Why doesn't Dez ever return punts anymore?

[robbieruff]

Nobody could catch Deion -- Dez, unfortunately, doesn't enjoy that advantage. We're not the only team to save our players from potential injury -- many others do the same. As far as Antonio Brown is concerned, he's more elusive than Dez and isn't prone to injury quite as much as Dez. I'm betting you won't be complaining once you see Switzer handle that chore.

Lol. Don't get me wrong my brutha. It's not a complaint. And i am VERY MUCH looking forward to the Swizz Cheese poking holes in the punt coverage and taking it to the crib!

It's just more or a matter of curiosity for me at this point that we just completely STOPPED using him almost entirely after a monster rookie season (before the serious injuries set in).

 

[robbieruff]

You can't really compare Deion to regular people. He rarely too much of a hit because he was so elusive. Also, he was not injury prone until the end of his career with the Cowboys.

Agreed. But didn't he still return even when we started having the chronic turf toe?

 

[robbieruff]

For the same reason Romo didn't play gunner on special teams.

Dude. Did U ever see Tony line up and practice at the gunner position?!! Dude was a beast and would have u eating those words!?!

 

[Bullflop]

Lol. Don't get me wrong my brutha. It's not a complaint. And i am VERY MUCH looking forward to the Swizz Cheese poking holes in the punt coverage and taking it to the crib!

It's just more or a matter of curiosity for me at this point that we just completely STOPPED using him almost entirely after a monster rookie season (before the serious injuries set in).

That's cool, m'friend. Dez also has the habit of not going down when he'd be better off doing so.

Sometimes you just have to save guys like him from themselves. It's something he can't resist.

 

[xwalker]

Agreed. But didn't he still return even when we started having the chronic turf toe?

Good point, you are correct. His PR attempts in his last 3 years with the Cowboys were 33, 24, 30.

To steal from Lloyd Bentsen:
Sir, I watched Deion Sanders. I followed Deion Sanders career. Deion Sanders was well known to me. Sir, Dez is no Deion Sanders.

 

[robbieruff]

Good point, you are correct. His PR attempts in his last 3 years with the Cowboys were 33, 24, 30.

To steal from Lloyd Bentsen:
Sir, I watched Deion Sanders. I followed Deion Sanders career. Deion Sanders was well known to me. Sir, Dez is no Deion Sanders.

Good one. I went to high school with lloyd's nephew...good dude!

 

[Doomsday]

I would of have him return punts in the playoffs.

Hopefully Switzer will make that will be a mute point.

 

[TheDuke]

If someone doesn't understand why Dez doesn't return punts...they haven't been paying attention. Otherwise this question would never be asked.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Well, there is another truth in here, after his rookie season, Dez really wasn't that good at returning punts anymore, so its diminishing returns.

He was 14.3 as a rookie, then 6.9, then 5.5. That's not good enough to risk injury, don't know why he got worse at it, but he did. By 2012, he didn't even look comfortable returning punts.

 

[MileyDancer]

Coward coaches.

 

[DFWJC]

For the same reason Romo didn't play gunner on special teams.

 

[DFWJC]

We just drafted the all-time leading punt return TD leader in NCAA history.
Just a shot in the dark here, but maybe we should give him a chance

 

[haleyrules]

Well, there is another truth in here, after his rookie season, Dez really wasn't that good at returning punts anymore, so its diminishing returns.

He was 14.3 as a rookie, then 6.9, then 5.5. That's not good enough to risk injury, don't know why he got worse at it, but he did. By 2012, he didn't even look comfortable returning punts.

Read this.

 

[joseephuss]

Lol. Don't get me wrong my brutha. It's not a complaint. And i am VERY MUCH looking forward to the Swizz Cheese poking holes in the punt coverage and taking it to the crib!

It's just more or a matter of curiosity for me at this point that we just completely STOPPED using him almost entirely after a monster rookie season (before the serious injuries set in).

He was seriously injured his rookie season returning a kickoff.

 

[hornitosmonster]

Injury prone. Can't risk it

 

[SacramentoKing]

He was seriously injured his rookie season returning a kickoff.

Yeah broke his leg right ? He was amazing at it tho

 

[dwreck27]

Didn't we draft switz for this?

Thread should have ended after this post.

 

[CWR]

Id would say because the benefit isnt worth the risk. I dont recall him being all that great at it when he did. So why put your WR1 out there unless hes dynamic at returns, which I dont believe he was. For those criticizing us as too safe, he never looked spectacular, so yeah safe is good.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

He can't stay hydrated even without returning punts. It would be worse if he did return punts.

Dez has played 97 regular season games in his career. How many games has hydration been an issue.

If you don't answer (which I know you won't since you just drive by take shots at the man) I'll assume this is like all your other unwarranted attacks...baseless. Did Dez run over your dog?

 

[LatinMind]

I mean NEVER?!! We all know he was a top returner his rookie year. And while I certainly get protecting him for his primary role, I also know we've seen him get injured pretty readily as a WR who has avoided punt return duties to protect him from that very thing. Other top players at their position have not been removed entirely from punt return duties. Antonio Brown certainly comes to mind. Deion back in the day was the MAIN returner. Even when he established himself as our lead corner, Terrance Newman would be called in for situational PR opportunities...when we had the other team pinned back and punting from the endzone.

Is it because of Dez's hard charging style that he must be protected from himself? Of course I know injuries and recovery thereof have been a factor these past couple of years but the hiatus started well before then. Thoughts?

Because he has already gotten injured three times and twice in one season returning punts.