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Punt and Kickoff Returners 2009 (2 Viewers)

Ugh... I drafted Josh Wilson, McKelvin, and Danieal Manning. There's a good chance that none of these guys are returning kicks this week. Manning may not return kicks the rest of the season, and Wilson could be a nickel corner instead of starter when he comes back. Nasty.

 
What players are kickoff/punt returners AND are starting RBs or WRs for their teams? I just realized one of my leagues gives points for kickoff/punt return yards...what a bonus! I have Darren Sproles so I will be playing him. Are there any other players out there that take on this multi-role function?

 
Mike Herman said:
ST. LOUIS

The St. Louis Rams on Tuesday released WR/KR Derek Stanley to make room on the 53-man roster for another WR/KR — Danny Amendola, who was signed off the Eagles’ practice squad. General manager Billy Devaney said Amendola is expected to return punts and kickoffs Sunday, when the Rams take on the Packers at the Edward Jones Dome, in what would be his NFL regular-season debut. “We’re just trying to get some juice in the return game,” Devaney said. The 5-foot-11, 186-pound Amendola, 23, is a Texas Tech product who signed with the Cowboys in 2008 as an undrafted rookie. He spent that season on Dallas’ practice squad, then was signed to Philly’s practice squad in January. Stanley, a Rams seventh-round draft pick in 2007 out of Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater, averaged 12.3 yards on three punt returns this season. In ‘07 and ‘08, he averaged 9.2 yards on 11 punt returns, 25.1 yards on 45 kickoff returns, and caught six passes for 119 yards and one touchdown.
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TD for Harvin and something like 12 guys went over the century mark in return yards. Some observations of the less than obvious choices (Josh Cribbs, Jacoby Jones, Rossum):210 return yards for Amendola today; WW gold thanks to the quote above. :wub:

Weems (139 yards on KR) did a good job filling in for Norwood for the second straight week.

Johnny Knox solidified his new role with the Bears (134 yards) supplanting Manning as the main returner.

Savage (114 yards) had a decent day for the Chiefs, but who knows with Haley, could be back to Charles next week.

Andre Caldwell is starting to impress; good job on kickoffs, and sees more targets than Chris Henry. 6-52-1 plus 104 on returns.

Titans return game is a mess. 3 muffed punts and a fumbled kickoff the last 2 weeks - 14 points off kick return turnovers today. Wonder if Mark Jones gets a call from Fisher tomorrow?

 
MINNESOTA

Minnesota Vikings rookie Percy Harvin said last week that he was "real close" to breaking a kick return for a touchdown. Not anymore. Harvin's 101-yard score against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday could not have come at a better time for the reeling Vikings and helped keep them in the game en route to a 27-24 victory. "A lot of the credit goes to the blockers. We've been talking about that we've been one block away for a couple of weeks now," Harvin said. "So they did all the work and I had the easy part because I went untouched." Moments after the 49ers took a 17-13 lead in the third quarter, and with the Metrodome crowd growing increasingly nervous, the speedster from Florida took Joe Nedney's kickoff 1 yard deep in the end zone and veered left as he headed up field. He got two clearout blocks from Albert Young and Heath Farwell that turned the play into a foot race, and Harvin isn't going to lose many of those. "That was big," running back Adrian Peterson said. "It came at the right time. It changed the game." It was the third straight game in which Harvin, the first-round draft pick, has scored a touchdown. That makes him the first Vikings rookie to ever score a TD in the first three games of his career. It was also the second-longest kickoff return in team history, tied with Lance Rentzel and behind Aundrae Allison's 104-yarder against the Lions in 2007.
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linkTENNESSEE

Titans kickoff returner Javon Ringer was supposed to be the bearer of gifts for the Jets special teams, but he was ineffective in the first two games of the season and Tennessee switched to rookie Ryan Mouton Sunday. Bad move. Mouton, who worked with the starters for the first time last week in practice, fumbled his first kickoff return following the Jets’ opening drive score and then coughed up the ball midway through the third quarter on a punt. Both fumbles, which were forced by linebacker Jason Trusnick and wide receiver Brad Smith, respectively, led to touchdowns and were the difference in the Jets’ 24-17 victory Sunday over the winless Titans at Giants Stadium. ‘‘We felt against these guys there would be some opportunities,’’ said linebacker Larry Izzo, who recovered the third-quarter fumble that led to the Jets’ go-ahead touchdown. ‘‘We knew we had the edge on special teams. (Coach) Mike Westhoff talked about us dominating that phase of the game. That’s what we were looking to do.’’ Four plays after Izzo’s recovery on a fumble forced by Smith, rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez hit wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery for a 6-yard touchdown to give the Jets a 21-17 lead late in the third quarter. Later, Jim Leonhard peeled off a 37-yard punt return midway through the fourth quarter that gave the Jets a first down at the Titans’ 39-yard line. But two plays later, Sanchez threw an interception. Tennessee averaged just 21.5 yards on four kickoff returns and six yards on two punt returns.
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Mike Herman said:
Tennessee signs WR Mark Jones
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:goodposting: Was Fisher wearing his "Kick Me, I'm a Dumb ###" shirt when they announced that one?I called it in a couple threads Sunday, but go back a page or two in this one, and many of us questioned the wisdom of that final cut.
 
wilson recovering quickly and could be available this week.

assumption is that he's probably a few weeks from being a useful starter since he may not see much kick return duty until fully recovered.

but still, it's good news

 
BobbyLayne said:
Mike Herman said:
Tennessee signs WR Mark Jones
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:unsure: Was Fisher wearing his "Kick Me, I'm a Dumb ###" shirt when they announced that one?I called it in a couple threads Sunday, but go back a page or two in this one, and many of us questioned the wisdom of that final cut.
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Indeed. Fish hasn't whiffed many times...be he totally screwed this one.If you need a KR/PR, though, I'd jump on Jones. Did he not have the #1 or 2 KR avg last year? He'll field punts, too, of course.
 
Brian Witherspoon has had a full week of practice and has not been listed on the teams participation/injury report.

Looks like the Jags will get a boost to their return game, as he was dynamic in the role last season.

 
Aaronl5 said:
Savage is inactive for the Chiefs today
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Yeah, guess its his turn to feel the power trip, Jamaal taking all the kickoffs today.Big oof for me on the Witherspoon call...Mike Thomas *(wat? no Rashad Jennings?) taking ALL kicks for the Jags today.
 
DETROIT

Rookie Aaron Brown muffed two kickoffs in Sunday’s 48-24 loss at Chicago, and that was part of the reason why he has lost the Lions’ kickoff return job. He blamed the elements at Soldier Field in the Lions' first outdoor game this season, though he said he had no excuses. The sun was a problem on the first one. “I guess we’ve been playing in the dome for so long, the sun hasn’t ever been an issue – or wind,” Brown said. “The sun being in my face, I just didn’t put my hand up like I should have. As soon as it got really high, the sun got right into it and it just blinded me.” The wind was a problem on the second. “The second one, I was trying to cheat over, because the wind was blowing to my left to the right, and (Bears kicker Robbie Gould) saw what I was doing and he kicked it to my right and I ran over there. Me running that fast and the ball coming that fast, to me, it just kind of hit, you know? I muffed it, and you can’t let stuff like that happen.” After breaking an 87-yard return in the opener at New Orleans, Brown has averaged 17.7 yards per return over the past three games. “A lot of it is just consistency, being at practice, getting more reps, taking more reps as just as a whole team on the kickoff return unit,” Brown said. “I really can’t pinpoint exactly what has been going on, but definitely we need to improve in that area.”
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Follow-up on the Detroit return game (from another Freep article):

Notebook:Schwartz also said Derrick Williams will take over kickoff returns from fellow rookie Aaron Brown, who has struggled the past three games. Williams, a third-round pick, was drafted mostly for his special teams ability but struggled during the exhibition season.

"It's time for him to deliver," Schwartz said. ...

Wide receiver Adam Jennings, who replaced Brown for one kickoff return at Chicago, suffered what Schwartz called a significant ankle injury and was put on injured reserve. He was on crutches in the locker room, and Schwartz said he stayed behind in Chicago...
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Anyone know of any additional information on Andre Davis WR (Hou). I see that he returned one kick but Jacoby Jones also had a 95 yard return. I would assume that J. Jones will still be the main kick returner but I didn't see the Houston game and I don't know why A. Davis was in there. I know that he has done returns in the past. Anyone have any info?

 
BobbyLayne said:
Aaronl5 said:
Savage is inactive for the Chiefs today
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Yeah, guess its his turn to feel the power trip, Jamaal taking all the kickoffs today.Big oof for me on the Witherspoon call...Mike Thomas *(wat? no Rashad Jennings?) taking ALL kicks for the Jags today.
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I liked Thomas in that role on Sunday. I'm thinking he may be one of the last "surprises" for this season left on the WW in leagues that include kick and punt return yardage. Witherspoon was good as a PR, but I think Thomas may be better. I think Thomas is also a big improvement over Jennings in the KR role, where I felt Jennings looked slow.What do you guys think are Thomas' chances of retaining these roles going forward? I'm finding precious little on the subject other than reporter speculation.
 
Borderline off-topic, but can a high-school/college/pro/etccoach explain why the Bears ST return unit is so good regardless of who is returning kicks(I understand Knox/Hester have elite speed, but so do other KR's)? Can these skills be taught(the blocking)? Is there some skill that they look for that other teams tend to overlook in this area? It just boggles my mind that other teams haven't tried to steal the Bears ST coach, or copy whatever the heck he is doing/teaching(although I'm sure some teams are). Thanks in advance...

EDIT: I'm helping the local 13-14 yo team as an assistant "coach" and this is what they want me to focus on. Any help would be appreciated.

 
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GREEN BAY

Receiver Jordy Nelson will remain the Packers’ kickoff returner, but the team hasn’t determined a new punt returner now that Will Blackmon has been lost for the season because of a knee injury. Coach Mike McCarthy confirmed on Tuesday that Blackmon tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a second-quarter kickoff return in Monday’s loss at Minnesota. Blackmon will need reconstructive surgery and be placed on injured reserve.
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The Football Freak said:
BobbyLayne said:
Aaronl5 said:
Savage is inactive for the Chiefs today
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Yeah, guess its his turn to feel the power trip, Jamaal taking all the kickoffs today.Big oof for me on the Witherspoon call...Mike Thomas *(wat? no Rashad Jennings?) taking ALL kicks for the Jags today.
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I liked Thomas in that role on Sunday. I'm thinking he may be one of the last "surprises" for this season left on the WW in leagues that include kick and punt return yardage. Witherspoon was good as a PR, but I think Thomas may be better. I think Thomas is also a big improvement over Jennings in the KR role, where I felt Jennings looked slow.What do you guys think are Thomas' chances of retaining these roles going forward? I'm finding precious little on the subject other than reporter speculation.
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I don't think its been addressed in any of Del Rio's comments this week, so its a guessing game. 'spoon is one of the fastest guys in the league, but obvs Thomas is making the most of his opportunity after being inactive the 1st 2 games.
 
mrader59 said:
Anyone know if Norwood resumes his kick return duties this week?
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Imo, the fact that he missed time with a concussion and was practicing with a special helmet this week means his chances of returning kicks this week(and maybe this season) are slim and none.
 
Yeah he actually has a couple special helmuts with different padding he is trying out; four lifetime concussions, three in the NFL including two this year.

The coach only spoke about how his speed is needed on the offense. However, he did have some post-game praise for Weems a few weeks back, so I presume for now the rookie WR keeps the duties.

 
Anyone know if Bernard Scott has supplanted Caldwell as KR for the Bengals? Also, Miami coaches have said they may put Ginn back as KR as they may be starting to phase him out of the offense. Any info greatly appreciated

 
aerolaw said:
Anyone know if Bernard Scott has supplanted Caldwell as KR for the Bengals? Also, Miami coaches have said they may put Ginn back as KR as they may be starting to phase him out of the offense. Any info greatly appreciated
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Where have you read they're starting to phase him out of the offense?
 
Knobs said:
aerolaw said:
Anyone know if Bernard Scott has supplanted Caldwell as KR for the Bengals? Also, Miami coaches have said they may put Ginn back as KR as they may be starting to phase him out of the offense. Any info greatly appreciated
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Where have you read they're starting to phase him out of the offense?
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Heard it, So.Florida talk radio this morning, i think it was Joe Rose on WQAM, talking about last weeks game with Ginn on the sideline a good portion of the game and 0 catches.
 
BALTIMORE

The Ravens plan to alter their return duties for Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals with Chris Carr retaining the punt return job and rookie Lardarius Webb handling kick returns. "If you’re a competitor and you’ve been doing it as long as I have and had success at it, you want to be out there," Carr said of relinquishing kick return duties. "The more things you can do, you want to do that. But at the same time, you’ve got to know how to be a professional, and if you’re not the guy out there, you’ve got to be like, 'Hey, I’ve got to focus on what I do have. I can’t sit here and pout about this and that. I’ve got to go out there and play 30 snaps on defense and worry about receivers and worry about this and worry about punt returns.' You’ve just got to be professional and go out there and play and support your teammates and support your team." "I don’t know for sure," Webb said of taking kick returns this Sunday. "I’ve been working at it, but other than that, I don’t know yet. So I’m not going to say something and then it doesn’t really happen." Carr ranks seventh in the AFC and 15th in the NFL with a 24.5-yard average on kick returns, but he was stripped of the football on the opening kickoff of Sunday's 27-21 loss to the New England Patriots, which led to a Stephen Gostowski field goal. Webb returned just one kick against the Patriots, but it was good for 38 yards and set up the Ravens' last-gasp drive.
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What about Josh Wilson? Any ideas if he'll be thrown out there at KR right away coming off the high ankle sprain?

 
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aerolaw said:
Anyone know if Bernard Scott has supplanted Caldwell as KR for the Bengals? Also, Miami coaches have said they may put Ginn back as KR as they may be starting to phase him out of the offense. Any info greatly appreciated
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Caldwell got hurt so that's why Scott was returning kicks. But it seems like Scott made a good impression and coaches don't usually like putting hurt guys on returns, so I'm a little worried.http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Snap...ae-1d07406e06c3

Simmons also said that rookie Bernard Scott could see more time returning kicks. He returned his first two Sunday in Cleveland after Andre Caldwell told the coaches they had to take him out because of his injured shoulder. Caldwell practiced Wednesday, but Simmons was impressed with how quickly Scott made his moves and hit the seam and “he made a play every time he was back there.”

Simmons also said that a reason why Caldwell and the kick return have struggled is because they’re adjusting to the new rules in which teams can’t have more than two men in a wedge.
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Roscoe Parrish could be a good pickup at WR. He's handling both kickoffs and punts, and also the Bills slot receiver I believe (though they haven't been passing to any WR that much). He's a pretty good lock to keep both return jobs for the remainder of the season on a team that should be returning a lot of kickoffs.

 
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yashi said:
What about Josh Wilson? Any ideas if he'll be thrown out there at KR right away coming off the high ankle sprain?
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from Tacoma News Tribune Seahawks Insider blog:
Cornerback Josh Wilson was a full participant in practice today and looked like he’s close to being ready to go. Asked if he was planning to return kicks on Sunday, Wilson had this to say:

“I expect to catch some passes, return some kicks and play some quarterback if they let me,” Joked Wilson. “I’ll do whatever I can to make sure I can help this team win.”
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I sure hope so; I'm starting Carr (now only returning punts) and Wilson. Lost Blackmon for the season last week, Witherspoon has been wasting a roster spot while he is hurt/inactive, Leonhard/Munnerlyn are uninspiring PR only guys, etc. Having a DB who handles kickoffs is a huge competitive advantage over equally effective RB/WR because of scarcity.

 
I am expecting big things from Mike Thomas (JAX) this week. I think he'll get plenty of chances and think he'll score at least one TD in some manner. The guy has improved each week and I dont think he is on other team's radar just yet.

 
What about Miles Austin (DAL)?

With Roy Williams and Felix Jones out, think he is a good bye week fill-in to get decent WR and KR points?

I wonder how he'll do compared to Percy Harvin, who lost some touches last week.

 
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Eph said:
What about Miles Austin (DAL)?With Roy Williams and Felix Jones out, think he is a good bye week fill-in to get decent WR and KR points?I wonder how he'll do compared to Percy Harvin, who lost some touches last week.
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KC and StL have had the least and the 3rd last kick returns against them this season, 2 and 1.5 a game respectively. Just something to keep in mind.
 
Who will be returning kicks for Carolina with Goodson out?

Also, would appreciate any updates on Jax KR (thomas for sure?)

and Bengals (Bernard Scott?)

i'm in a league where kick return yardage counts as much as rushing receiving yards so these relative obscurities are important:)

 
Anybody heard any word about whether or not Quintin Demps will be taking his return job back from Ellis Hobbs this week? I saw that he was listed as a full participant in practice and that he's Probable to play, and I know Ellis has had some problems with fumbles on his returns. Any word?

 
Bob Lee Swagger said:
Anybody heard any word about whether or not Quintin Demps will be taking his return job back from Ellis Hobbs this week? I saw that he was listed as a full participant in practice and that he's Probable to play, and I know Ellis has had some problems with fumbles on his returns. Any word?
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Demps is inactive today.
 
badSSmofo said:
I am expecting big things from Mike Thomas (JAX) this week. I think he'll get plenty of chances and think he'll score at least one TD in some manner. The guy has improved each week and I dont think he is on other team's radar just yet.
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Don't get too confident. Mare is tied for the lead in touchbacks, which will limit Thomas's chances immensely.
 
Twilight said:
badSSmofo said:
I am expecting big things from Mike Thomas (JAX) this week. I think he'll get plenty of chances and think he'll score at least one TD in some manner. The guy has improved each week and I dont think he is on other team's radar just yet.
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Don't get too confident. Mare is tied for the lead in touchbacks, which will limit Thomas's chances immensely.
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I didn't catch the game, but I see Mike Thomas and 'spoon had 7 returns - and in the game thread at FBGs someone mentioned Mare wasn't right, all his kicks were coming up short. Anyone know if he was intentionally kicking them high (short) as a coverage tactic, or does he have some kind of an injury?BTW, nice to see Brian W top 100 yards in his 4 KR. I guess he and the punter were the only bright spots for the Jags.Also, I see Andre Davis ripped off a 60+ yarder yesterday. I think this was his first game back since Week 1 (concussion IIRC). 4 career TDs, 3 in 2007, so he might be a nice add.Amendola got involved in the Rams offense yesterday (4-45 IIRC), and had another 140+ on KR. That's over 500 all-purpose yards in the 3 games since they signed him.
 
What's the word in SF? With releasing Rossum, and Walker getting 4 KR's last game, could we possibly see our first, regular KR TE? Would be a goldmine in my league.

 
The Noid said:
What's the word in SF? With releasing Rossum, and Walker getting 4 KR's last game, could we possibly see our first, regular KR TE? Would be a goldmine in my league.
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From the SFGate Niner blogROSSUM GONE; MORE CHANGES POSSIBLY COMING: The team released veteran kick returner Allen Rossum and will now leave the return chores up to Arnaz Battle and Delanie Walker. Despite Walker's controversial fumble on a kickoff return; Singletary praised his return ability.
 
Does anybody have any information regarding Jerious Norwood as a KR? I know he's recovering from a concussion suffered a few weeks back...I saw that again Weems did all the returning this past weekend and wanted to see if there was insight as to whether this would be a permanent situation as Norwood as thrived in the past on KR duties

 
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