The long undervalued solid punt returner

[gimmesix]

They've had a fascination with speedy midget returners for a while. I'm not so thrilled. Get a guy who can catch the ball, see the field, see his blocks, and run forward. Too much is made of the returners speed and quickness, too little is made of his reliability, judgment, and ability to see the field and take a hit.

As for practice fielding punts, it's late in the game for that now. Any potential candidates should have been practicing with a jugs machine all offseason.

Similarly, backup olinemen should train up to run simple short yardage TE routes. See if they can learn to catch a ball. I'd rather have an OT who can catch a 3 yard pass in on jumbo packages than a meh TE who can run a full route tree.

Just a minor skill can turn on a lot of value in a player.

Most natural candidates are Pollard and Lamb, but you never know. Key on guys that have experience in college, as that filtering for the right player already happened in college, and you get to some history of who can actually return.

Unlike fielding a punt, it's hard to get experience returning them. You need 21 other guys to practice that. The guys who do it in college have a big leg up. I think Wilson has that experience. Don't know who else. I'd always give a RB a chance.

Crayton was slow and not that thick, but he returned punts in college and was good at it. He was good for us too. Dwayne Harris had the knack in college too. Both with experience at QB? Maybe that helps them see a full field, or shows they have the capability.

I don't think Pollard is a natural candidate for punt return duties. He's a kickoff returner, but that's a different animals. I haven't heard anything about him being back there on punts and I don't believe it is something he has done.

The main players they seem to be looking at on punt returns are Lamb, Diggs and Wilson. There may be one other who was mentioned by Fassel. ... I was looking for it in a search but instead found this that I had not seen from, I believe, the first day of practice.

Greg Zuerlein's early-practice punt sailed about 35 yards wide of where Lamb was positioned. It was destined to land in the middle of another position-group's drill work. But Lamb - showing unique tracking skills - smoothly chased the path of the ball while also dodging unaware teammates ... and then fielded the punt.

Again, after a 35-yard zig-zag chase.

It was interesting to me both in what Lamb did and the fact that Zuerlein did the punting.

 

[Silly]

The NFL killed the kicking game. It was always fun watching Hester or Deion return. Now I don't even watch the kicks.... The NFL is really becoming a boring game...

 

[gimmesix]

True, but when you have 11 people coming at you at full speed, the likelihood of an injury is much greater than having one, two, or maybe three guys mostly trying to catch you from the side or behind.

Overall, though, the risk isn't really that high. I tried to find some statistics on how many punt returners get hurt each year. The only thing I found is that there were two who were injured in 2014 and only one of those because of a hit.

The main risk, as with any position, is the more a player is out there, the more chances something might happen to them. However, if you play that way, then you don't have your best players on the field.

 

[Runwildboys]

Overall, though, the risk isn't really that high. I tried to find some statistics on how many punt returners get hurt each year. The only thing I found is that there were two who were injured in 2014 and only one of those because of a hit.

The main risk, as with any position, is the more a player is out there, the more chances something might happen to them. However, if you play that way, then you don't have your best players on the field.

The flip side to that is fatigue. I prefer our playmakers to be fresh, if possible.

 

[buybuydandavis]

I don't think Pollard is a natural candidate for punt return duties. He's a kickoff returner, but that's a different animals. I haven't heard anything about him being back there on punts and I don't believe it is something he has done.

The main players they seem to be looking at on punt returns are Lamb, Diggs and Wilson. There may be one other who was mentioned by Fassel. ... I was looking for it in a search but instead found this that I had not seen from, I believe, the first day of practice.

It was interesting to me both in what Lamb did and the fact that Zuerlein did the punting.

Kick offs aren't punts, but Pollard can catch them, he can run, he's stout. I like RBs as returners. Like them extra when they're as fast as Pollard.

 

[Bobhaze]

Right. We all want to be at least good, and great if possible, on returns, which can be game-changing, but then some like the OP don't want to use a game-changing player like Lamb back there. All things equal, you use a "less valuable" player. If it's clear Lamb might be a game-changer, you use him without hesitation.

I don't really understand the dichotomy of wanting to be better at something but not being willing to do what it takes to be better at it. For me, it's about doing what is necessary to win games. If we're worried about injuries, they can happen anytime and anywhere.

I understand what you’re saying here. Sure we want our best players possible at all positions.

But there’s a reason most teams don’t expose their best overall players to a high speed car crash multiple times a game. Yes, occasionally you put a guy back there who is a star like we did with Bob Hayes, or Deion, or Dez. But none of those guys did it all the time year in year out.

My point at the top of this thread was we can have a very good punt return man by just catching punts every time and getting 6-8 yds per return. They may not take it to the house very often but even the best might do that 2 times in a career. Beside, your 4th or 5th receiver on your team isn’t chopped liver. All NFL players were probably one of the best players in the country at the college level. They are often excellent PRs.

Field position is really the main point Um trying to make here. It matters a ton. Make sure you have a reliable punt returner that can save you a ton in field position.

 

[stilltheguru]

as much as people dont want to expose Lamb hes going to get ton of returns , 2nd option for me is Pollard im trired of hearing about his wiggle, speed, and playmaking ability..really? KR didn't fare to well but maybe PR gets him some action..

Cwilson is the steady eddie type but far too many fair catch signals etc would be my guess from him..

so thats settled Pollard get most of the snaps , Lamb comes in for special plays maybe on short Felds like dez did, and Wilson when you just want a hands guy in..

that wasn't hard..

Settled my ***. Pollard doesnt even return punts

 

[gimmesix]

I understand what you’re saying here. Sure we want our best players possible at all positions.

But there’s a reason most teams don’t expose their best overall players to a high speed car crash multiple times a game. Yes, occasionally you put a guy back there who is a star like we did with Bob Hayes, or Deion, or Dez. But none of those guys did it all the time year in year out.

My point at the top of this thread was we can have a very good punt return man by just catching punts every time and getting 6-8 yds per return. They may not take it to the house very often but even the best might do that 2 times in a career. Beside, your 4th or 5th receiver on your team isn’t chopped liver. All NFL players were probably one of the best players in the country at the college level. They are often excellent PRs.

Field position is really the main point Um trying to make here. It matters a ton. Make sure you have a reliable punt returner that can save you a ton in field position.

It isn't really that simple to get 6-8 yards per return. Last year, there were only 12 returners who averaged more than 6 yards per return. Three of those players were either starters or third receivers. So only 9 out of 32 teams had a lesser player than a starter successfully average 6-plus yards per return. (However, since only three teams using starters did, you definitely have to weigh whether you think your starter can do well enough at it to be worth it or if you are better off using a backup player.)

 

[gimmesix]

The flip side to that is fatigue. I prefer our playmakers to be fresh, if possible.

I think CeeDee will be rotated enough to be fresh. We won't have three receivers on the field every play, even if we use it as our base offense.

 

[Bobhaze]

It isn't really that simple to get 6-8 yards per return. Last year, there were only 12 returners who averaged more than 6 yards per return. Three of those players were either starters or third receivers. So only 9 out of 32 teams had a lesser player than a starter successfully average 6-plus yards per return. (However, since only three teams using starters did, you definitely have to weigh whether you think your starter can do well enough at it to be worth it or if you are better off using a backup player.)

The other part of punt returning that has been terrible for us for many years is number of times punts are actually fielded. It’s one of the “hidden yards” things. If a PR just stands there and watches a punt hit the ground, it usually costs 10 yards in field position.

The best ST teams in the league usually field between 35-40 punts a year. Last year, between Tavon Austin and Randall Cobb, we fielded about 25 punts. That’s horrific. Just catch the punt and it’s a huge improvement for us.

It drove me crazy the year we had Ryan Switzer, who used to watch more punts roll than anyone I can remember in my 56 years watching Cowboys games. Sure he had one return for a TD against the skins but he was so bad all year, it didn’t compensate.

 

[Plankton]

An outside the box choice would be Jourdan Lewis.

One note about special teams - and this isn't to excuse O'Quinn, who was way over his head being a coach. Special teams effectiveness is just as much a product of how much time a team puts into it as well as how they are coached. I don't think that the Cowboys under Garrett invested a lot of time on special teams, and when you couple that with an ineffective coach for that group, you have a disaster. Under Bisaccia, the ST corps was middling to decent. Bisaccia could actually coach. Under O'Quinn, they became a reason why they lost games.

I don't see this being a problem under Mike McCarthy and John Fassel. I do wish, though, that they brought in serious competition for Chris Jones. This one bears watching, because Jones was poor last year, and middling at best the year before.

 

[Techsass]

Our ST play has been irritating me for years. Even when Bailey & Jones were both doing great, our return game sucked.

 

[conner01]

Lamb
Diggs
Wilson

Lamb fields punts effortlessly, and we know he's dangerous with the ball in his hands.

Diggs looks very natural fielding punts, similar to Lamb.

Wilson doesn't look as natural fielding punts, but he's been reliable.

I thought Wilson was the team's best punt returner last year, but he didn't get a real opportunity to show his skill. However, all things considered I'd probably go:

1. Lamb - pedal to the metal, put pressure on the opponents at every phase.

2. Diggs - CB is a tough position to transition into the pros, especially, without OTAs. Backing up CeeDee is a good STs role to have until his CB game improves.

3. Wilson - Solid player that makes sense if Diggs isn't ready or Lamb is being preserved.

Wilson was a good return guy
He’s the ideal 4th WR if he stays healthy

 

[conner01]

I think CeeDee will be rotated enough to be fresh. We won't have three receivers on the field every play, even if we use it as our base offense.

Wilson was a solid returned in college and did well in limited shots last year
He can return kicks and punts
He only has a few but he avg 6.5 on punts and did better than pollard on kicks
He avg 10 yards per punt return in college

 

[DandyDon52]

Right. We all want to be at least good, and great if possible, on returns, which can be game-changing, but then some like the OP don't want to use a game-changing player like Lamb back there. All things equal, you use a "less valuable" player. If it's clear Lamb might be a game-changer, you use him without hesitation.

I don't really understand the dichotomy of wanting to be better at something but not being willing to do what it takes to be better at it. For me, it's about doing what is necessary to win games. If we're worried about injuries, they can happen anytime and anywhere.

Ok I agree with the op/bob that using lamb isnt smart, better to find another guy who can get the 8 yd avg.
Lamb is much more valuable as a wr.
Think about this, how many touches as a wr, and how many as a PR? He would do way more as a WR than a PR.
Getting injured on a punt return is way more likely to happen than as a WR.

Now that said, if he was good at it, and consistent in practice, then as HC what I would do is I would use lamb in a limited situational manner.
By that I would use him in certain games at certain times, where i felt the team needed a spark.

Like the NO, NE, and phil games , all low scoring and our offense was not producing points, and just one good play might give us
the spark to score, and win the game.
Also any big game where again I felt like we need something now, to get offense going.

Not all games are big games, dallas should be able to win without any great punt returns, and so use him sparingly.
Then in playoffs, I might use him more since it is win or go home.

 

[gimmesix]

Ok I agree with the op/bob that using lamb isnt smart, better to find another guy who can get the 8 yd avg.
Lamb is much more valuable as a wr.
Think about this, how many touches as a wr, and how many as a PR? He would do way more as a WR than a PR.
Getting injured on a punt return is way more likely to happen than as a WR.

Now that said, if he was good at it, and consistent in practice, then as HC what I would do is I would use lamb in a limited situational manner.
By that I would use him in certain games at certain times, where i felt the team needed a spark.

Like the NO, NE, and phil games , all low scoring and our offense was not producing points, and just one good play might give us
the spark to score, and win the game.
Also any big game where again I felt like we need something now, to get offense going.

Not all games are big games, dallas should be able to win without any great punt returns, and so use him sparingly.
Then in playoffs, I might use him more since it is win or go home.

I don't agree that not all games are big games. If he's a game-breaker at returner and much better than the other options, then you use him there until you don't have to.

One punt return for a TD or a good one flipping field position could be the difference between winning and losing. I'm not for saving players because you fear they might be injured.

 

[gimmesix]

Wilson was a solid returned in college and did well in limited shots last year
He can return kicks and punts
He only has a few but he avg 6.5 on punts and did better than pollard on kicks
He avg 10 yards per punt return in college

And he might end up being the guy. But I don't want it to be because we are scared to use Lamb in the role. If Wilson's just as good of an option, then he should get the role.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Last TD return.

 

[blueblood70]

Settled my ***. Pollard doesnt even return punts

thats the issue with his a;lleged speed, wiggle, and home run ability, shouldnt he? instead getting his 10 offensive snaps and waiting around for zeke to take a break..id say if hes all hes hyped to be he dang sure would be practicing being punt returner, those that say hes should be taking snaps from zeke drool over his talent...

punt returner sounds nice for a fast back with home run ability..why not?

 

[Bobhaze]

Last TD return.

And Switzer was terrible as an NFL PR. He literally led the league in most catchable punts allowed to hit the ground. That return against Wash was the only good play he made here, and why he was gone the next season.