Last season we had Carroll, who did a pretty good job with an average of 24.3 on kicks. We had Bess, who also did a pretty good job with an average of 11.4 on punts. Both were solid but, don't scare anyone. I've been seeing a lot of stuff on Hester this past week. It's not only when he touches the ball, it's teams kicking out of bounds and away from him that creates VG field position for Da Bears. He's not alone in this. Even when we had Ginn teams used to do the same. This is a very important aspect of our team which has been overlooked. It's ain't easy to drive the ball 80 yards vs today's D's. On our team, Moore is the only one I see who may have potential. Anyone have other options?
That's why I want Jacoby Jones out of Houston. He's no Hester, but he is a heck of a lot better than what we have and is a decent WR as well. Any field position ST can give our floundering O would be a plus, we might have Carpenter kicking 20 to 30 yd FGs instead of 40-50 yd FGs.
Theres Always Dante Hall! But Anywho If We Have the Chance Get Torrey Smith to Return Kicks in the Draft
A little off topic Padre, but how has Pruitt stuck around for 2 years? Isn't he pretty fast for his size?
Well he is fast, but the old offensive system required different route running skills as Sparano has only had 1 designated Returner Type, and only for 2 games, otherwise he prefers crappy but mediocre Returners who can play on offense or defense. Pruitt maybe couldn't run routes properly so they may like him, but not enough to play him.
Not that I'm saying there's any chance we could bring him back even if we wanted to, but Ted Ginn most certainly did not suck as a return man.
Wrong type of speed, Hartline is fast but not quick, a "Returner" has to be both quick then fast. As for Ted Ginn..heck yes, watch SF landed one of the best ST coordinators in the NFL in Brad Seely, when Joshua Cribbs was breaking those long returns for TD's in 09, that was Seely's Unit at work. Ginn is what..25 now? Those two CFL Returners, Chad Owens or Fort Liquordale's finest Larry Taylor would be nice pickups, BOTH led the CFL in Total Yards, one in 09, one in 10. And with the Departure of Jason Allen, we also have a need for a Stud Gunner which is what I think they have in mind for Mark Restilli.
Jesus Christ himself could be back there returning kicks for us, as long as we continue to not block anyone on returns it wont matter.
You guys are focusing at the wrong spot. Stick with Carroll but go out there and get some veteran special team aces who can open up some holes for Carroll. Carroll had a pretty good average with a poor blocking unit.
Good Returners can get it done without superb blocking ahead of them. And Carroll will not last as a Returner, his running style will just lead to multiple concussions, he had one this yr, he will wind up having more if he continues to be the Returner, running straight up and down without that quickness leads to absorbing hits he maybe doesn't have to absorb.
Bess was in the top 10 in ypa for punt returners, as was Nolan Carroll, they are not horrible neither was the blocking, what they lack is home run type quickness or the type of running style that is sustainable. That is a part of the reason why I'd like to see Owens or Taylor added.