primary punt returner, also result in an instant lead blocker. Sometimes I think that the influence of American football coaches in the CFL game have had an impact on moving our CFL punt return game towards a single punt returner. They coach in the manner they are most familiar with.
WRAP
The CFL field is more condusive to using a two punt returner system. However both optons have their advantages. I'm interested in your views of both options.
The new rules preventing kickers from kicking the ball out of bounds outside the 20 yard lines (or be penalized) combined with a return to the old punt blocking rules (what were Wally and the rules committee thinking last season) will make punt returns much more exciting again this season. However, the extra two special team players will also make punt returns challenging enough.
THE TWO OPTIONS
This post will focus on the concept of whether it's better to utilize one or two punt returners on any given punt return. I'll focus on the blocking strategies of punt returns in another post at a later time. There was a time when CFL teams mostly used two punt return players for each punt. One was usually lined up short while the second punt returner lined up deeper. Once in a while CFL teams spread them out to cover more field.
THE BACKGROUND OF NFL AND CFL PUNT RETURN GAMES
In the NFL it was more common to have a single punt returner. NFL punting rules, the fair catch rule, the narrower field (the CFL field is 15 yards wider) made a single punt returner, on most occasions, the sensible thing to do. However, on occasion, you will see two punt returners on a punt play in the NFL. You'll also see it in the CFL, especially in games where the weather is bad, especially in windy conditions, when a team is punting into the wind.
However, in recent years CFL teams have also moved to a single punt returner, modeling our southern counterparts on punt returns. I've often wondered about the strategy. Lets take a closer look at both options.
TWO PUNT RETURNERS
There are a number of advantages to having two punt returners on a punt play. The first is field position. It provides a much higher percentage that a punt will be fielded on the fly and often the punt returner is in a much better position, upon catching the football, to begin his run. The second punt returner is also in a good position to block for the punt returner catching the football, if the punt is kicked deep.
SINGLE PUNT RETURNER
There are also two advantages to utilize a single punt returner. While there is a greater chance the ball will not be fielded in the air and the punt returner often has to run a further distance to catch the football, it does put the football in the hands of your team's best punt returner. A single punt returner also means that your team can put an extra player on the line of scrimmage to block a punt and provides an extra blocker to run down the field to set up a wall.
WHICH IS THE BEST OPTION?
There is no conclusive proof that one option is better than the other in good weather. However, in bad weather, the two punt returner option has definite advantages that have been proven statistically. There are obviously times in a game when both options could prove advantageous.
However, if I could only choose between one of the two options exclusively I would go with the two punt returner option. Too often, even in good weather, punts are not fielded in the air. The wider CFL field, with punters angling the football towards the sidelines create additional challenges for punt returners. The first priority should always be field position. The chances of a punt bouncing and then going deep downfield are increased. The increased chance of fumbles also increases when a punt returner attempts to field a bouncing, unpredictable football.
Secondly, the punt returner has a much better chance of fielding the football in a good position to begin the runback. Most punts will be returned by your primary punt returner in the two punt returner scheme but short punts, shanked punts, line drive punts will be more effectively returned this way. Deep punts, returned by the primary punt returner, also result in an instant lead blocker. Sometimes I think that the influence of American football coaches in the CFL game have had an impact on moving our CFL punt return game towards a single punt returner. They coach in the manner they are most familiar with.
WRAP
The CFL field is more condusive to using a two punt returner system. However both optons have their advantages. I'm interested in your views of both options.