UNC Football: Five Fearless Predictions

Nov 16, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Ryan Switzer (3) runs with the ball and scores on a sixty-one yard punt return for a touchdown past Pittsburgh Panthers linebacker Nicholas Grigsby (3) and defensive lineman LaQuentin Smith (98) during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. It was Switzer

4.  Ryan Switzer won’t have a punt return touchdown

Boy, do I hope this one is wrong.  Watching Switzer the last several games of last season was exhilarating, and if Switzer continues to be a force returning punts that would be a huge boost for UNC’s offense.

But, logically, he won’t have nearly as big an impact on special teams this season.  As I explained in an earlier article, no opposing team in their right mind will kick the ball anywhere near Ryan Switzer.  I mean, why risk him running it back when you saw how explosive he was last year?

Rembering how good Ryan Switzer is

Every time an opponent punts, they will do their best to kick it out of bounds.  If the punt doesn’t stay in play, Switzer can’t do anything with it.  The best case scenario would be Switzer getting one returnable punt per game, but I don’t think this will happen.

That being said, Ryan Switzer will definitely have more than just three receiving touchdowns, which will help make up for his lack of special teams touchdowns.