Punt Returns

[Runnin Raven]

Anybody have a strong feel for who the PR will be? I think Miller has a good chance. I love Zibby but don't want to see him risk injury. Not sure about Clayton.

[Perfekt]

we have a bunch of options which is good. as long as Carr an Zibby are not returning them then im fine. I mean once Reed is back then Zibby can if he wants but other wise he just needs to be on defense.

im fine with Parmele or Miller tho.

[Wacko4Zacko]

No not Miller! I dont want to take a chance of him geting injured returning a punt and later on we could have been using him as a CB, but he would be injured. Put Clayton as PR. lol

[Runnin Raven]

[quote name='Wacko4Zacko' timestamp='1282587294' post='456771']
No not Miller! I dont want to take a chance of him geting injured returning a punt and later on we could have been using him as a CB, but he would be injured. Put Clayton as PR. lol
[/quote]
Contrary to some people's views, I'd bet Clayton is the most sure-handed of those guys. I think Miller has the most big-play potential though, as shown by his amazing return vs Carolina. Elusive small guys can be great returners, ala Dante Hall.

[Bazooka Joe]

I'd think Miller has the edge in this job, but he has yet to return against the first team STs.

[Ed_Reed20]

I honestly don't who it'll be among Zibby, Miller and Clayton. Zibby will likely be the starting FS early in the season(assuming Ed can't go), so I'd say the battle is really between Miller and Clayton.

We'll just have to wait and see.

[Perfekt]

atleast people are not hating on miller for being short anymore so i can live with that.

[Gtown Purple]

I'd prefer to see clayton since he's not a starter. I want Zibby to be fresh and I think Miller will see playing time at least early in the year in nickel.

[Perfekt]

i seriously doubt that miller will get anytime at cb this year. with webb coming back and washington looking solid so far i doubt that he will get much playing time outside of ST. remember we still have carr and williams not to mention fisher not that i think hes better than miller.

[ravensfan160]

[quote name='Perfekt' timestamp='1282589726' post='456808']
i seriously doubt that miller will get anytime at cb this year. with webb coming back and washington looking solid so far i doubt that he will get much playing time outside of ST. remember we still have carr and williams not to mention fisher not that i think hes better than miller.
[/quote]
I don't think Fisher makes the team. He's been pretty darn bad at times. I'd say he's about even with Miller that this point and if I were Ozzie and had to choose, I'd choose the yound guy with punt return skills and a bigger upside.

That said, with Williams suspended for the first 2 games, I could see Miller being our 3rd or 4th corner depending on Webb's availability for week 1.

[Perfekt]

we really dont know what miller can do against the 1st tho because hes only played against 2nd and 3rd string players.

im not sticking up for fishers bad play but he was against starters.

[757RavensFan]

Heck the way Haruki returned the fake punt, put him back there.

[Ravensfan23]

The thing about Miller imo, is that he is nothing more then just a Nickle or Dimeback at the CB position. Having Carr already in that nickle package, and having a guy like Nakamura who will see a lot of time at Dime, not to mention the strong play of Williams, will make it hard for Miller to stick out.

As a punt returner, the guy looked good in game 1. I haven't rewatched the Skins game yet, so i don't know who well he did as a returner in that game yet.

If Miller is viewed as just a Punt Returner it will make it hard for him to make the final roster THIS YEAR. I think Miller will be around the Ravens for a while, but with the way this team is put together this year, i don't think he makes it.

Right now the Ravens really don't have a roster spot to invest in a punt returner only. And like i said because Carr is pretty much locked into that nickle spot, especailly if Washington and Webb come back strong. So i don't see Miller hitting the field much on the defensive side of the ball.

The way i see it there are only about 10 spots up in the air right now for this year's Ravens team. I'm not sure that Miller will be amongst those 10.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='757RavensFan' timestamp='1282591065' post='456831']
Heck the way Haruki returned the fake punt, put him back there.
[/quote]

Haruki returned punts in college; maybe his long run will convince the coaches to give him a shot.

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1282592596' post='456849']
Haruki returned punts in college; maybe his long run will convince the coaches to give him a shot.
[/quote]

Wouldn't surprise me at all to hear about Nakamura taking some time after practice to work on the receiving punts.

[lowrider]

[quote name='757RavensFan' timestamp='1282591065' post='456831']
Heck the way Haruki returned the fake punt, put him back there.
[/quote]
Saw an interview after the game with him. He said he went up to the special teams coach and was like maybe you should give me a shot to return punts or kickoffs jokingly. The coach politely said maybe he should stick to safety or something to that regards. haha. I'd have to check the interview out again to find out what the special teams coach said exactly. But it didn't sound like they were going to give him a chance to return kickoffs or punts

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='lowrider' timestamp='1282592938' post='456852']
Saw an interview after the game with him. He said he went up to the special teams coach and was like maybe you should give me a shot to return punts or kickoffs jokingly. The coach politely said maybe he should stick to safety or something to that regards. haha. I'd have to check the interview out again to find out what the special teams coach said exactly. But it didn't sound like they were going to give him a chance to return kickoffs or punts
[/quote]

To me, that makes no sense. Zibby will be the starting FS for who knows how well long and yet gets a crack at returning punts. Nakamura is definitely over his ankle injury and was a pretty good return man in college but hasn't gotten a shot yet.

[Perfekt]

You never know what you have unless you try. We didnt let Zibby or Parmele return kicks/ punts and then look at how well they have done with the return game. Im not saying I know more than the coach just seems to me that Nakamura has good field vision why not try it out?

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Perfekt' timestamp='1282593465' post='456860']
You never know what you have unless you try. We didnt let Zibby or Parmele return kicks/ punts and then look at how well they have done with the return game. Im not saying I know more than the coach just seems to me that Nakamura has good field vision why not try it out?
[/quote]

Agreed.

[Runnin Raven]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1282592596' post='456849']
Haruki returned punts in college; maybe his long run will convince the coaches to give him a shot.
[/quote]
Ruki definitely had some nice shake-n-bake on that fake punt. It does seem odd that he doesn't get a chance - especially since they're giving Zibby a look.

[lowrider]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1282593254' post='456856']
To me, that makes no sense. Zibby will be the starting FS for who knows how well long and yet gets a crack at returning punts. Nakamura is definitely over his ankle injury and was a pretty good return man in college but hasn't gotten a shot yet.
[/quote]
I'd imagine they gave Haruki a chance at one point. Maybe consistency of catching punts was a problem. I'm not sure I was just repeating what I heard.

[XxSizzleXx]

I think Nakamura should get a chance at fielding some punts.

[Irish Raven]

Let Nakamura has a go at punt returns.
As Zibby will be starting FS we need him there.
And we saw what happened last year with Webb on special teams.

Nakamura did a fantastic job on that punt return.
Maybe it'll work and maybe it won't but lets see in the next preseason game.
Worth a try

[CapoRocky]

I'm for Nakamura all the way. He ran through so many tackles on that faked punt that I think he earned a shot at punt returner.

[Fred Sanford]

I concur that Haruki deserves a shot, especially since the most obvious choice, Zbikowski, is unfeasible as long as he's starting at safety. For some reason, Rosburg dismissed his inquiry as if it were just a joke. Kind of odd, considering we have no clear answer.

I rule out Parmele and Stallworth because their power/straight line speed is suitable to kickoffs, not punts. With punts, you want a smaller, shifty guy with quickness and jukes rather than long run speed and vision. It seems Clayton should be ideal, but who knows? Zbikowski is obviously capable once Ed Reed returns.

Prince Miller is viable, but we haven't seen much except one spectacular return, and he may not make the team.