Kr/wr?

[dryheat44]

Personally, I don't want to spend any picks on WRs before rd 5, so that rules out Jackson and Royal. Aldridge from Houston looks like a nice slot Wr project in the late rds. He can make the roster as a punt returner.

Also Douglas from Louisville.

This is exactly what I'm talking about....Alridge doesn't have a single punt return in his NCAA career. Douglas all of 3. Why would the Patriots give them a roster spot as a punt returner.

 

[patchick]

Keenan Burton

I really like Burton as an all-around WR prospect -- excellent quickness and body control for his size, great work habits and toughness, active blocker. But I don't see him as an impact KR.

 

[PonyExpress]

This is exactly what I'm talking about....Alridge doesn't have a single punt return in his NCAA career. Douglas all of 3. Why would the Patriots give them a roster spot as a punt returner.

Alridge returned 36 kicks for 836 yards his last 2 seasons.
Douglas is a WR option, not a returner.

 

[Kontradiction]

Does Chris Johnson have an KR/PR experience?

 

[sebman2112]

Does Chris Johnson have an KR/PR experience?

Yes, he recorded 115 KR's for 2,715 yards (23.6 avg) and 2 TD's during his college career.

In 2007 he returned 36 kicks for an average of 28.02 yards, and scored one TD.

 

[patchick]

Yes, he recorded 115 KR's for 2,715 yards (23.6 avg) and 2 TD's during his college career.

In 2007 he returned 36 kicks for an average of 28.02 yards, and scored one TD.

I think Chris Johnson would be a tremendous choice -- ideal change-of-pace RB and explosive KR. I just suspect he won't be on the board past the top of the 2nd. In fact, if the Cowboys can re-sign Barber, they could easily stand pat and take Johnson at #28 as the perfect complement.

 

[sebman2112]

I think Chris Johnson would be a tremendous choice -- ideal change-of-pace RB and explosive KR. I just suspect he won't be on the board past the top of the 2nd. In fact, if the Cowboys can re-sign Barber, they could easily stand pat and take Johnson at #28 as the perfect complement.

In fact, I've said that very same thing previously, lol!

 

[patchick]

In fact, I've said that very same thing previously, lol!

Dang, I should have known I wasn't capable of an original thought!

Barber and Johnson would be a scary combo -- kind of a young Dillon/Faulk.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Robinson's a puzzle...the best KR/PR performance in the country, including a bunch of TDs. But absolutely abysmal measurables. 4.69 40, 27.5 vertical, 4.77 shuttle--easily the worst at the combine. (For perspective, the 2nd-slowest WR shuttle time was 4.52!)

Maybe he just didn't prepare for the combine drills, but that's not a great sign in itself. I can't pretend to have seen a lot of his Utah State game film, so who knows?

I agree that the measurables definitely knock him down. The only positive to that is it likely makes him available for the Pats 6th round pick if they want to invest in purely a return man prospect.

 

[jeffbiologist]

So who do we now have on the roster who can do this? PR-Welker, KR-Jackson(he hasnt displayed enough at WR to keep him off STs), Andrews(if he is still on the team), and why not Washington?? He was incredibly fast in college and hasnt blown out a knee like CJ. I know we would like to get a new fast STer, but its a value-added part of the draft, not a specific need.

 

[BRiZ]

id rather use Dexter Jackson as a punt returner and slot WR, for kickoff return duties Chris Johnson would be better.

 

[patchick]

id rather use Dexter Jackson as a punt returner and slot WR, for kickoff return duties Chris Johnson would be better.

Certainly he would be better. But do you want to trade into the 25-35 range for Johnson, or target Jackson in the 3rd?

 

[BRiZ]

Certainly he would be better. But do you want to trade into the 25-35 range for Johnson, or target Jackson in the 3rd?

yea Jackson will probably go anywhere in the 3rd, i wouldnt really want to take him higher than that. #95 would be perfect for him, he could go a little higher though. Johnson i think will go in the upper 2nd round so we would have to trade up into that range or get another 2nd somehow (like a trade down from #7). Deffinitly wouldnt be worth it to draft him in round 1 but a mid-to-high 2nd would be fine. He could be our starting KR and future replacement for Faulk, deffinitly worth taking at that spot imo.

 

[VJCPatriot]

So who do we now have on the roster who can do this? PR-Welker, KR-Jackson(he hasnt displayed enough at WR to keep him off STs), Andrews(if he is still on the team), and why not Washington?? He was incredibly fast in college and hasnt blown out a knee like CJ. I know we would like to get a new fast STer, but its a value-added part of the draft, not a specific need.

Washington is used more on the wings for his speed not for returning balls. It takes a certain makeup to be a good returner. If Washington had those skills, we would have seen him used that day. He's a good STer, but not in the way we're discussing, which is KR/PR.

 

[DocE]

I'd really like to see the Patriots add a return guy in this draft. I like Dexter Jackson, but Eddie Royal is now being rumored to go as high as early in the 2nd. I also like the Darius Reynaud suggestion, ever since the Pats interviewed him at the combine, I have thought he'd make a nice late round return option. I'd rather have Jackson than Reynaud all things being equal, but if Jackson is a 3rd rounder and we could get Reynaud in the 6th, I might rather have Reynaud.

Terrence Wheatley has a badly injured wrist. He has a long metal plate in his wrist and he says he can do everything with the wrist...except shoot a basketball normally. I don't think any team will use him on returns as ball security likely would become an issue. He's not having the plate taken out of his wrist until after he's done playing football.

 

[jeffbiologist]

Washington is used more on the wings for his speed not for returning balls. It takes a certain makeup to be a good returner. If Washington had those skills, we would have seen him used that day. He's a good STer, but not in the way we're discussing, which is KR/PR.

I know he hasnt ever done it, I questioned WHY?? If he has the hands and the speed....it has to be his "internal fortitude" right? So why not just come out and call him a lilly livered punk who is scared to run back kicks? I would love to see BB tell him to do it if he wants to make the team~~LOL. He is halfway between CJ and Bethel! For all the KW lovers out there.....make him do it!!

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I have WR on my "needs" list for this draft since it takes 3 years for a WR to develop in the NFL, and Welker is the only player signed for longer than 3 years. My favorite is Jordy Nelson who returned 5 punts as a senior, he didn't do too badly, 264 yds (52.8 yd avg.) and 2 TDs. I like Jordy as someone who could develop behind Gaffney (signed for one year) this season, if Chad Jackson doesn't step up this season Nelson might be ready for a good sophomore season (as a former SS he also should do just fine on STs).

I like the idea of RB Chris Johnson being groomed to replace Faulk and also being developed as a WR/RS (though Nut's PFW stacking board suggests he may not be 'smart' enough).

In addition to the known college players who returned kicks and punts, consider RBs and WRs who may not have been used in that role, for example Ray Rice might work out nicely with a return role if BB drafted him.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I know he hasnt ever done it, I questioned WHY?? If he has the hands and the speed....it has to be his "internal fortitude" right? So why not just come out and call him a lilly livered punk who is scared to run back kicks? I would love to see BB tell him to do it if he wants to make the team~~LOL. He is halfway between CJ and Bethel! For all the KW lovers out there.....make him do it!!

It isn't a question of "internal fortitude," certainly not an argument winner when discussing a guy who plays Gunner on punts and has outside contain on Kick coverage. If you recorded last season's games go back and watch Chad Jackson returning kicks, he has the speed, and we know he can shake and bake with the ball in his hands from the Minnesota game his rookie year. Where he fails is his field vision and following his blockers, he might develop that in time, but some guys just don't have the vision, or in the case of Punt Returners, the kind of quickness Troy Brown and Wes Welker have for making people miss inside a phone booth.

 

[Seneschal2]

Well, it seems like some prefer not to spend a high pick on a kick returner. Keep in mind though that BB has spent 3 second-rounders on WRs. So if there's another WR (or CB) who has upside at his position, AND returns kicks, don't be surprised if he goes this route again.

For late round consideration (or undrafted), let's not lose sight of a classic sleeper with his own thread. He's listed as a RB/KR, the Pats have shown interest, and any roster spot he earns will be on ST -- and he knows this. Anyone willing to do some homework will find he has a blog out, and has spent time with one of the NFL's best ST coaches learning KR blocking schemes, etc.