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[QUOTE="timkay99, post: 753528, member: 635"]
Norton can kick it through the end zone pretty consistently.

Game has changed.  A quality kick return average used to be 20 yards, so you wanted to boom it through the end zone b/c the field position trade-off wasn't worth it when the kickoffs were 5 yards deeper and opponents started at the 20 regardless.

The avg kickoff return against Syracuse this year is 19 yards (363 yards on 19 returns).  So, if your coverage team does its job, you gain field position if your kicker can generate both distance and hang-time.  Norton's hang time has improved a ton since last year when he kicked them through the end-zone.

Do you want every kick returned by every team?  No.  And nowhere near what I am saying.  But, if there is not a gamebreaker returning kicks and you have confidence in your coverage teams (which I think these special teams coverage teams are the best since pre-GRob), you can gain many yards there.

And, I think Syracuse employs this strategy.  Norton could boom them through the end-zone (40% of his kick-offs last year were touchbacks as opposed to just 30% this year - 8 touchbacks on 27 kickoffs - not counting the kick out of bounds or the squib kick) with regularity, but he doesn't.  I believe they are gaining yards through this tactic.  And, it is the right move.

And, I believe the same from a returner end, always take the touchback b/c you are not going to return it to the 25.
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