Love Bolden, but should he be returning punts?

[Realist Horn]

He’s electric with the ball in his hands, but the last two weeks he fields a punt at Ark on yhe 4 yard line that would have bounced into the end and returns it to the 14. Yesterday he fair catches a punt at the 4 yard line and then fumbles/drops the next one. 
 

I love the gun slinger mentality, but there is a time and place for that. We Texas is up 3 scores, maybe put someone more conservative back there; when Texas is trailing and needs a play, let him eat. I fear his play will end up hurting us soon (yesterday his fair catch resulted in a 3 and out b/c Texas was backed up and gave Kentucky great field position that it converted into a TD (I think)). 

[snugsie]

We should have better options but also we want to give the guy opportunities to see the field

[Joe Zura]

Every time blue runs the ball or bolden returns I hold my breath 

Edited November 24, 2024 by Joe Zura

[Huskie1]

Yes

[tsip92]

1 hour ago, snugsie said:

We should have better options but also we want to give the guy opportunities to see the field

He’s getting to see the field but he isn’t executing his job when he’s on it.  Sark owes it to the team to tell him to either play the position the way it’s supposed to be played or you have to sit.  No different than any other position on this team.  

[FatherofMinky]

He’s a little too reckless for my taste. I love the fearlessness…but you have to pick your spots. 

[Quinncent McManning, Jr.]

To be honest the punt coverage hasn’t been good and he never has any space. He’s trying to make lemonade out of lemons which can be reckless but I’m okay with that. Remember a few years ago when every punt to us bounced and wasn’t picked up and we lost 10.. 15 yards after the bounce?

[Stevekap]

White knuckle ride for sure with Bolden fielding punts was yesterday the 1st punt he has muffed.   He tries so hard to make a big play 

[GoHorns1]

Hell YES

[TexasLonghorns]

Who else you putting back there? He’s lighting quick and has great hands when fielding punts, the decisions on when to field it or not field are questionable but that needs to be coached. Banks obviously feels he’s the best option. 

[Bobbers]

I am with the big YES crowd.

[TheContractor12]

3 hours ago, snugsie said:

We should have better options but also we want to give the guy opportunities to see the field

You keep making bad decisions, you lose opportunities. He needed to be sat down and explained, you can’t do that again or someone else will be back there.” 
could have already happened. 

[bierce]

11 hours ago, Stevekap said:

White knuckle ride for sure with Bolden fielding punts was yesterday the 1st punt he has muffed.   He tries so hard to make a big play 

Exactly.  His returns have been scary at times, but the reward over this season has been many times the penalty of the risk.

[qaertyisthatdude]

You watch that kickoff return for a TD by KaVontae Turpin today?  That's why Bolden is out there returning punts.  He can break one at any time.

[chennups]

Yes. He had one dropped punt. 

[Jerky]

Really appreciate his consistent and constant effort but coach Banks needs to establish some firm guidelines on when to field a punt and when to let it go. I still have heartburn from our '83 punt return fiasco.

Plenty of punt return opportunities for Bolden in the right circumstances. 

 

[whereiend]

SP+ has us as one of the very worst special teams in the entire country. -2 points per game compared to the average team and -4 points compared to the best special teams.

Of course it's primarily a result of Auburn and the punters rather than Bolden, but still, it's been a very disappointing year on that front.