Quick Question: Who is our kick/punt returner?

[Badluck]

I was really hoping we could grab a versatile kid late in the draft but we didnt, you think its someone on the current roster?

not complaining but i really don't want another year of woodhead returns

 

[strngplyr]

Woodhead looked good later in the year, Edelman has been decent on punts. McCourty was supposedly a beast returner, wouldn't mind him giving it a try. There will be competition as always, but I don't think anything has changed really.

 

[Sciz]

Edelman is the punt returner. Woodhead, Vereen, and Edelman should get chances to return kicks.

 

[Ron Sellers]

Edelman would be the punt returner.

Maybe with a full off season to work on securing the ball they could give Matthew Slater a shot at it again.

I have no idea if any of the new guys like Tavon Wilson, Nate Ebner, Alfonzo Dennard or Jeremy Ebert could return kicks.

For some reason I seem to recall reading that Malcolm Williams returned punts and kicks in college, but I could be wrong on that.

I think the biggest issue with the Pats kick return game was their decision making, followed by their blocking. It seemed to me that there were far too many instances when the return man should have just taken a knee for a touchback, but ran it back instead. The kick return squad didn't seem to adapt to the new rules limiting the wedge very well either.

It may be a case with the new kickoff line and rules where having a high quality kick return man on your roster is now a much lower priority than it used to be - to the point that it is now a luxury rather than a necessity.

Although the Pats kick return average was below far, was there really that much of a difference between their average and that of other teams? Was the Pats average starting field position significantly worse than other teams?

 

[TB146]

I think Ebner could get a look here in either or both roles. I was just commenting in another thread how he seems to be pretty fast, and quick about changing directions. On the rugby pitch he was able to make defenders miss with his quickness. Of course, I'm not sure how that will translate into the NFL...

 

[pork3]

Woodhead looked good later in the year, Edelman has been decent on punts. McCourty was supposedly a beast returner, wouldn't mind him giving it a try. There will be competition as always, but I don't think anything has changed really.

Kick Return Averages:

1. SF - 27 yards
29. NE - 21 yards

Up to you whether the difference is significant or not.
Personally, Woodhead was, for the most part, ineffective in kick returns though that could be related to the blocking. Oftentimes when he opted not to signal a touchback, he would generally get to or before the 20 yard line.
I have wondered if this is a problem as well with our ST coaching (Scott O'Brien) and if things would have been better had Brad Seely (now a ST/AHC for the 49ers) maintained his position with the Patriots.

-Jamman

 

[Joker]

let's just sign this guy, Pork 4,as a free agent...he'll leave burn tracks on the opposition...

 

[TB146]

let's just sign this guy, Pork 4,as a free agent...he'll leave burn tracks on the opposition...

Isn't that Petrino? Although it's hard to recognize him w/o the little blonde on the back of his bike...

 

[Patsgofor4]

Edelman is the punt returner. Woodhead, Vereen, and Edelman should get chances to return kicks.

Woodhead is brutal as a KO returner...looks like he is running in mud. Edelman is much better as a punt returner. Don't know if Vereen returned kicks at Cal. This is a one of the few roster holes that they have right now...I'm sure that BB is well aware and will address the issue before the season starts, probably using training camp for tryouts with players currently on the roster.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

Our new rugby player looks like an intriguing option at KR. In his highlights he often made people miss with an initial move and then simply outran everyone downfield.

 

[Jackson 2]

Isn't that Petrino? Although it's hard to recognize him w/o the little blonde on the back of his bike...

Not hard to recognize him with the little blonde on the front of his bike...

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Our new rugby player looks like an intriguing option at KR. In his highlights he often made people miss with an initial move and then simply outran everyone downfield.

He's never done it before.

Of course, that didn't stop Edelman.

 

[Jackson 2]

I really like Woodhead and think he's under-rated in terms of how valuable he is to the offense. But, he was virtually no threat returnoing KOs. I think Edelman is fine on PRs.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

That is why I wanted Rainey in the 5th, but the evil Steelers seemed to pick the guy off the top of my list every time they picked.

I really don't want to see Slater and Woodhead get it to the 18 yard line every time there is no touchback.

In the big scheme of things the extra 5 yards 2-3 times a game probably isn't worth a roster spot.

Dennard filled this role as a freshman:

2008 (Freshman)
Dennard was one of three true freshmen to see action, playing in 12 games, primarily on special teams. Dennard formed an explosive kickoff return combination with Niles Paul, and had eight returns for 150 yards, an average of 18.8 yards per return. He had a 29-yard return against Colorado and a season-long 31-yarder vs. Clemson in the Gator Bowl. Dennard had five tackles, including four solo stops, with a season-high two tackles against Kansas State.

Alfonzo Dennard - Huskers.com - Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site

 

[patsinthesnow]

Edelman's roster spot shouldn't be safe just because he is the PR. (and a bad WR, bad CB, bad QB, blablabla )

I'm all for getting Shane Vereen more involved by making him the PR/KR in camp and see how he does, he did it in college, he could be like Faulk.

 

[JimJohns]

Edelman's roster spot shouldn't be safe just because he is the PR. (and a bad WR, bad CB, bad QB, blablabla )

I'm all for getting Shane Vereen more involved by making him the PR/KR in camp and see how he does, he did it in college, he could be like Faulk.

He could be like Faulk? You mean old and slow? Well, he's halfway there.