Okay, it's a really slow time of year for NFL fans, so why not pick something different to discuss.
We all know that Dwayne Harris is fearless on special teams and he had a tremendous 2015 season for us. Last year was not as good, especially on returns. As the season wore on he was replaced at KOR by Bobby Rainey. With Rainey gone, who do you want to see returning kicks on opening night?
1. Harris - he played injured last year and he'll be improved this year as he's healthy again. Can't afford to take risks so give it to the vet, at least at the beginning.
2. _______ (fill in the blank).
Watcha got BBI?
My pick? I'll take Kevin Snead. Why? I don't want anyone critical getting hurt, mostly. Snead is a long shot to make the team, but he has tremendous speed (fastest man in college football) and has some experience returning kicks. I know it is very unlikely, but I'm going to say that he gets a chance to return some kicks in pre-season and flashes doing so.
I admit my choice isn't the best, so let's hear who you want BBI...
As good as he is, I don't want to risk OBJ as a punt returner except for fourth quarters when guys are maybe tired and he could spring one?
As good as he is, I don't want to risk OBJ as a punt returner except for fourth quarters when guys are maybe tired and he could spring one?
Yeah - hoping Harris can return to good form on returns, especially KOR. I think of OBJ as a good weapon if we were behind in a close, critical game where both teams were having difficulty moving the ball. Other than that, keep him happy/healthy on the sideline.
I don't think Snead makes it either. I want a speedster back there though, someone who has the ability to really break away and also some experience returning kicks.
As I said before, Harris took a pay cut, and is hungry this year.....I think he made a few bad decisions, because he wanted to get field position for a faltering offense.....
He was a forgotten man last season as a WR, despite the fact we were trotting guys like Cruz, Lewis and King out there....
I look for him to have a big season for us.....
Still hoping we see a return to 2015 form.
Boom... this is exactly what I was going to say.
This site shows it by team (as kicking team). You can see that last year it varied a lot, but 3/4 of the league were over 50% touchbacks, and quite a few were over 60% or even 70%.
In 2010, before they moved the kickoff up, one team was at 46%, everyone else was 30% or below.
teamrankings - ( New Window )
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Are there statistics on % kickoffs that are returned vs touchbacks? The league is clearly going in the direction of no returns. I think punt returns are more important in the ST game now and maybe the focus should be on that part of the game.
This site shows it by team (as kicking team). You can see that last year it varied a lot, but 3/4 of the league were over 50% touchbacks, and quite a few were over 60% or even 70%.
In 2010, before they moved the kickoff up, one team was at 46%, everyone else was 30% or below. teamrankings - ( New Window )
If not him then you have maybe Shep or an unknown guy who will emerge in pre season. McAdoo is not opposed to throwing Odell back there either in crucial spots.
I'm all for using OBJ in the fourth quarter when guys are tired and may be more likely to miss OBJ.
And yeah, the blocks in the back were killer.
Yes, 2 TD's called back I think?
I'd say a good 50% of TD kick returns are called back because of clipping...it's hard to block and not clip and full speed
He was solid on coverage though I recall.
Give him one more year at the job, sprinkle in OBJ and backup RB here and there. Harris is not a keeper much longer.
He was solid on coverage though I recall.
Give him one more year at the job, sprinkle in OBJ and backup RB here and there. Harris is not a keeper much longer.
I agree, just posted in Eric's WR review thread I think he is on the bubble. He ended up being a liability on returns. I'm sure it depends 100% on what if anything any of the other WRs show on Specials.
He was solid on coverage though I recall.
Give him one more year at the job, sprinkle in OBJ and backup RB here and there. Harris is not a keeper much longer.
See, I started this thread because that was my recollection as well. I was not sure what value Harris provided. I was watching all of last year's games (in reverse order), noticing that at the end he wasn't returning kicks at all, and when he was he was struggling to get it out to the 20 when he should have been downing it in the endzone.
Then I looked up the averages in 2016 for all KR in the league and saw that even with his measly <25 avg he was still #10 overall in the league. He definitely took a step backward and there's a chance an injury was affecting him, but he still ended up a decent returner overall. Must have had some good returns early on that I don't remember. I'll be finishing the season over the next few days and will see.
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made it even worse when he started pressing trying to make something happen.
He was solid on coverage though I recall.
Give him one more year at the job, sprinkle in OBJ and backup RB here and there. Harris is not a keeper much longer.
See, I started this thread because that was my recollection as well. I was not sure what value Harris provided. I was watching all of last year's games (in reverse order), noticing that at the end he wasn't returning kicks at all, and when he was he was struggling to get it out to the 20 when he should have been downing it in the endzone.
Then I looked up the averages in 2016 for all KR in the league and saw that even with his measly <25 avg he was still #10 overall in the league. He definitely took a step backward and there's a chance an injury was affecting him, but he still ended up a decent returner overall. Must have had some good returns early on that I don't remember. I'll be finishing the season over the next few days and will see.
If Snead makes the team he would almost have to make it over Harris and I really don't have a problem with that.
The number of KRs are definitely down which is really Harris's forte
Harris does not provide much in his sub wr role
Why not put Snead out there on the edge to run go routes and really pressure the opposing D and possibly stretch the D and open up some intermediate routes for Marshall, Engram, Shep and Beck?
Harris won't stretch any D.
I know Snead barely has any experience but you can't teach speed. Running a few Go routes and some basic other routes from the tree can provide a real complement to our other weapons.
Return a few kicks and provide some real speed at gunner on cover teams might buy Snead some time to learn his trade and become more of a whole player.
If you are selling Snead, I'm buying. What do we really have to lose in replacing Harris with Snead?
If Snead makes the team he would almost have to make it over Harris and I really don't have a problem with that.
The number of KRs are definitely down which is really Harris's forte
Harris does not provide much in his sub wr role
Why not put Snead out there on the edge to run go routes and really pressure the opposing D and possibly stretch the D and open up some intermediate routes for Marshall, Engram, Shep and Beck?
Harris won't stretch any D.
I know Snead barely has any experience but you can't teach speed. Running a few Go routes and some basic other routes from the tree can provide a real complement to our other weapons.
Return a few kicks and provide some real speed at gunner on cover teams might buy Snead some time to learn his trade and become more of a whole player.
If you are selling Snead, I'm buying. What do we really have to lose in replacing Harris with Snead?