Chris Carr

[12th man]

Is anyone unhappy with chris carr in returns??? He's been starting on returns for 3 games and has yet to break one open not sure if he's the right person to fill this job. what say you??

[Eso]

After having Leonard last year, yeah Carr seems weak on the punts, but he hasn't been to bad on the kickoffs in my opinion. Our blocking hasn't seemed particularly special either.

[beetus]

If I remember correctly, he had one really good return to the opponent's 45, but other than that, yes, his returns have been very forgettable. He was brought in mainly as a KR/PR, and he's not making the plays (but the way the offense is running now, it really doesn't matter what our starting field position is, we can move the ball.) The other options are Lardarius Webb, who had several fumbles in the preseason, Tom Zbikowski, who is decent, and Haruki Nakamura, again decent. We just don't have that dynamic playmaker at the KR/PR position, like a Josh Cribbs or a Devin Hester. But like I said, the way the offense is moving the ball, it really doesn't matter where we start.

[12th man]

[quote name='beetus' date='29 September 2009 - 10:43 AM' timestamp='1254235406' post='244216']
If I remember correctly, he had one really good return to the opponent's 45, but other than that, yes, his returns have been very forgettable. He was brought in mainly as a KR/PR, and he's not making the plays (but the way the offense is running now, it really doesn't matter what our starting field position is, we can move the ball.) The other options are Lardarius Webb, who had several fumbles in the preseason, Tom Zbikowski, who is decent, and Haruki Nakamura, again decent. We just don't have that dynamic playmaker at the KR/PR position, like a Josh Cribbs or a Devin Hester. But like I said, the way the offense is moving the ball, it really doesn't matter where we start.
[/quote]
But of course great field position is always better than staring around the 20th yard line or less i would suggest maybe one of those rookie wr to try returns Harball need to step up and make this happen he was a special team coach!!

[PuRock]

[quote name='12th man' date='29 September 2009 - 10:38 AM' timestamp='1254235133' post='244212']
Is anyone unhappy with chris carr in returns??? He's been starting on returns for 3 games and has yet to break one open not sure if he's the right person to fill this job. what say you??
[/quote]

Unhappy? Slightly. Is it because we do not see any long returns or TDs? Probably.

But:
Is he consistent? yes. Does he protect the football? yes.

In Kick Returns he is #10 in the league 25.6 pga. So we are better than most teams. So you'd probably be even more disgruntled if you were a fan of one of the other 22 teams.

[PuRock]

We are spoiled from the days of watching B.J. Sams and Jermaine Lewis. Those guys were awesome!

[PuRock]

I did some research. Our last Kick Return TD was 12/9/2007 by Yamon Figurs (94 yd) against the Colts.

I would like to see one this year. Even though many times when one does occur, a flag for holding. I hate holding calls sometimes.

[bce086]

[quote name='PuRock' date='29 September 2009 - 10:49 AM' timestamp='1254235770' post='244218']
In Kick Returns he is #10 in the league 25.6 pga.[/quote]

I was just going to ask this, thanks. He isn't doing anything spectacular for us, but as mentioned he is protecting the ball and getting us out past the 20 consistently.

We all love to see explosive returns and starting on the 35+ yard line, but playing devils advocate, starting at the 25 allows our team to kill the clock and manage the game easier.

I was dissapointed when we cut Figurs, he wasn't the best either, but he was much mroe explosive at times than Carr has been this year. But its only week 3, there's still plenty of time for improvement.

[Runnin Raven]

I agree with the others. Hasn't turned the ball over and has been consistently beyond the 20 on kickoffs. With this offense that is a good start. I didn't see many holes for him to break one yet either. His rep coming in was just this - consistently good (not great).

[Ravens549]

Is Sams done- out of the NFL?

[Eso]

[quote name='Ravens549' date='29 September 2009 - 11:44 AM' timestamp='1254239040' post='244238']
Is Sams done- out of the NFL?
[/quote]

He now plays in the UFL

[PuRock]

[quote name='Ravens549' date='29 September 2009 - 11:44 AM' timestamp='1254239040' post='244238']
Is Sams done- out of the NFL?
[/quote]

LInteresting side note. This is what I found on wikipedia"

"He has the lowest overall rating for any player in the video game Madden NFL 2010."

So even though he plays for the UFL he's still in Madden.

[Rob H]

I think Carr looks far better on kickoffs than punts. Maybe its just my imagination, but I feel like on PR he tends to run east/west too much...

[FerrariFan87]

[quote name='PuRock' date='29 September 2009 - 11:02 AM' timestamp='1254236544' post='244223']
I did some research. Our last Kick Return TD was 12/9/2007 by Yamon Figurs (94 yd) against the Colts.

I would like to see one this year. Even though many times when one does occur, a flag for holding. [b]I hate holding calls sometimes.[/b]
[/quote]

I hate them all the time (when called against us lol)... and illegal block in the back is just as, if not more, annoying.

[FerrariFan87]

I think Carr is going to break one in the next couple of weeks... he's running a lot more North/South now, and we've seen some flashes where he's been one cut away from going the distance.

[tweety]

The way our #2 offense is move the ball the potential of fumble is greater margin than potential of an easy return. I feel Clayton is the best returner but the staff must find him too valuable.

[theFUTUREis50]

[quote name='bce086' date='29 September 2009 - 11:15 AM' timestamp='1254237354' post='244225']
I was just going to ask this, thanks. He isn't doing anything spectacular for us, but as mentioned he is protecting the ball and getting us out past the 20 consistently.

We all love to see explosive returns and starting on the 35+ yard line, but playing devils advocate, starting at the 25 allows our team to kill the clock and manage the game easier.

I was dissapointed when we cut Figurs, he wasn't the best either, but he was much mroe explosive at times than Carr has been this year. But its only week 3, there's still plenty of time for improvement.
[/quote]

I am not against the idea of cutting Figurs because when you look at it outside of special teams Carr ha been playing at the nickle spot with the injury to Samari and despite Figurs catches last year, he would have been very low on the WR depth chart this year. Your PR/KR must have value somewhere else, aka the Bears making Hester a WR.

[Ed_Reed20]

Carr has been unspectacular but solid on kick returns however, he hasn't impressed me returning punts. I really think the team should take a look at Zibikowski or Nakamura on punt returns. Both of them did it in college and were successful.

Webb is probably the most explosive return-man on the team but I don't think the coaches trust him enough after the fumbles in pre-season. Hopefully he can get back in conversation somewhere down the road.

[bce086]

[quote name='theFUTUREis50' date='29 September 2009 - 01:44 PM' timestamp='1254246289' post='244294']
I am not against the idea of cutting Figurs because when you look at it outside of special teams Carr ha been playing at the nickle spot with the injury to Samari and despite Figurs catches last year, he would have been very low on the WR depth chart this year. Your PR/KR must have value somewhere else, aka the Bears making Hester a WR.
[/quote]

Yes, I can't argue with you being wrong here. There was, and always has been a CB need on our team. Carr was versatile enough to fill 2 voids for us.

Although, I can say that we shelled out a lot more cash for Carr than Figurs would have costed us. (Paying Carr $2,095,280; compared to Figurs making $370,000 last year) Carr's salary is based on his returning skills more than his ability to play corner IMO.

We may have been able to sign another low profile corner, and keep Figurs for the same price or even cheaper.

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='Rob H' date='29 September 2009 - 12:59 PM' timestamp='1254243559' post='244278']
I think Carr looks far better on kickoffs than punts. Maybe its just my imagination, but I feel like on PR he tends to run east/west too much...
[/quote]

I agree with you 100% Carr has don't a great job on kick returns for this team, but his Punt returns could be better. I'll ask the same question about the return game that I did about the defensive pressure. What are the realistic expectations of the Return game for some of you guys?

Because if you are looking for TDs from the Special Teams every week u are kidding yourselves. It is so hard to return kicks and punts for TDs.

Somebody in this thread said that Carr isn't given the offense good field position on kick returns. Then you hear people say, give someone else a try.

Well that's crazy talk. I hate to make it sound like you guys don't know what you are talking about, but what Ravens games have you guys been watching?

In the last 2 games, the Ravens have started 8 offensive drives off of a kick return. The starting field position of those 8 drives have been, 32 yard line, 26 yard line, 25 yard line, 30 yard line, 28 yard line, 41 yard line, 20 yard line, and 30 yard line. Only one of those have been a touch back.

Looking at those numbers, it means that after a kick return the Ravens average starting position is the 29 yard line. I really can't see how Carr could do much better then that.

As for his Punt returns, well that unit as a whole has to get better. But as far as Carr, it looks like he is trying too hard to make that impact play in the return game. He always seems to slip or take a false step before getting into his return. I just think he needs to be a little more patient and allow things to develop down field. However the blocking can be better as well. I just think it's a timing thing with those guys. It'll improve.

All in all I think Carr is doing a really good job in the return game. But of course that is just my opinion.

[bce086]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' date='29 September 2009 - 02:01 PM' timestamp='1254247317' post='244300']
As for his Punt returns, well that unit as a whole has to get better. But as far as Carr, it looks like he is trying too hard to make that impact play in the return game. He always seems to slip or take a false step before getting into his return. I just think he needs to be a little more patient and allow things to develop down field. However the blocking can be better as well. I just think it's a timing thing with those guys. It'll improve.
[/quote]

I agree with everything you wrote here, but especially this part. It seems to me as well that Carr is trying too hard to make that impact play and is tripping over himself or someone else.

[Jesse Conroy]

I am really upset with Carr, I think that we should try out Webb and see how he can do.... He looked good in preseason, so i think he would be better.

I think figurs was way better than carr... its a shame figurs had that fumbleitis.

[PuRock]

[quote name='Jesse Conroy' date='29 September 2009 - 02:58 PM' timestamp='1254250698' post='244327']
I am really upset with Carr, I think that we should try out Webb and see how he can do.... He looked good in preseason, so i think he would be better.

I think figurs was way better than carr... its a shame figurs had that fumbleitis.
[/quote]

Figurs really didn't have the fumblitis. Webb had the issue in preseason. Figurs lacked field vision and many other football skills.

Would you prefer to see what an unproven player can do returning with a chance at a game-changing turnover? Or would you rather get a guy that's consistent and protects the ball very well.

I'd stay consistent for the time being. Because our offense is moving the ball. If our offense was stale, then I would try different returners to try and spark the offense.

Carr isn't going to wow you, but he isn't going to lose us any games either.

[wbirkhead]

[quote name='Jesse Conroy' date='29 September 2009 - 02:58 PM' timestamp='1254250698' post='244327']
I am really upset with Carr, I think that we should try out Webb and see how he can do.... He looked good in preseason, so i think he would be better.

[b]I think figurs was way better than carr... its a shame figurs had that fumbleitis.[/b]
[/quote]

I think that's a contradiction right there. The problem is that Carr is on the other end of the spectrum when it comes to return style. Figurs is a high-risk/high-reward returner. He could take it to the house on any given return, but he could also fumble it, or run east-west and get nothing as well. Carr is the exact opposite. He is very little threat to take one to the house, but should be consistent and reliable. Eventhough it seems he's done nothing in the return game, as mentioned before he's 10th on kickoff returns, and he was 4th at the end of last year. I will say that he doesn't seem to be as good at punt returns, but then again he wasn't last year. Back a few years, our offense wasn't good enough to consistently move the ball, so we needed a home-run threat returning kicks and punts. I think with the team we have built right now, I'll take solid 25 yard kickoff returns wihout the threat of a monumental mistake, but that's just me.

[Jesse Conroy]

I do like that he doesnt fumble, but didnt Webb only loose one fumble in the preseason? and also, you got to consider him being a rookie.

[PuRock]

[quote name='Jesse Conroy' date='29 September 2009 - 03:04 PM' timestamp='1254251068' post='244333']
I do like that he doesnt fumble, but didnt Webb only loose one fumble in the preseason? and also, you got to consider him being a rookie.
[/quote]

I believe it was 2. I agree that he's a rookie and he's going to be good down the line. But in the same bane, you wouldn't want to insert him on a 3-0 team because he's a rookie. Why change what's not broken?

Webb will get his chance. But I can't see his chance coming until we need a spark to ignite our offense. Our offense sets itself.

[BaltimoreRavens88]

Fumbles on special teams are probably one of the most embarrassing things that could happen to a team, so whoever manages not to turn over the ball the best and can return for a decent gain is the best in my book. With the offense performing the way they have, you don't need a game-changing kick return to win anymore, just consistency I think Carr is doing a fine job.

[CorvusCorax]

So long as he is protecting the football and can get us past the 20, I'm a happy camper. Although it would be sweet to see some big returns, special teams on most nfl teams are good.

Since the regular season, I can't remember him missing or dropping a KOR or PR. That's a good thing. He's doing his job.

Also, we seem to be doing good on our ST as far as not letting other teams become explosive on us.

[SaVaGe]

Don't be spoiled by plays that DeSean Jackson, Josh Cribbs, and Devin Hester make.

[WinnipegRaven]

If we start at or beyond the 20 - he is doing OK. If he holds on to the ball during PK/KR - he is doing OK. Give him a lil bit of time and we'll see. If he starts fumbling like mad, then start the witch hunt. Until then, have a bit of patience.