Why wasn't Newman returning the punt Crayton dropped

[NoLuv4Jerry]

Don't we normally put Newman back there when the ball is going to be fielded near midfield? You cannot worry about him getting hurt in a single elimination tournament

 

[Jay]

I agree, I thought it was stupid to have Crayton back to return the punt. I was screaming at the TV..

 

[Chuck 54]

I was looking for Newman on both of the final punts from deep in NY territory, if for no other reason than the punter would have to hit it higher and shorter or maybe shank it away from him. At that point of the fourth quarter, there was no reason to save him.

Crayton cannot run....at all. He usually catches the punts, but he NEVER gets anywhere. That also made me wonder why we tried a WR hitch/screen to him earlier in the game....throw that to anyone but him. Why run that play to a guy with no speed who proves in punt returns that he has no elusiveness.

 

[McCordsville Cowboy]

Parcells would have had Newman returning punts in this game....

He knows what type of speed and moves he has and would risk him for field position...

 

[Oh_Canada]

These are the little details I feel Wade is incapable of paying attention to. I mean Crayton is a crappy punt returner to begin with, but now that his confidence is shaken by dropped passes and miffed punts you would think he would bring in the one game breaker with punt return experience we have sitting on the bench. Instead he leaves the tentaive Crayton out there risking another turnover and at the very least field position. Wade must go.

 

[CowboyWay]

Yeah, I'm right there with you on this one. I thought for sure Newman would be back there for that punt. Crayton isn't going to break one. Newman had a chance.

 

[Beerguzzler44]

I believe we are all on the same page here... I was dumbfounded on why he didnt have Newman back the last couple returns....

 

[CrazyCowboy]

I also thought they would put Newman in that situation.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Yeah they should have put Newman back there, he's a playmaker with the ball in his hands! Phillips and the special teams coach went to sleep a few times in that game...

 

[Maikeru-sama]

To my knowledge, Patrick Crayton only fumbled one catch?

His struggles were on Offense, not on Special Teams.

Patrick Crayton is solid as a PR, which is something you absolutely need in the Playoffs.

 

[khiladi]

They should have worked Stanback into the rotation to at least return punts. When he was returning kick-offs, he showed that he was a play-maker. Crayton is just ineffective at it, because he's always fair-catching the ball.

And speaking of Jacques Reeves, Wade should have had a couple games of seeing what Ball could do in the nickel. Because Reeves was becoming an obvious liability mid-way into the season.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

They should have worked Stanback into the rotation to at least return punts. When he was returning kick-offs, he showed that he was a play-maker. Crayton is just ineffective at it, because he's always fair-catching the ball.

And speaking of Jacques Reeves, Wade should have had a couple games of seeing what Ball could do in the nickel. Because Reeves was becoming an obvious liability mid-way into the season.

I thought the same thing....and it's strange because Wade had no reason to show loyalty to Reeves...he was a Parcells guy...there is nothing that Reeves does that any other CB in the NFL could do. He plays with zero confidence and instincts..yet he has managed to stick around 4 years.

 

[utrunner07]

This was just another example of Wade choking yesterday. Everyone says the players chocked, well Wade chocked just as much...not a good sign from your HC.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I was hoping he'd be back there, too. At that time the team and the crowd needed a big play for an energy boost.

I'm sure it's because he hadn't done it all year with all the injuries, and you don't want to put someone who's rusty back there. But that was when Crayton had lost his mind anyway, so why not? We all know Crayton doesn't have more than about 10 yards at best in him.

 

[Coakleys Dad]

I am so with you, you pull out all stops in a playoff game.

 

[RealityWynn]

IMO, Newman should be returning all punts with enough run for return..
He offers so much more of a homerun threat and is not likely to be in to much danger or at any higher rate than he already is..

 

[joseephuss]

Do we know if Newman has been working on fielding punts in practice in recent weeks? He only returned 4 punts all season. If he hasn't been fielding some punts in practice, then maybe it is not a great idea to just stick him out there cold. A big return would have been nice, but even with Crayton back there Dallas was getting the ball in great field position. Their two last drives started in good enough position for the offense to score. Crayton played a poor game, but putting Newman back there was not a "no brainer" decision.

 

[joseephuss]

IMO, Newman should be returning all punts with enough run for return..
He offers so much more of a homerun threat and is not likely to be in to much danger or at any higher rate than he already is..

When healthy I agree. He was not healthy all season.