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Quick update on Punt Returner for those wondering

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You need FEARLESS players on punt and kick return.

They have to be able to "cut it up" into the teeth of the defense. All great returners have it.

The only time I Saw Thomas get physical was in the GT game, which is also one of his best returns.

Way too many times he played scared and timid in the return game last season.
 
MainLineCane said:
Basically we're blessed that we've got 5-6 guys with outstanding speed, great hands, and ankle breaking wiggle who would be outstanding stars as PR's.

Our problems at KR has been our lack of blocking, NOT who we have back there.
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fify
 
reg said:
Vision and elusiveness (wiggle) are equally as important as speed. Deejay has elite vision ,great wiggle, and plenty enough speed to be a great punt returner.
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All valid points, and I am not saying DJ would suck but I think Thomas would be a better option given his speed and 1-2 step.
 
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Canezum5 said:
You need FEARLESS players on punt and kick return.

They have to be able to "cut it up" into the teeth of the defense. All great returners have it.

The only time I Saw Thomas get physical was in the GT game, which is also one of his best returns.

Way too many times he played scared and timid in the return game last season.
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There was a reason Berrios and others would fair catch so many punts and it had nothing to do with being scared.

With two or three men usually in your face waiting to hit you as soon as you catch it because of our poor blocking there was little time and room to turn it up or get physical. ALL of our PR candidates have all the skills to be outstanding.

So I don't blame them as much as I do the blocking
 
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I like Deejay or Harley back there. JT has the ability but he's going to be a huge part of the O and don't think it's worth the risk of injury, if we have others as capable.
 
NasaCane said:
Thomas.

Great wiggle and speed.

Dude Sucked at KR (our blocking was trash as well)...but the two returns require different skillsets. I think he’s a natural at PR.
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Wiggle is exactly what I didn't see from JT last season. He looked like he was always a step late with his cuts, like he expected the defenders to be a step slower than they actually were.

My take is that KR is about making one cut, then pure speed which JT has. PR is about making more people miss while you find a lane, so I think shiftiness is more important than speed. KR should be JT's game but isn't, I wouldn't expect him to do better at PR.
 
kryptonite said:
Wiggle is exactly what I didn't see from JT last season. He looked like he was always a step late with his cuts, like he expected the defenders to be a step slower than they actually were.

My take is that KR is about making one cut, then pure speed which JT has. PR is about making more people miss while you find a lane, so I think shiftiness is more important than speed. KR should be JT's game but isn't, I wouldn't expect him to do better at PR.
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I think your point is valid but hopefully the game slows down a little for him to make the proper moves. There is no doubt in my mind he has the skills to make others miss. I think Punt Returning would be a better fit for Thomas too.
 
TaylorCaneOrDie said:
Love this. Braxton was great for us at PR but these guys bring a little extra explosion to the spot. KR really needs to get better, that was pathetic last year.
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Berrios led the ACC in average yards per return. Interestingly, Miami received fewest number of punts, but, now that I think of it, that maybe a negative reflection on the defense.
 
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Richt has shown a willingness to use starting players in the return game before. He's also shown, at least here, that he prefers to play it safe with sure handed returners rather than less steady game breakers. Berrios caught flack for the fair catches but he always fielded the punt cleanly and never let them bounce for extra distance. Something to be said for a returner who doesn't lose your team yardage by not being able to field awkward punts.
 
MIATL said:
Dallas, to me, is the obvious choice.

Good hands. Lots of wiggle. More size than either of the other 2 guys.

Harley and Thomas have more straight-line speed. But at punt return, I prefer a guy with some wiggle.
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I agree. Something about Deejay gives me a Hester vibe. The fact that the coaches keep repositioning him like Hester was.
 
Tony Perps said:
I suspect pope will eventually take over PR duties
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Agree. I think it will be either Pope or Thomas, and Pope probably wins out.

Deejay is just too heavy now to be a good PR. He's 220 lbs, which is fine for being an RB but he's not going to be effective as a returner.

For KR give me Lingard
 
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