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Boneheaded Coaching Decision
Posted on 11/19/25 at 5:09 pm
Posted on 11/19/25 at 5:09 pm
Somewhat overlooked in the vast ocean of mistakes vs. Oklahoma was the absolutely boneheaded decision to put Ryan Williams as the punt returner.
Cole Adams at PR has been one of the most rock-solid, reliable parts of our special teams. He fields every punt perfectly, he's sure-handed, smart, and he picks up yardage when it's there.
Is he the most electrifying, game-breaking return man? No. But most punts aren't returnable anyway.
Instead, the coaches decided to try Ryan Williams as the returner - a kid who has struggled with confidence and catching the ball all season. Whose bright idea was this? How moronic can you be?
This personnel decision cost us the game, and you can lay the blame squarely at the feet of the coaching staff.
Cole Adams at PR has been one of the most rock-solid, reliable parts of our special teams. He fields every punt perfectly, he's sure-handed, smart, and he picks up yardage when it's there.
Is he the most electrifying, game-breaking return man? No. But most punts aren't returnable anyway.
Instead, the coaches decided to try Ryan Williams as the returner - a kid who has struggled with confidence and catching the ball all season. Whose bright idea was this? How moronic can you be?
This personnel decision cost us the game, and you can lay the blame squarely at the feet of the coaching staff.
This post was edited on 11/19/25 at 5:09 pm
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Posted on 11/19/25 at 5:13 pm to Tide Groupee
quote:
Somewhat overlooked in the vast ocean of mistakes vs. Oklahoma was the absolutely boneheaded decision to put Ryan Williams as the punt returner.
I guarantee you that’s not being overlooked. It was/is one of people’s biggest gripes. Even that ultra sunshine pumping power tripping mod on the r/rolltide sub Reddit was absolutely infuriated. Also it has to do with RW and lots of fans feel disappointed by him.
I mean we had just scored a TD and got a stop. Looks like we had the momentum. I think a lot of people knew Ryan was about to fumble with the way he was slowing himself down by dancing around despite having defenders right behind him.
Posted on 11/19/25 at 5:18 pm to 1BamaRTR
quote:
I guarantee you that’s not being overlooked. It was/is one of people’s biggest gripes.
Well it seems like the coaches overlooked it, because after the fumble they sent him out there again.
I mean even if they weren't satisfied with our punt return game, why on Earth would you turn to a kid who has struggled with confidence and catching the ball all year?
Being sure-minded and sure-handed are absolutely essential for a punt returner. The explosivity is icing on the cake.
Posted on 11/19/25 at 5:22 pm to Tide Groupee
One thing I noticed is in the last 4-5 games, Adams seldom gets much blocking from the guys who are supposed to block or at least slow down the punting team’s gunners.
Nothing can be done right now but I’d love to see a full time assistant hired in January who coaches nothing but special teams and has a proven record of special teams excellence.
Think about it. When was the last time Bama returned a KO for a TD? Blocked a FG? Blocked a punt?
Nothing can be done right now but I’d love to see a full time assistant hired in January who coaches nothing but special teams and has a proven record of special teams excellence.
Think about it. When was the last time Bama returned a KO for a TD? Blocked a FG? Blocked a punt?
Posted on 11/19/25 at 5:23 pm to Tide Groupee
quote:
Well it seems like the coaches overlooked it, because after the fumble they sent him out there again.
Yeah that was stupid. If they wanted to put another WR out there it should’ve been Bernard. He’s more sure handed and has far better field vision to find the open lanes. Or at least Brooks who has returned kicks this year even if is KR not PR.
I think the coaches just like a lot of people, are enamored by Ryan’s potential. Problem is he’s the same raw player that’s making the same mental mistakes as he did a year ago.
Posted on 11/19/25 at 5:32 pm to Tide Groupee
The explanation from DeBoer was fine by me: their punter was inconsistent with his range so they put two back to mitigate giving them free yards on a bounce. The fact a fumble happened was on Williams trying to do too much. Punters have to secure possession above all else, the returns have to be measured against risk. Williams can’t get into a crowd and be shuffling his feet and juking but more than anything he needed to sure up his hold when he got into that crowd. A great punter doesn’t get themselves into those situations.
Posted on 11/19/25 at 5:36 pm to Diego Ricardo
quote:
The explanation from DeBoer was fine by me: their punter was inconsistent with his range so they put two back to mitigate giving them free yards on a bounce.
I get that, but then we should've put anyone back there except for Ryan Williams
Posted on 11/19/25 at 5:42 pm to Tide Groupee
RW is the most explosive guy on the team. Only other id consider is Bernard
Posted on 11/19/25 at 5:47 pm to Diego Ricardo
quote:
RW is the most explosive guy on the team.
Bernard absolutely is
Still it’s a bad idea to put a guy back there that hasn’t returned any sort of kicks in real game time in about a year. Especially when it was a close game
I know Devonta did too in 2020 but he’s arguably the most reliable WR we’ve ever had and Bama was blowing out Arkansas his 1st game as returner so a mistake wouldn’t have mattered
Posted on 11/19/25 at 5:52 pm to Tide Groupee
The second he got the ball I knew a fumble was inbound. Felt like the ole miss game in 14.
Posted on 11/19/25 at 6:03 pm to Diego Ricardo
People are down on Williams, for football and especially non-football stuff. He’s become the poster boy for what people think is wrong with college football in 2025. That’s the reason everyone is obsessing about this.
I’m down on Williams too, to be perfectly honest. But his raw talent is indisputable, he’s got the chops to be as good as anyone who’s worn Crimson, and I can see what DeBoer was trying to do as you described, plus I can see getting him more touches and involvement to see if he can break out of this sophomore slump.
The problem is it takes more than raw talent and chops to be a winning player plus he’s so soured his brand here that I’m wondering if a change of scene might be beneficial for him and us.
I’m down on Williams too, to be perfectly honest. But his raw talent is indisputable, he’s got the chops to be as good as anyone who’s worn Crimson, and I can see what DeBoer was trying to do as you described, plus I can see getting him more touches and involvement to see if he can break out of this sophomore slump.
The problem is it takes more than raw talent and chops to be a winning player plus he’s so soured his brand here that I’m wondering if a change of scene might be beneficial for him and us.
Posted on 11/19/25 at 6:11 pm to InkStainedWretch
The thing with RW is he’s really in the midst of a 1.5 season slump. At this point it ain’t a slump, it’s a ceiling. He’s a great talent in some respects but I don’t think he’s got the trajectory of some of our other great WRs.
Posted on 11/19/25 at 6:17 pm to Diego Ricardo
Agreed. Like I said, we and he might ought to be looking elsewhere.
Posted on 11/19/25 at 8:12 pm to Diego Ricardo
He’s no cam Coleman.
Posted on 11/19/25 at 8:18 pm to InkStainedWretch
I think he’s in his head more than anything. He’s got plenty of room for growth and all of the athletic ability. Definitely don’t send the kid packing unless he has a repeat the following year. He’s gonna be fine.
Posted on 11/19/25 at 8:18 pm to Tide Groupee
Special teams sucks this year. No need to sugar coat it. Nunez needs to go, along with Talty. And find a damn punter Courtney Morgan.
Posted on 11/19/25 at 8:20 pm to Diego Ricardo
quote:
At this point it ain’t a slump, it’s a ceiling. He’s a great talent in some respects but I don’t think he’s got the trajectory of some of our other great WRs.
I've thought about this too. He has incredible body control, and suddenness, but the receivers that go far also have a real physical presence, and have lots of confidence - two things he sorely lacks.
He's the size of Devonta Smith, but unlike Devonta, he plays his size
Posted on 11/19/25 at 8:41 pm to Tide Groupee
quote:Sending him out again wasn’t necessarily a mistake. At that point we’d proven the offense was dead and a a punt return would have been understandable to dial up.
Well it seems like the coaches overlooked it, because after the fumble they sent him out there again.
The first time was absolutely ridiculous.
Posted on 11/19/25 at 8:46 pm to Tide Groupee
It’s kind of becoming apparent that he’s not a natural WR.
He doesn’t really break out of routes and hand catch the ball while running through it ya know?
He’s great at leaping and winning competitive balls and running in space.
The rest of the time his jumping and catching the ball with his body. At times he’ll use his unreal after the catch ability to get 8 more yards with a few moves on the 7 guys already crashing down on him.
He doesn’t play like a Ruggs/Jeudy/Smitty/Waddle because he literally can’t. I DO think he’ll put in the work and reach his potential, though.
He doesn’t really break out of routes and hand catch the ball while running through it ya know?
He’s great at leaping and winning competitive balls and running in space.
The rest of the time his jumping and catching the ball with his body. At times he’ll use his unreal after the catch ability to get 8 more yards with a few moves on the 7 guys already crashing down on him.
He doesn’t play like a Ruggs/Jeudy/Smitty/Waddle because he literally can’t. I DO think he’ll put in the work and reach his potential, though.
Posted on 11/19/25 at 9:04 pm to Diego Ricardo
Explosiveness doesn't mean anything when the player is afraid of taking hits and has severely underperformed all season. I would have put Brooks out there before RW.
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