Why doesn't Dez ever return punts anymore?

[robbieruff]

Stats really don't tell the story. He looked like he was trying to be Deion or something (which he isn't), running east/west instead of being aggressive and running it up the middle north/south.

The mentality of a punt returner is like being Evil Knievel, don't know, but I think he lost some of that mentality.

Gotcha. Thx for the informed perspective.

 

[cowboyschmps3]

We need to give him a few looks a game, a lot of top receivers do it. Antonio Brown seems to be back there when the Steelers need some life.

 

[robbieruff]

We need to give him a few looks a game, a lot of top receivers do it. Antonio Brown seems to be back there when the Steelers need some life.

That point is what sparked the question. Now that we might see a healthy Dez it would be nice if it were an option. Although I give Switz the rt of first refusal until he shows me otherwise.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

C'mon man. This is an honest question. Zeke was not a returner in college as I'm sure your know (sarcasm aside). On the other hand, Felix Jones was and was thus used in that capacity frequently even though, at the time, he was serving as our starting RB. So in your mind do offensive or defensive marquee starters never get used in the return game? Are those days over?

Felix Jones never was asked to carry the mail in a workhorse fashion. Dez hasn't even been an impact punt returner since his rookie year. Despite doing it for an additional 2 seasons.

This is ridiculous conversation.

 

[LatinMind]

He got hurt as a punt returner? I know of course about the injuries sustained as a pass catcher but I must say I don't recall when it happened in the return game. Can you refresh my memory of when that happened?

first time vs the giants.

 

[robbieruff]

Felix Jones never was asked to carry the mail in a workhorse fashion. Dez hasn't even been an impact punt returner since his rookie year. Despite doing it for an additional 2 seasons.

This is ridiculous conversation.

Well you're welcome to ignore it my man. Ridiculous yet you chose to participate. Hmmmm.

 

[robbieruff]

first time vs the giants.

Huh?

 

[Proof]

The steelers are an entirely different type of organization philosophically. Other than Antonio, who are the other WR 1s that return punts. I'm honestly asking, not rhetorically

 

[TheDuke]

Brah. Did u even read the OP. Or the conversatiok throughout the thread?!! I am talking about EVER SINCE HIS ROOKIE YEAR. Dez was a top returner as a rookie. OF COURSE he doesn't return NOW with all the injury history in the past two years. I am talking about through the course of his career it just STOPPED...even before injuries were really an issue. That has nothing to do with paying attention or not. I pay VERY CLOSE attention to the Boys and have been to more live games than I care to count. Don't put the flippancy in this thread please. This is a reasonable question about our coaching philosophy vs how we've done it in the past and how current teams approach the return game currently.

Do you honestly believe that Dez has shown anything close to the ability to stay conditioned enough and durable enough to maintain effectiveness throughout the entire game handling both duties at any point in his entire career? I sure as hell don't. Not even close in my view. Add in the fact that he was pretty much our #1 guy from the day he walked in and we haven't exactly had any other dynamic playmakers beside him and it's obvious why he hasn't been asked to do it. Sure I'd like to see him do it once a game in a crucial situation or the right situation but other than that no chance. Not even a quesition in my view I just don't think he's done enough throughout his career from a conditioning/durability standpoint to justify it. No way. No chance.

 

[robbieruff]

Do you honestly believe that Dez has shown anything close to the ability to stay conditioned enough and durable enough to maintain effectiveness throughout the entire game handling both duties at any point in his entire career? I sure as hell don't. Not even close in my view. Add in the fact that he was pretty much our #1 guy from the day he walked in and we haven't exactly had any other dynamic playmakers beside him and it's obvious why he hasn't been asked to do it. Sure I'd like to see him do it once a game in a crucial situation or the right situation but other than that no chance. Not even a quesition in my view I just don't think he's done enough throughout his career from a conditioning/durability standpoint to justify it. No way. No chance.

No...I don't think he has...the wasn't the point of my original post nor was it something I reinforced at any point throughout the thread...you took it to a whole other place by deciding to troll instead of engage in a reasonable dialogue/debate...NOW, if you had said that the main reason Dez discontinued return duties was his diminished stats (and issues with ball security in 2011 and 2012) wasn't providing the production to justify the risk as a featured returner, then I'd have said good point and tipped my cap. HOWEVER, what you did is take the argument to a personal attack about not paying attention, blah blah blah. Whatever makes you puff out your chest bro and feel better about yourself...

 

[RoboQB]

The steelers are an entirely different type of organization philosophically. Other than Antonio, who are the other WR 1s that return punts. I'm honestly asking, not rhetorically

Jarvis Landry returned 16 punts last year. One more than Antonio Brown.
Tavon Austin returned 44 punts. Tyreek Hill, 39 returns... not WR1 types.
Patrick Peterson had 13. O'Dell Beckham had 10.

 

[John813]

They probably just don't want to expose Dez to any more hits than needed. Dude isn't one to go down easy and on the PR you got guys flying at the returner. And, I doubt Dez is the same athlete he was in 2010/2011. Hopefully, we found a solid returner in Switzer this year.

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

Dez is fat?

 

[dogunwo]

The steelers are an entirely different type of organization philosophically. Other than Antonio, who are the other WR 1s that return punts. I'm honestly asking, not rhetorically

OBJ

 

[CATCH17]

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?

I 100% agree.

He needs to be a returner in key moments of key games.


I wouldn't trot him out there all of the time (even though other teams do it with their star WR) but I would certainly do it more in divisional games and playoff games.

 

[cowboyschmps3]

That point is what sparked the question. Now that we might see a healthy Dez it would be nice if it were an option. Although I give Switz the rt of first refusal until he shows me otherwise.

I mean whoever gets the job on PR ok, they'll be back there on a regular but if we got a team back downs at inside their own 20 makes a lot of sense to put the X man back there.

 

[EST_1986]

 

[EST_1986]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/06/04/dez-bryant-asks-cowboys-to-let-him-return-punts/

As a rookie in 2010, Dez Bryant was one of the best punt returners in the NFL, with a 14.3-yard average and two touchdowns. But the Cowboys later decided Bryant was too important at his primary position of wide receiver to risk an injury on special teams.

Now Bryant is asking for another chance. He was practicing catching punts last week at Organized Team Activities, and he has asked special teams coach Rich Bisaccia to give him a shot in a game.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Do you honestly believe that Dez has shown anything close to the ability to stay conditioned enough and durable enough to maintain effectiveness throughout the entire game handling both duties at any point in his entire career? I sure as hell don't. Not even close in my view. Add in the fact that he was pretty much our #1 guy from the day he walked in and we haven't exactly had any other dynamic playmakers beside him and it's obvious why he hasn't been asked to do it. Sure I'd like to see him do it once a game in a crucial situation or the right situation but other than that no chance. Not even a quesition in my view I just don't think he's done enough throughout his career from a conditioning/durability standpoint to justify it. No way. No chance.

Questioning Dez's fitness seems silly.

He works hard on his body.

 

[erod]

If he's the best returner, and I'm not sure he is anymore, than they should do it.

Antonio Brown. Odell Beckham. Desean Jackson. Others do it.

And it may be his best talent at this point.

 

[JoeKing]

Questioning Dez's fitness seems silly.

He works hard on his body.

Your point is well received. Dez does work hard to sculpt his Adonis-like body. That doesn't equate to being in football shape.