DMN Blog | Forget about Felix Jones returning punts this season

[Bluefin]

Forget about Felix Jones returning punts this season



3:03 PM Sat, Aug 22, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
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The Cowboys would like for Felix Jones to return punts. It's another way to get their most explosive player the ball in space.

Only one problem: Jones struggles to judge and catch punts, something that is significantly harder to do than field kickoffs.

And that's a pretty big problem. The Cowboys can't afford to commit turnovers on special teams, so the Felix-as-punt-returner project will be probably put on hold for at least a year.

"I just don't know if he is going to be ready to return punts this year," Wade Phillips said. "I don't know if he has the confidence or we have the confidence yet that he can be clean with the football every time."

Patrick Crayton will probably be the Cowboys' primary punt returner. He's not an explosive threat (8.4-yard career average), but he is a safe option, although he muffed a punt before recovering the ball last night.

 

[Hypnotoad]

Judging from the muff-fest so far this year, the ability to catch the ball is not a requirement for a punt returner.

 

[Future]

Judging from the muff-fest so far this year, the ability to catch the ball is not a requirement for a punt returner.

Yea I was gonna say...couldn't be much worse than what we've thrown back there so far.

 

[casmith07]

I'm all for putting Crayton back there. Even if all he does is fair catch, at least he catches it.

Plus, fair catch is a testament to the punt return blocking, not the returner.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Just let Crayton be the regular guy and Newman do it when they're backed up, just like we've done for a while now.

 

[jobberone]

I don't want Newman back there right now. Ask me if we're behind in a big game though. I'll probably change my mind.

 

[RoadRunner]

I don't want Newman back there right now. Ask me if we're behind in a big game though. I'll probably change my mind.

Yep, I want Newman in a glass case that has a sign on it that reads, "Break glass only when pass defense is needed". My biggest fear this season is Newman out for an extended period of time.

 

[zrinkill]

Yep, I want Newman in a glass case that has a sign on it that reads, "Break glass only when pass defense is needed". My biggest fear this season is Newman out for an extended period of time.

:laugh2:

I agree

 

[Stash]

I'd love to trade for a solid punt returner like Roscoe Parrish, but not at the risk of losing a prospect like Ogletree.

 

[Hostile]

We should have drafted Devin Hester.

:bang2:

 

[Chief]

...so the Felix-as-punt-returner project will be probably put on hold for at least a year.

Ugggh.

Leave it alone already.

He's an explosive running back and great kickoff returner. Surely that's enough.

He can't catch punts. The Arkansas coaches finally gave up on this. Maybe some day, the Cowboys will, too.

 

[Apollo Creed]

And people wonder why we let Crayton handle those duties.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Patrick Crayton will probably be the Cowboys' primary punt returner.

UGH! That is simply very painfull to watch.

 

[Big Dakota]

UGH! That is simply very painfull to watch.

In other words, we'll have no punt return, again. We had a 6.4 yard return average last year and that ranked 30th.