Who will return punts?

[rookBoston]

Right, I forgot about Vernell Brown. I'm pulling for this guy in a big way. He's the ultimate small man who makes good, and is voted captain of the football team. What does that say about his intangibles and leadership?

 

[AzPatsFan]

Me too. And he was a more than useful WR.

Ochmed describes the requirements very well. But, amazingly, people with those characteristics come through in the late rounds of the draft or as UDFAs, probably because the requirements don't include size.

I'm surprised that Bucky didn't mention Vernell Brown:


Vernell Brown
Played in 45 games, with 11 starts…Signed as a defensive back out of high school but began his career at wide receiver and returned to cornerback during the 2003 season…Was part of the wide receiver rotation and returned punts in 2002 as a freshman…Had seven career carries for 31 yards (4.4 avg) and also caught six passes for 28 yards (4.7 avg)…Had 59 career punt returns for 489 yards (8.3 avg).

http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=32029

But he never returned for a TD. His longest return was 43 yards. Not bad but not explosive.

BJ has several TD on KO returns and the "almost" PR TD return. They are two different skills, KO and PR, IMO. He has demonstrated the explosiveness and return ability to be feared by the opposition in both types of returns. The other candidates haven't as yet. A TD return almost insures a win in that game.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Anybody know if Stone or McGrew ever returned punts?

 

[Ring 6]

I wasnt impressed with Dwight last year. I expected more. I remember very few big returns, and a lot of 'almosts'.

I think Bethel would be excellent as a pr, but I probably am missing something because he would have done it by now.

I am not really that worried about it. The BLOCKING on the return is more important than the return man.

If you look back at Troy Browns big returns in the late 90s-early 00s, speed had very little to do with them. He was PATIENT, read the blocks and weaved through them to get to open space. I believe that ability is coachable, we just need to settle on someone, and get the blocking handled.

What about Jackson?

 

[JoeSixPat]

I wasnt impressed with Dwight last year. I expected more. I remember very few big returns, and a lot of 'almosts'.

What about Jackson?

I was more impressed with Dwight because my expectations were lower... an aging white guy with speed?!?

And those "almosts" showed more promise than I'd seen in awhile around here.

I guess we'll find out who, and while Jackson might be a candidate PR and WR skills, while they have some similarities, are really apples and oranges

 

[Ring 6]

I was more impressed with Dwight because my expectations were lower... an aging white guy with speed?!?

And those "almosts" showed more promise than I'd seen in awhile around here.

I guess we'll find out who, and while Jackson might be a candidate PR and WR skills, while they have some similarities, are really apples and oranges

Thats just it, my expectations of Dwight were very high, having seen numerous big returns throughout his career. Had he broken 2 50+ returns I would have been happy, and I saw them there to be taken but they werent.
My biggest disappointment in him were on the punts where the coverage was 'outkicked'. As he fielded it I expected a big return set up, and he'd get maybe 8-12 yards. He seemed poor at making the decision of how to get upfield to make the first guy miss.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Thats just it, my expectations of Dwight were very high, having seen numerous big returns throughout his career. Had he broken 2 50+ returns I would have been happy, and I saw them there to be taken but they werent.
My biggest disappointment in him were on the punts where the coverage was 'outkicked'. As he fielded it I expected a big return set up, and he'd get maybe 8-12 yards. He seemed poor at making the decision of how to get upfield to make the first guy miss.

Your memory is better than mine, no doubt, but I don't remember him having many chances to make a play that he didn't take -- on the contrary, it seemed to me that he was doing what he could, given that the blocking for him was really, really poor.

I don't think that Bethel has the shiftiness and low centre of gravity that make the ideal punt returner, but maybe he'd do it well enough if he's 100% healthy.