Any idea what has happened to Kobena?

[orangepassion]

How does a guy with so much speed do nothing on kick returns for at least a month? I mean the 1st guy down tackles him practically every time.

 

[CuseCrew08]

If I were Graham I would tackle Kobena so he can't catch the kickoff and run to the 18 where he meets the first defender and falls down

 

[ImperialOrange]

Our return blocking hasn't been anything to write home about. He meets the first defender at the 18 but there are usually 2 others right there with him.

Seems like both kick returners run for the sideline on their first cut rather than taking it back between the hash marks lately. If I've picked up on it, then I'm sure opposing coaches have.

Grahams WVU return TD he cut back to the middle.

 

[orange03]

Kobena has great straight end speed. His ability to cut is non existent.

 

[hungrychuck]

Earlier this year he was running fearlessly into the fray. Lately he has been chopping his steps on every return, negating his speed.

 

[RoysRunts]

As mentioned at the start of the 2nd Half of the Cincy Game (I asked that same? after watching him the 1st half) He was injured.

 

[Aweart23]

He's been playing hurt for awhile now.was a dnp for the second half against Cincy..mysterious lower body injury

 

[dollarbill44]

Watch him closely on KOs. He runs to the 20 and then stops and tries to change direction, which is when he gets tackled. Sometimes (most of the time) he should just sprint to where the opening is widest. If he did this, he would get more return yards and might actually break one. That's how Graham broke his against WVU.

 

[Rocco]

Kobena has great straight end speed. His ability to cut is non existent.

Spot on. Graham showed the ability to cut and get back to top speed quickly. Kobena has zero lateral agility when at top speed.

 

[qdawgg]

Last game he literally ran full speed into the back of his own player who was blocking a UL player. The UL player made the tackle of course.

 

[Ithacaorange]

looks to me like he lost his mind at l'ville- irrationally punching a player in the head and drawing a PF penalty. then a few weeks later continues to play with no brains and gets another PF penalty where the ball had already been kicked OB by our kicker. He then went berserk on the sideline for some reason. all while he was mentally imploding he hasn't returned a kick effectivley in weeks, culminating in him running into the arms of tacklers all day vs, cincy... thats about it.

 

[OrangeAl]

looks to me like he lost his mind at l'ville- irrationally punching a player in the head and drawing a PF penalty. then a few weeks later continues to play with no brains and gets another PF penalty where the ball had already been kicked OB by our kicker. He then went berserk on the sideline for some reason. all while he was mentally imploding he hasn't returned a kick effectivley in weeks, culminating in him running into the arms of tacklers all day vs, cincy... thats about it.

It's to the point where he looks like a liability rather than an asset on the field. Now watch him bust a hundred yard return against Pitt.

 

[GoCuse44]

He has been injured and that is way HCDM has not played him at WR.

 

[CuseFan]

This also drove me nuts the last few games - seemed like he was just running straight at the first defender and would stop at the 20 to try to move, instead of trying to blow by them at top speed.

 

[upperdeck]

people should also realize its not as easy as it seems.. first they have to spend4-5 secs watching the ball not the blocking then catch turn go to where the hole is supposed to be, they are told before hand where to go for the most part. its not like he is missing huge holes to run thru.. he gets to the hole and usually 1-3 guys are there, then he reverts back to hs where he could probably just improvise.. he has returned 20-30 kicks against real defenses it will take time.