Turpin Replacement?

[Coogiguy03]

Turpin vs the greatest return man in the history of the NFL.

Turpins ball security is elite

Ball Security Metric	KaVontae Turpin (2022-2025)	Devin Hester (Career)
Total Kickoff Returns	127	295
Total Punt Returns	70	315
Total Fair Catches	54	148
All-In Return Opportunities	251	758
Special Teams Fumbles	2	27
Special Teams Lost Fumbles	1	13
Fumble Rate (Per Play)	0.79%	3.56%
Turnover Rate (Lost Fumbles)	0.39%	1.71%

@Coogiguy03

Hey hey what did I do now??

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Do you guys watch the games?

Serious question.

Apparently you don’t. As a punt returner, Turpin is very ordinary. He is better in kick returns, but in general he isn’t changing games. At least to any significant level.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Thats some real cherry picking and ignores the reality of what was happening


Did you consider that the low number of punt returns might be partially due to the defense giving up over 500 points and an opposing 3rd down conversion rate or almost 50%?

Maybe workload on kickoffs played a role

He had the second-most kickoff return yards in a single season in the history of the NFL.

Those 69 plays, nearly five per game, forced Sorensen to make a decision to limit punt returns.

When you have receiver with nearly four hundred snaps, in his fifth year, fielding that many kicks, you have to consider protecting him.

Unlike kickoffs, which had a rules changes, punt returners still have gunners sprinting 40 yards to blast them.

If you want to see what he can do with punts when he’s not returning so many kicks, look at 2024 when he averaged over ten yards per.

Dike had an amazing rookie year when it came to special teams. On offense he was mainly blocking and running clear outs for other receivers, but the titans weren’t even remotely competitive, had nothing going on, and basically the coaches loaded the rookie up as an experiment to see what would happen.

Cherry picking? They are the two biggest factors for a returner. Actually returning it and the average they get. I get it, you think he is world class, I don’t agree.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

I honestly think Turpin will be on the team, there are places we can go short without cutting Brown. A guy that has shown so much you have to protect. Same with Milton.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

Thats some real cherry picking and ignores the reality of what was happening


Did you consider that the low number of punt returns might be partially due to the defense giving up over 500 points and an opposing 3rd down conversion rate or almost 50%?

Maybe workload on kickoffs played a role

He had the second-most kickoff return yards in a single season in the history of the NFL.

Those 69 plays, nearly five per game, forced Sorensen to make a decision to limit punt returns.

When you have receiver with nearly four hundred snaps, in his fifth year, fielding that many kicks, you have to consider protecting him.

Unlike kickoffs, which had a rules changes, punt returners still have gunners sprinting 40 yards to blast them.

If you want to see what he can do with punts when he’s not returning so many kicks, look at 2024 when he averaged over ten yards per.

Dike had an amazing rookie year when it came to special teams. On offense he was mainly blocking and running clear outs for other receivers, but the titans weren’t even remotely competitive, had nothing going on, and basically the coaches loaded the rookie up as an experiment to see what would happen.

You are a simply making up excuses for why he is not a premier punt returner. If you go back to 2024 when he averaged 10 yards of punt that still wasn’t among the league leaders.

 

[G2]

He is a return man who plays WR.

Great returning kicks, limited WR that runs limited routes.

 

[G2]

Nothing surprises me anymore and it wouldn’t be the first time I was wrong if he gets cut or traded.

Same here. But if you think about it, having a packed receiver room is a good problem to have. I could see it going either way. I just think for his size, being WR4 mainly because you're a great returner could become a challenge when they go to 53. Should be interesting!

 

[jaybird]

Where is all this Turpin hate coming from?

As i understand the post not so much hating Turpin but loving Brown and Mingo. Hard to carry 6 WRs. Turpin not going anywhere.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Apparently you don’t. As a punt returner, Turpin is very ordinary. He is better in kick returns, but in general he isn’t changing games. At least to any significant level.

Already established I watch every game at least twice. Turpin is FAR from ordinary.

Coaching still matters in this league. The Cowboys have perhaps the worst special teams coach in the league. This isn't something random it's well known. Lots of good posts in this thread showing how effective Turpin still is.

 

[Jarntt]

You would think they would try Blue

If Blue makes the 53 he very likely will be our backup KR. On the topic of the thread Turpin is going nowhere. I'm very surprised that people keep bringing this up. I guess it might be an issue if he gets injured.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

Already established I watch every game at least twice. Turpin is FAR from ordinary.

Coaching still matters in this league. The Cowboys have perhaps the worst special teams coach in the league. This isn't something random it's well known. Lots of good posts in this thread showing how effective Turpin still is.

Shouldn't assistant / position coaches execute the schemes of the head coach?

 

[G2]

Already established I watch every game at least twice. Turpin is FAR from ordinary.

Coaching still matters in this league. The Cowboys have perhaps the worst special teams coach in the league. This isn't something random it's well known. Lots of good posts in this thread showing how effective Turpin still is.

At punt returns?

 

[Creeper]

If he still has speed, then he needs to be the return guy, IMO. I get the Turpin distrust. I feel the same way. I always worry he will drop the pass, or fumble the ball, which looks too big for him.

I don't think he has great vision as a runner and he seems easy to tackle. I am okay keeping him as a return guy, but I would use him very sparingly on offense. I actually think Flournoy is more elusive as a runner.

 

[Cowboyny]

If Blue makes the 53 he very likely will be our backup KR. On the topic of the thread Turpin is going nowhere. I'm very surprised that people keep bringing this up. I guess it might be an issue if he gets injured.

Agree, Turpin isn't getting cut. People tend to forget he will impact the game more then our 5th or 6th receiver who will probably be in street clothes being inactive.

 

[blueblood70]

You would think they would try Blue

Yeah this has to stop though he's not going anywhere this year I don't know why the heats there he made some of the longest plays from scrimmage just last year and the special teams wasn't good they didn't block well but this kids not done here this year but yes Blue would be that guy they need to experiment with a little bit in games this year that might be the only guy in this roster that could take his place but let me see him take punts and kicks and catch everyone of them with no baubles no muffs and and even get any type of yardage at all and without a fumble..

Just like the long snapper it's underrated on how hard it is especially on a punt to get under that ball and trust that you're gonna catch it and not get blasted it is tough and I've seen so many guys struggle with it you should be happy with we have a guy who doesn't make a lot of money as our 4th wide receiver that can make big plays both behind the line of scrimmage and through the air and has been known to make a big play on special teams even in his down year I believe he led the NFC in yardage last year..

It is what it is I just don't understand how everybody seems to want a certain guy replaced that makes no sense on why he's not holding the team up he's the 4th wide receiver and he wasn't going to get a lot of snaps anyway, If Jerry Rice came out of retirement and made him the 4th wide receiver they wouldn't give him that many balls either it is what it is we already have the two primary receivers the running backs the tight ends and other targets there's not enough left for 3rd and 4th to worry about anything beyond he's not making that much money. to worry about anything beyond he's not making that much money.

 

[blueblood70]

Who do we have on the roster that could return punts and kickoffs if we were to trade or cut Kavonte Turpin? Seems like Mingo and Camden Brown could both play special teams and give you more versatility on offense. I know Caleb Downs has returned kicks in the past but not sure I want to put more on his plate

 

[HungryLion]

Another thing that doesn’t make sense.

Taking the return game out of the equation. Turpin has 1300 yards from scrimmage and 8 td’s on offense for his career.

Mingo isn’t anywhere close to that.

So why would you want Mingo over Turpin on the roster regardless?

 

[J-man]

Where is all this Turpin hate coming from?

It's not hate, but more like a willingness to move on from him for a better options at WR, most notably C Brown, and possibly Mingo too. Both look to be upgrades at WR over him. His claim to the spot relies solely on his return ability. And he is a great returner (or was anyway, is he still? unknown at this point) but the truth is he doesn't do much for the offense. He is pretty much just a gadget player that isn't very productive, mainly because they don't really use him very well. Not sure if they don't know how, or if they just don't trust gadget plays. Either way he's mostly ineffective as a WR. If he can be replaced as a returner the offense could be better off for it. Especially in the next couple of years when the WR room will probably change.

 

[J-man]

Another thing that doesn’t make sense.

Taking the return game out of the equation. Turpin has 1300 yards from scrimmage and 8 td’s on offense for his career.

Mingo isn’t anywhere close to that.

So why would you want Mingo over Turpin on the roster regardless?

good point but I'd say it appears Mingo has stepped forward (finally) and is playing very well. Is that just because is was against back ups? could be
Either way IMHO the main discussion is more about keeping Brown over Turpin. He is the better WR and could be very nice to have in a year or two when the WR room looks different.

 

[fivetwos]

I cannot understand in any way why someone would figure that they are going to cut Turpin, or would want them to.

I can’t figure that out. Best returner in the league and can make a sneaky big play on offense. Signed to a reasonable deal.

Perplexing.