Has anyone posted about the tendency for outside gunners to outrun their punt coverage and end up 5 or more yards behind the punt return man at the time of catching? I remember some analysis about how the inside gunners all converge on a point and do not stay in their lanes. I've noticed that it's the opposite with outside gunners. They don't angle their pursuit until after the ball is caught, but by that point, they are usually several yards behind the return man and have to play catch up. They should be angling toward the return man while the ball is still in the air to cut off the escape routes.

I'll update the thread with examples I noticed throughout the season later.

I've noticed this, and it seems to be all the "contain and close" is off whether its dline or secondary or punt coverage. Punt coverage is where its glaring though.

Put a slower gunner in ;)

MFN-19 would like that. I don't think I allowed a PR TD this year. I'd have to go back and look. (I might have allowed one.)

I think the bigger problem is not the over run but how long the gunner is staying in lane, he needs to break for ball about 5 - 10 yds sooner.

Agreed. The overrun though is disastrous because the gunner then has to play catch up to get back into the play.

The gunner responsibility is to get off the line beat the block/blockers then go for the return man. It comes down to the way blocks are not different. More flow should be allowed for different styles of blocks. Punt return is rough when creating proper lanes due to the gap between the gunner and the man next in.....he is on the line. After a block he should along with the other blockers cover perspective lanes in balance relation to the 52 yard wide field. They do not but should.....gunners go for the ball that's it.

Not sure if this is built in or not but in the real game, if a punter is trying to down the ball inside the twenty of the opposing team then at least one gunner will run past the PR in case the PR doesn't field the ball (hoping that it goes into the endzone for a touchback). This allows the gunner to (hopefully) down the ball prior to it entering the endzone.

I've never seen someone actually "down" the ball near the end zone in this game unless it bounces back and hits them. Whenever I see a punt downed inside the 5 it's because of a lucky bounce/roll.

+1 -- I haven't seen this either. I see gunners run straight lines down the field until the returner catches the ball and then they turn around in an "oh ****" moment and run toward the returner.