KR/PR Options.

[Moderator 3]

Do not like this idea at all.  Why subject your #1 draft pick to unneccessary hits?

Field position is so important, I think you have to use your best possible for the job. I don't think returners get injured more than anyone else, as long as you keep Trawick away.

[January J]

Field position is so important, I think you have to use your best possible for the job. I don't think returners get injured more than anyone else, as long as you keep Trawick away.

I agree if your just returning kicks. But if your returning kicks and playing wide reciever obviously the more your on the feild - the more tackles your subject to- the higher the chance is for injury. But like you said feild position is extremely important- that's something the coach has to consider.

[757RavensFan]

Field position is so important, I think you have to use your best possible for the job. I don't think returners get injured more than anyone else, as long as you keep Trawick away.

Perriman is the most expensive draft investment this year. Why subject him to more hits than necessary.

[ravensnick]

I see Campanero and UDFA Deandre Carter as the front runners. 

[cursona pirate]

Put our backup QB in for probable kickbacks on kickoffs.

I know its not really funny.

But probs Camp or Webb.

[xxhighriser]

For returns, is there actually a statistic to prove players get hurt at a higher rate than at any other point in the game? I know the hits can be bigger and more dangerous, but that's rarely the case, or so it seems. I just don't view it as this mega risk.

This, what are KRs on the field for 4-6 more plays a game?  Half will end up touchbacks. Seems like something people make a lot bigger deal about.

[BmoreBird22]

This, what are KRs on the field for 4-6 more plays a game?  Half will end up touchbacks. Seems like something people make a lot bigger deal about.

The only time I remembered Jacoby was getting hurt on a return was a fluke injury with Trawick

[GrimCoconut]

The NFL is trying to do away with the RS but there's still a role. Just because there have been many touch backs doesn't necessarily mean the RS is unnecessary. You have to also consider how many times teams planned to kick the TB because of what Jones could do on returns. That's part of the game plan to neutralize the RS. I recall a time when our RS was very poor. Jones honestly spoiled us while he was great and while teams continued to consider him a #1 RS even when he lost it.

[Blackbirds Rule]

Asa Jackson at KR and Campanaro at PR

[Cillmatic]

We really need someone to be named Returner soon, Webb saying that HE wants to be punt returner mean that we still have no idea. At this point ANYONE could be the returner. Any suggestions?

[BmoreBird22]

Asa Jackson at KR and Campanaro at PR

I've never seen Asa return a kick, but I do remember he had some nice punt returns in preseason.

[Cillmatic]

At this point Joe's probably in line to return kicks, Not sure if I trust Tomlin though He might have a REAL reason to stand close now... 

 

Edited June 19, 2015 by Cillmatic

[Moderator 3]

Why is his number backwards?

[Cillmatic]

Why is his number backwards?

Cause he's cool.

[BSHU_Miami]

Who's out there in FA

[Ravensfan23]

Two names people aren't throwing out there much are Toussant and Vaughn. Neither guy is a great returner by their numbers, who on our roster is? But both guys are capable of doing it and have some experience. Naturally I look at Toussant and wonder how would you manage to carry 4 RBs but at this point the best possible guy has to win the job so we'll see. 

 

In terms of the position in itself, I don't think we really need a dynamic guy to match what Coby gave us. As good as he was, he did put us in some bad spots last season by trying to do too much, but you take the good with the bad when you have that type guy. However, much like certain positions like the RB or HB position, the RS isn't a position that is as valuable as it was when you had guys like Ginn, Jacoby, Dante Hall, Cribbs, Hester, etc.... Now I'm not saying that position isn't important, but I think you can make do with a guy who is solid. A north south game that may not be dynamic but will consistently catch the ball and make good decision. With the amount of touchbacks and directional punts, the return position doesn't get as many chances. 

 

Please don't bite my head off for mentioning these names, but guys like Doss and Reed were pretty solid returners for us and I think if we got that type of production from anyone on the team we'd be ok. I think most of us look at Carter's speed and Camp's shiftiness and automatically project them well to the RS position and they might be, but it might be hard for either guy to make the active roster. I'm not gonna get carried away with the reports on Butler even though I do have him making the team, but by my count on WRs, I have 6 making it and i'm not sure there is room for 7, maybe if Pitta is PUPed. 

 

There is so much talent on this team that some really good players will be on the outside looking in. I strongly believe that the #6 WR spot and #5/6 CB spot will come down to who can return kicks for this team. 

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

I just would prefer it not being Webb he needs to try to stay healthy for the season.

[Ravensfan23]

I just would prefer it not being Webb he needs to try to stay healthy for the season.

 

I get the whole protect Webb thing. But i'm of the mindset that it's football and it's played, fast and physically. The only way to avoid injuries is to not play. The only two times I can think about our return guy getting hurt was David Reed in open field tearing his ACL and Trawick running into Jacoby a couple years ago. Both those time injuries can happen with Webb playing on defense just as much as being the returner. If he's not limited in any way and proves to be the best option, I say let him go for it. 

 

At this point Webb is who is he, a injury prone guy. I say maximize him as much as you can while you can. 

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

I get the whole protect Webb thing. But i'm of the mindset that it's football and it's played, fast and physically. The only way to avoid injuries is to not play. The only two times I can think about our return guy getting hurt was David Reed in open field tearing his ACL and Trawick running into Jacoby a couple years ago. Both those time injuries can happen with Webb playing on defense just as much as being the returner. If he's not limited in any way and proves to be the best option, I say let him go for it. 

 

At this point Webb is who is he, a injury prone guy. I say maximize him as much as you can while you can. 

I see your point however why not use a guy who can catch and run and is not so high up on the depth chart? For instance if you were to lose Webb because of a injury due to him playing DB so be it however him injuring himself on a kickoff return now you just lost a starting DB for a yard or two more on a kickoff return. It makes no sense when you have a guy like for example Carter or Campanaro if healthy returning kicks. When we lost J. Jones it stunk but he never was a great WR he was a ok WR at best and  it was like us losing our #3 WR we still had guys who could step in and do the job as a #3 WR and with little to no drop off in WR production compared to having  J.Jones on the field. Webb is a decent DB when he is healthy but at best an average kick returner when stacked up against the other competition.

[Ravensfan23]

I see your point however why not use a guy who can catch and run and is not so high up on the depth chart? For instance if you were to lose Webb because of a injury due to him playing DB so be it however him injuring himself on a kickoff return now you just lost a starting DB for a yard or two more on a kickoff return. It makes no sense when you have a guy like for example Carter or Campanaro if healthy returning kicks. When we lost J. Jones it stunk but he never was a great WR he was a ok WR at best and  it was like us losing our #3 WR we still had guys who could step in and do the job as a #3 WR and with little to no drop off in WR production compared to having  J.Jones on the field. Webb is a decent DB when he is healthy but at best an average kick returner when stacked up against the other competition.

 

I get it but losing him to injury is losing him to injury regardless of how you look at it imo. I think it'll just be much more of a fan backlash if he's hurt returning kicks. I'm not sure how he's average at best against competition when no one other then Smitty has the return experience he has on the team. We think guys like Camp and Carter can get the job done, but again if Webby is the best guy, put him back here. He's made numerous big plays as a return, they never seem to count when he does it against the Steelers but he's really good at it from what I remember. 

[GrimCoconut]

I just would prefer it not being Webb he needs to try to stay healthy for the season.

I don't think it matters anymore. With his penchant for injury, it might not matter and I don't think the risk of injury is as great as it once was on returns. I'd throw Webb at RS.

[rmw10]

I saw one coach (maybe?) say that in a year with a team this deep, the guy who is going to be doing KRs is going to have to have value at his position as well.  He said this it's not in the team's best interest to keep a guy that only returns kicks.

[GrimCoconut]

I saw one coach (maybe?) say that in a year with a team this deep, the guy who is going to be doing KRs is going to have to have value at his position as well. He said this it's not in the team's best interest to keep a guy that only returns kicks.

Sounds like Chip Kelly to me. Lol. I do agree with the sentiment.

[rmw10]

Sounds like Chip Kelly to me. Lol. I do agree with the sentiment.

 

Makes sense, especially since it seems a good amount of kicks are touchbacks or returns that don't make it back to the 20 anyways.

[January J]

I get the whole protect Webb thing. But i'm of the mindset that it's football and it's played, fast and physically. The only way to avoid injuries is to not play. The only two times I can think about our return guy getting hurt was David Reed in open field tearing his ACL and Trawick running into Jacoby a couple years ago. Both those time injuries can happen with Webb playing on defense just as much as being the returner. If he's not limited in any way and proves to be the best option, I say let him go for it.

At this point Webb is who is he, a injury prone guy. I say maximize him as much as you can while you can.

if joe flacco was seriously the best option to return kicks should we let him do it?

[Ravensfan23]

if joe flacco was seriously the best option to return kicks should we let him do it?

 

but he's not and never would be. I know what you are getting at, the value of the player to his primary position. So I'll play the game, no I wouldn't allow Flacco to return kicks, but as much as I enjoyed his only catch of his career, I wouldn't allow Flacco to go out in pass routes. However it is football, so I wouldn't eliminate the QB sneak, the QB draw or naked bootlegs from the offense just because I don't want Flacco getting hit. You gotta be smart but you can't play this game in fear. If Flacco got hurt on a QB snack on 3rd and inches in the first quarter, would you be pissed at the coach for calling that play? It's apart of the game, Flacco returning kicks isn't.

 

If you are seriously concerned about Webb getting re-injured, would you suggest he just take a knee whenever he gets a Int to avoid added hits? If a fumble was right in front of him would you suggest he not dive on the ball?

[Blackbirds Rule]

I've never seen Asa return a kick, but I do remember he had some nice punt returns in preseason.

He ran a kickoff back for a td last year or the year before.

[BmoreBird22]

He ran a kickoff back for a td last year or the year before.

That would be a punt return for a touchdown against the Falcons, I believe, in the preseason that got called back on a holding call. He's never had a return touchdown in the regular season.

[berad]

I still think returner is extremely valuable in the league, our two SB teams had excellent ones who made game-changing plays in the postseason. What does Ravens lore look like without Jermaine Lewis or Jacoby Jones? How would it be different if BJ Sams was healthy in 2006 for returns, instead of Cory Ross returning kicks/punts?

 

I do agree there has to be some value as a reserve off/def player, but I would take a Lewis/Jones/Sams over a Chris Carr who started all 2010 at CB but returned kicks like a granny heading for the buffet line.

[BmoreBird22]

I still think returner is extremely valuable in the league, our two SB teams had excellent ones who made game-changing plays in the postseason. What does Ravens lore look like without Jermaine Lewis or Jacoby Jones? How would it be different if BJ Sams was healthy in 2006 for returns, instead of Cory Ross returning kicks/punts?

 

I do agree there has to be some value as a reserve off/def player, but I would take a Lewis/Jones/Sams over a Chris Carr who started all 2010 at CB but returned kicks like a granny heading for the buffet line.

I can only comment on Jermaine Lewis and Jacoby Jones, but they had a role in the offense. Jacoby was a third receiver and Jermaine Lewis had two strong years that would fit as a third receiver in today's offenses and that's what the Ravens want.