AMA - Ask Me Anything (Saints Preseason Game 1)

IceHot said

I have two questions the later being more serious (in my mind)....

First can Rico "Suave" Payton make the Team/PSquad?

Second, I didnt get to watch the the game until the second quarter. What I noticed (on the punt plays) was the way the right Gunner would take on the two Jammers. Instead of trying to beat them outside the gunner would consistently try to out pace them through the center of the field well across midfield. I know that a lot of players will make the team based on their ST play, so my question: Is this sound ST play or just a player trying not to look bad by getting washed out?

Click to expand...

Payton looked good and showed up on a couple plays on the ball... but I'm actually a bigger fan of Rejzohn Wright. I love his length and without getting out in front of my skis, he reminds me A LOT of Richard Sherman. If you get Wright in a match-man (zone with man principles, like the match 3 that the Seahawks ran during peak 'legion of boom' era) I think he could shine. I won't go off on a tangent too much here, but if you want me to explain match-man and how it's different than straight man or zone coverage, I'm happy to go full neurodivergent and explain the defense and why it favors CBs like Wright.

As for the gunner question, the rule on punt coverage for gunners is typically "take the most direct path to the returner." It's the anti-gunners job to funnel you outside for a reason. "Inside and in front" is the kind of catch-all kick/punt coverage rule. The only time you'll see a gunner correctly release outside is on a directional punt.

I, for one, teach my gunners to play "heavy technique," which means their aiming point is the opposite collar bone of the returner. So if I'm the right gunner, my aiming point is his left collar bone, and I take my most direct path to get there.

The reason why treating gunners as "contain" isn't sound is you open up the entire middle of the field and put your fastest coverage players to waste. The cardinal sin of kick/punt coverage is run behind the returner, which is where you usually end up if you're pursuing outside-in and getting washed up the field. "Inside and in front" -- that's where we always wanna be.