KR/PR Options.

[TXRavensFan]

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.

 

Pretty sure he's referring to the Jerry Rosburg presser from OTAs:

 

“You’d like to see a return specialist do both, and also contribute on offense or defense. My personal philosophy is I don’t want just a return specialist. That’s not enough value to the roster. It doesn’t help the team enough. Whatever way we work out with the roster – whether it is one guy doing one and playing on offense and another guy doing another and playing on defense – as long as they are doing everything they can in a multiple number of ways to help our team, then I’ll be just fine with it.”

 

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Transcripts-Ravens-Third-OTA/abe97cbf-848b-4ba2-a3b0-ce97619e0304

 

The video should still be on the main page as well.

 

 

(Edit: added the quote from the transcripts)

Edited June 22, 2015 by TXRavensFan

[berad]

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. 

 

True and what they should be aiming for. I guess my point is that an excellent returner is a more valuable roster spot than 6th string WR who is an average returner.

[BmoreBird22]

True and what they should be aiming for. I guess my point is that an excellent returner is a more valuable roster spot than 6th string WR who is an average returner.

Well, would you want a roster spot being taken just for a returner, though, and potentially push off someone like a Waller or Butler who has some potential?

[Drew P]

Jeremy Butler.

 

I like Camp too much as an actual WR to have him return punts, especially when he has durability concerns. 

 

Camp may be on IR the way the WR competition is going

[berad]

Well, would you want a roster spot being taken just for a returner, though, and potentially push off someone like a Waller or Butler who has some potential?

 

I would. For an excellent one? Devin Hester in his prime in only a specialist role would be worth more to me, personally.

[BmoreBird22]

I would. For an excellent one? Devin Hester in his prime in only a specialist role would be worth more to me, personally.

Okay, I'll give it that I would use a spot for Devin Hester in his prime

[beasy2487]

I would. For an excellent one? Devin Hester in his prime in only a specialist role would be worth more to me, personally.

I mean...Devin Hester in his prime though? me too lol.

Edited June 22, 2015 by beasy2487

[ravensdan]

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.

This is a very good underrated point. A game changing kick returner can be so crucial throughout a year. Question is with the rules the way they are, how many of those guys do we even have throughout the league?the number is dwindling.

[January J]

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?

it was really just a hypothetical - I'm not even necessarily in the mindset that I'm worried about Webb getting injured. You can get injured on any play at any time. However that also means the more your on the feild the more the risk increases- esp if your the one with the ball In your hands with the entire opposition coming at you from the opposite direction with that much momentum. So I'm kind of on the fence. But I think the most talented guy should get the Job, regardless of what other position he plays. I just don't really think that is Webb anyway, so it's kind of irrelevant.

[Ravensfan23]

it was really just a hypothetical - I'm not even necessarily in the mindset that I'm worried about Webb getting injured. You can get injured on any play at any time. However that also means the more your on the feild the more the risk increases- esp if your the one with the ball In your hands with the entire opposition coming at you from the opposite direction with that much momentum. So I'm kind of on the fence. But I think the most talented guy should get the Job, regardless of what other position he plays. I just don't really think that is Webb anyway, so it's kind of irrelevant.

 

oh i've paid attention to enough of your post to know that wasn't really a legit question, but I think the biggest fear of Webb returning kicks is the injury factor and my whole point was that you just can't avoid injuries by playing scared. Like I said before, I get it and fully understand why people or even coaches wouldn't want to put Webb back there. But he's a really good returner and if I had to rank our current guys just of the top of my head right now, Webb would be at the top. With the way many Punters use direction kicks in today's NFL, there are a ton of touchbacks, fair catches and balls touched down inside the 5 yardline. Webb as a "punt returner" would probably only run the risk of contact on 2 punts per game. 

[January J]

oh i've paid attention to enough of your post to know that wasn't really a legit question, but I think the biggest fear of Webb returning kicks is the injury factor and my whole point was that you just can't avoid injuries by playing scared. Like I said before, I get it and fully understand why people or even coaches wouldn't want to put Webb back there. But he's a really good returner and if I had to rank our current guys just of the top of my head right now, Webb would be at the top. With the way many Punters use direction kicks in today's NFL, there are a ton of touchbacks, fair catches and balls touched down inside the 5 yardline. Webb as a "punt returner" would probably only run the risk of contact on 2 punts per game.

I will have to see what a few of the guys look like returning kicks- I've heard that carter is pretty good but haven't seen so for myself. And he has to make the team first. Don't get me wrong Webb is a good returner , but I think we will have a better option anyway. I'd much rather have camp back there, I don't know he just seems more shifty and sure-handed. and our WR position has a lot more depth if an injury did happen to occur. Edited June 23, 2015 by January J

[Ravensfan23]

I will have to see what a few of the guys look like returning kicks- I've heard that carter is pretty good but haven't seen so for myself. And he has to make the team first. Don't get me wrong Webb is a good returner , but I think we will have a better option anyway. I'd much rather have camp back there, I don't know he just seems more shifty and sure-handed. and our WR position has a lot more depth if an injury did happen to occur.

 

Oh i definitely agree. I'm not saying that Webb is the absolute best option. I'm just saying that if he wants to do it, he should be allow to compete. If I were a coach i'd allow him to compete for the job, but if Harbs has the same mindset as you and others, I would definitely understand the decision. 

[ihoxhaj3]

In my opinion, you put the best guy you have back there.

 

Like someone said earlier, if an injury is gonna happen, it can happen at any time in the game. Field position is so important.

 

And one point I would like to make, if the steelers can put Antonio Brown, their number 1 receiver and probably a top 5 receiver in this league, we can put Webb back there.

[deacfan]

Being a NFL caliber punt returner is not something that everyone can do. Especially someone that only caught a handful in a small conference college..Hence Coach R comments about wanting someone that can do it under the bright lights.

 

Campanaro did it last year and actually caught a punt in the steeler playoff game. He is already back to 100% healthy and hopefully all done with the injury bug. He will be a force to wrecken with this summer and based on the few spectacular catches he made last year and the trust he has built with Coach R. He will be a big part of this team this year.

 

And BTW I told you guys Butler was a BEAST!! He was killen it during pre-season last year also. I think he had a couple TD's in games last year. He slimmed down and got faster. 

Edited June 24, 2015 by deacfan

[blairlee212]

Would the Ravens be interested in punt returner Ace Sanders with Jacoby gone?

[52520Andrew]

Maybe if we don't like what we have at returner but I don't know if he would make the roster or not as someone else would have to go at WR

[usmccharles]

A slow undersized wr... No thanks