so uh... about the return game

[PhillyB]

erickson has no straight line speed and isn't particularly shifty and doesn't make particularly good decisions and doesn't seem to have a lot of upside or developmental room... but he fields 'em clean every time.

worth an upgrade on one of the most lackluster phases of the team? or do we just hold off and hope shi smith comes back in a couple weeks?

[LinvilleGorge]

It was straight trash. Teams are gonna start kicking the laces off the ball at us if we can't threaten any type of return. Don't exactly have to worry about out-kicking your coverage.

[chknwing]

what return game?

[Zod]

Pretty sure Bersickson is the plan until Shi returns. Just don't fumble is the mantra I think. 

[chknwing]

 

[frankw]

Seemed like last year our special teams was better than usual. Now we're just thankful we have someone that can fair catch without a catastrophe. I guess we're back to the same ol' same ol' now. Some things just never change with the Panthers.

[Jon Snow]

1 minute ago, Zod said:

Pretty sure Bersickson is the plan until Shi returns. Just don't fumble is the mantra I think. 

This^  Just don't fumble until Shi returns. 

[Captroop]

Yeah, I'm okay with pedestrian starting field position if it means we're not putting one of our offensive contributors needlessly in harm's way, or putting in a guy with the dropsies.

Don't Beat Ourselves is out motto this year, after all. So go with safe and win in other phases of the game.

[Fox007]

4 minutes ago, Zod said:

Pretty sure Bersickson is the plan until Shi returns. Just don't fumble is the mantra I think. 

Has to be right...I mean fug man he looked like the least atheltic individual on any field yesterday

[Khyber53]

Just wave your hand then catch the punt. And leave DJ out of special teams, it's not worth the risk.

[LinvilleGorge]

1 minute ago, Captroop said:

Don't Beat Ourselves 

It's so cringe. Feels like something Rivera would come up with. "Well guys, we're up 3 in the 2nd quarter. You know what to do now! Time to get conservative and hang on for dear life! Remember... Don't. Beat. Ourselves."

[Floppin]

7 minutes ago, Zod said:

Pretty sure Bersickson is the plan until Shi returns. Just don't fumble is the mantra I think. 

Exactly. They're just trotting someone out that they can trust to field the punt until Shi comes back. 

Edited September 13, 2021 by Floppin

[PhillyB]

1 minute ago, Khyber53 said:

Just wave your hand then catch the punt. And leave DJ out of special teams, it's not worth the risk.

agreed, but that said, rhule making them re-punt with a kicker and then sticking moore back there for that particular return was awesome coaching regardless of the result 

[therealmjl]

As a Gamecock fan I can confidently say if you are banking on Shi Smith being the savior to the punt return game you are in for a rude awakening.

He was a decent kick returner…I can’t recall any big moments (or if he was consistently used) as a PR