TT looking at KRs?

[Smidgeon]

http://blogs.greenbaypressgazette.com/blogs/gpg/insider/2011/04/07/report-packers-to-bring-in-kick-returners/

[Tarlam!]

Packers GM Ted Thompson, however, has said he won’t spend a roster spot on a player primarily as a returner, that they would have to be able to contribute at another position.


believe this.

[Tony Oday]

believe this.


MM needs a waterboy too...

[gbpackfan]

I'll be MM's water bitch if it means I have to follow him around during practices and games!

[MadScientist]

Often he brings in guys for workouts that he might sign as a UFA. Given the uncertainty of the labor agreement, he might take a 7th round flier on one of them. I also expect that part of the workout is to determine if they are worth anything as a position player.

[Little Whiskey]

KR's are going to be less important to the game given the rule changes. No wedge, moving the kickoff up. if your going to have a specialist, make sure he can return punts.

[Lurker64]

believe this.

Well, think about it for a minute. Brett Swain was on the roster as a WR, but he really only played on special teams (he was thrown to 9 times and caught 6 balls, counting playoffs). Would it really be that different if we were to draft one of these guys (who were WRs in college) and have them take Swain's job, except instead of covering kicks he returns them?

So I think what Thompson is saying that anybody we draft, they will have another position, and they'd learn that position and they would work out with those guys, but it's not as though we don't keep people around whose primary contributions and roles are on special teams.

[get louder at lambeau]

Well, think about it for a minute. Brett Swain was on the roster as a WR, but he really only played on special teams (he was thrown to 9 times and caught 6 balls, counting playoffs). Would it really be that different if we were to draft one of these guys (who were WRs in college) and have them take Swain's job, except instead of covering kicks he returns them?

So I think what Thompson is saying that anybody we draft, they will have another position, and they'd learn that position and they would work out with those guys, but it's not as though we don't keep people around whose primary contributions and roles are on special teams.

Jarrett Bush is the poster boy of that. He's exceptionally valuable as a Special Teams gunner, but he is also a defensive back. Without him on the field, we don't win that Super Bowl. He was great on Special Teams and ended up seeing a lot of work on defense with Shields and Woodson going down, including a crucial INT.

Special Teamers are the perfect backups, because they are used to real game action, and are ready to go. Grab your helmet and go do your secondary responsibility the best you can. With luck some of them mature into good starters at a primary offensive or defensive position with time, like Donald Driver did.

[Bretsky]

I think there was a stud WR in Division 2 that I watched in the title game who was a very good return guy and WR

Cecil Short.........I THINK his name was.............

Might be a TT kinda guy

[Lurker64]

I think there was a stud WR in Division 2 that I watched in the title game who was a very good return guy and WR

Cecil Short.........I THINK his name was.............

Might be a TT kinda guy

Cecil Shorts III actually, and he went to Mount Union, which is a D-III school. But Pierre Garcon is also a Mount Union alum, and he turned out all right. Thompson has more of a gift for scouting WRs than I do, but Shorts is fluid and athletic but lacks bulk and will probably struggle against press coverage. Worth a day 3 flyer though, why not?

The key thing, though, is that when you're drafting a day 3 WR or DB, you might value one guy over another because the first guy showed himself to be a talented returner. I have no idea whether Mr. Shorts actually returned kicks, and trusting on a guy to be a returner just because he's athletic doesn't really work that well. I mean, Sam Shields worked out pretty well, but not as a KR/PR.

[Bretsky]

I thought Shorts was a returner as well but I might be wrong. I watched him a few yrs against UW Whitewater in the title game....just remember him as a stud WR at that level.
We need to create a flyer thread....late round guys...not many know about....who we think TT might like. This guy would be thrown in that litter.

[TennesseePackerBacker]

I'd love to see Titus Young in green and gold.

How sad is it that Rossum is the best we've had as a return man since Desmond?

Adding that dynamic to the Packers would make an already dangerous team even more so.

I'm not so sure the new 5-yard rule will have the drastic affect that some of you think it will.

[Guiness]

Cecil Shorts III actually, and he went to Mount Union, which is a D-III school. But Pierre Garcon is also a Mount Union alum, and he turned out all right. Thompson has more of a gift for scouting WRs than I do, but Shorts is fluid and athletic but lacks bulk and will probably struggle against press coverage. Worth a day 3 flyer though, why not?

The key thing, though, is that when you're drafting a day 3 WR or DB, you might value one guy over another because the first guy showed himself to be a talented returner. I have no idea whether Mr. Shorts actually returned kicks, and trusting on a guy to be a returner just because he's athletic doesn't really work that well. I mean, Sam Shields worked out pretty well, but not as a KR/PR.

lol @ 'Mr. Shorts'

[Lurker64]

lol @ 'Mr. Shorts'

Arguably Mr. Shorts was Cecil's Father and/or Grandfather.

[Guiness]

Jarrett Bush is the poster boy of that. He's exceptionally valuable as a Special Teams gunner, but he is also a defensive back. Without him on the field, we don't win that Super Bowl. He was great on Special Teams and ended up seeing a lot of work on defense with Shields and Woodson going down, including a crucial INT.

Special Teamers are the perfect backups, because they are used to real game action, and are ready to go. Grab your helmet and go do your secondary responsibility the best you can. With luck some of them mature into good starters at a primary offensive or defensive position with time, like Donald Driver did.

Who'd have thought you'd ever have to type those bolded words...

[Tarlam!]

Who'd have thought you'd ever have to type those bolded words...

Credit where credit's due. Most posters around here can admit when they're wrong about something. Most, not all.

[swede]

Who'd have thought you'd ever have to type those bolded words...

Hehheh

[Lurker64]

Credit where credit's due. Most posters around here can admit when they're wrong about something. Most, not all.

He was also instrumental in some of our other wins this season (Jets and the NFCCG against the Bears come to mind). We didn't have a lot of regular season wins to give, and losing the NFC Championship Game to the Bears would have been the worst thing ever.

[channtheman]

He was also instrumental in some of our other wins this season (Jets and the NFCCG against the Bears come to mind). We didn't have a lot of regular season wins to give, and losing the NFC Championship Game to the Bears would have been the worst thing ever.

Ahhh, just thinking about Bears fans that have to endure the worst loss ever in the rivalry makes me smile. :)

[Fritz]

Who wouldn't want a guy named "Shaky Smithson" on the team?

[get louder at lambeau]

Who'd have thought you'd ever have to type those bolded words...

I love that I get to type those bolded words. I've had a Jarrett Bush avatar for a couple years now at another forum-

http://www.packershome.com/uploads/avatars/1709_13498459314ba28f5084bae.jpg