Punt Returners

[vince]

Twitterville is all atweet in panic over McCarthy's announcement that Tramon Williams and/or Greg Jennings will be returning punts.

I think this is great news, but I wonder if I may be in the minority.

What say you Rats?

[retailguy]

Both are surprising, but not that big of a deal. Why not? You can't fear injuries.

The real issue with special teams is the protection. Until that improves it wouldn't matter if you put Barry Sanders back there.

[red]

i don't like it at all

[retailguy]

i don't like it at all

Do you like anything?

[RashanGary]

Honestly, I love it. Jennings is a dynamite weapon. He fielded punts as a rookie. I remember all through TC he never dropped the ball. I don't remember him doing much of it in the season. He was our #2 WR and had a big year and he was injured.

I'd completely support Jennings as our punt returner. In fact, I'll be ecstatic if he lines up back there on Sunday. Our ST's instantly changes from pedestrian to dangerous with that move. The odds of us losing the ST's battle go down in every game for the rest of the season if he plays there.

[Tony Oday]

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!! BAD MM

Remember when Harris got hurt on ST? This is dumb. Get a guy that can catch and doesnt fumble...that is all I care about.

[retailguy]

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!! BAD MM

Remember when Harris got hurt on ST? This is dumb. Get a guy that can catch and doesnt fumble...that is all I care about.

Wasn't that Woodson? You can't fear injury. You can't be stupid about it, either, but you can't fear it.

We're thin a CB, so it's a bit surprising, but hey, why not give it a try?

[pittstang5]

Not sure I like it as well, again, because of the injury factor...just like I'd try my hardest to actually call the Packers Organization to bitch, scream...what have you if Woodson was put back there.

BUT....if I had to pick, I'd prefer Jennings back there, just from a pure depth perspective. If any one of the WRs go down, the Packers have very good depth at the position and shouldn't miss too much.

[RashanGary]

Not putting a good player as returner shows Mac doesn't care much about ST's. ST's is just as much a chance to make plays as offense or defense. When you put your worst players on ST's and your best ones on offense, it's just obvious that ST's isn't thought of as highly as offense or defense.

[RashanGary]

I'm hoping it's Jennings. Jennings would be the best at it.

[vince]

I'm hoping it's Jennings. Jennings would be the best at it.

I agree with this. Be smart about it and there shouldn't be too much risk, IMO.

[Patler]

Is there really an increased injury factor? Or are we all just assuming there is?
Is fielding a punt and returning it any less worthy of either player doing it than for Jennings to go across the middle for a short reception when the team is down by 25? or if it's 3rd and 35?

Don't know how anyone can complain about the Packers not giving enough importance to returners, then complain when they use a good player to do it. It's either important, or its not.

[RashanGary]

Is there really an increased injury factor? Or are we all just assuming there is?
Is fielding a punt and returning it any less worthy of either player doing it than for Jennings to go across the middle for a short reception when the team is down by 25? or if it's 3rd and 35?

Don't know how anyone can complain about the Packers not giving enough importance to returners, then complain when they use a good player to do it. It's either important, or its not.

I had a post at another forum that was exactly like this. If ST's plays really are just as important as offense plays, then we should be putting good players in spots to make plays. In fact, putting a guy like Swain back there would just prove we don't think of ST's plays as important as offense plays.

[retailguy]

Is there really an increased injury factor? Or are we all just assuming there is?
Is fielding a punt and returning it any less worthy of either player doing it than for Jennings to go across the middle for a short reception when the team is down by 25? or if it's 3rd and 35?

Don't know how anyone can complain about the Packers not giving enough importance to returners, then complain when they use a good player to do it. It's either important, or its not.

Well, I guess I'm assuming that there is a greater injury risk. On a WR play over the middle, typically only a few guys are in position to make a tackle. In theory, depending on which way the returner runs, all 11 defenders could make a tackle.

I don't believe that the injury risk is enough risk to not do it, but I do think it does expose your best players to a slightly increased injury risk.

That being said, if our protection were better...

[Fritz]

Not sure I like it as well, again, because of the injury factor...just like I'd try my hardest to actually call the Packers Organization to bitch, scream...what have you if Woodson was put back there.

BUT....if I had to pick, I'd prefer Jennings back there, just from a pure depth perspective. If any one of the WRs go down, the Packers have very good depth at the position and shouldn't miss too much.

I think Jennings is the guy to do it. You've got depth at wr if he goes down. I applaud the move.