Quote:
Originally Posted by GTripp0012
Don't count Derrick Blalock out of the return game.
The Redskins are ahead of the game regarding returns because, quite frankly, they understand it better than a lot of other teams.
Lots of teams like to put receivers back there to return kicks, but its the Running Backs whose job and skill set most resembles that of the ideal kick returner. It's all about vision, holding on to the ball, and getting up the field without hesitation.
How many receivers do you see who tiptoe, fumble, or just don't see the holes on kickoff return, yet their teams seem to play them because they are fast. Honestly, whats the difference between a guy who runs up the field with 4.3 speed and a guy who runs 4.6 if they both have horrible vision? 2-3 yards? Having vision and field presence is way more important than that.
I'd let my fullbacks return kicks before receivers, assuming said fullback had the speed to not get caught from behind in the open field.
Cartwright, Betts, and Blalock are all good options to return kicks. Until further notice, I'd have to believe that Rock has the inside track.
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I don't agree so much on the RB-WR theory of kick returns. Yes, vision is immensely important to both KR and PR, but thats not to say that RB's primarily possess that skills set. Many WR DO possess that, Dante Hall, Steve Smith, Tim Dwight, and our own James Thrash to a certain extent. You have to treat it on a player by player basis. Also CB's, like Devin Hester and possibly the greatest returner Peion Sanders, sometimes make the best returners and they seemingly possess many of the same skills as the WR's that they cover. In college, at MD, I watched Steve Suter (a WR) become the all time leader in KR's a few years ago. There is really no formula that you can use to positionally predict who will be a good KR. Some ppl have that pick a crease and hit it mentality that good returners thrive on. I will say that WR's that excel tend to be slot receivers who have a little bit of bulk on them and aren't big targets with lots of room to tackle them.