Tweet
Lori Nickel said Nelson indicated that the punt return situation is not assigned yet. Bedard said Nelson and Williams both "confirmed" that they are #1 in the respective return duties.
-
-
I'd really prefer it if we had some people in on the PR/KR team who could block opposing tacklers more effectively. With the way we've blocked on returns, it doesn't really matter whether it's Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, or Jason Spitz out there returning punts.</delurk>Comment
-
Maybe ST's are 'safer' now that rules have changed? I tend to think there are more full speed collisions on ST's than regular plays, but maybe that's changed.Originally posted by Patler
I think it's more about being 'fresh' for the O plays. If Jennings is out there running around returning a punt, is he winded when he lines up for 1st and 10? I bet his production drops on that down. And how effective is he at the end of a game if he returned 3 or 4 punts?
I know these guys are in incredible shape, but everyone has a limit.--
Imagine for a moment a world without hypothetical situations...Comment
-
Neon Deion wanted to return punts!
If Jennings and Williams want to do it, I have no problem with it. Woodson on the other hand I would not be so sure on and only because it's a 33 yr old taking the hits as opposed to a 25 yr old, just is what it is.
sigpicComment
-
Jennings? Yes because we have depth at that position
Williams? Hell no, you want Sheilds as your #2 CB if Williams got hurt?
Comment
-
Here are McCarthy's comments on the subject from his post-practice press conference.
(What are your options at returner?)
I think our options are clear. Everybody here goes to practice. I feel good about the returners that we are working. I feel good about Jordy Nelson and Brandon Jackson in the kickoff return and I feel good about Tramon Williams and Greg Jennings in the punt return if that is the direction we go. We’re going to compete on special teams and we’re going to give our football team the opportunity to play with good field position. All of the work that we have done in the offseason in training camp, it’s about putting the returner in a position to be successful. We’ll make sure we have the best guy back there with the football.
(Do you take into account how important a guy is from scrimmage? Are you reluctant to use guys?)
You factor all that in. I think that’s common knowledge. I don’t really refer to how other coaches do it. I also have a history that I can look back on, on how I’ve approached the game as far as special teams, who’s the returner, who’s not, from ’06, ’07, ’08 and ’09. I think some of the decisions I made in ’07 were probably the most aggressive decisions from a personnel standpoint, and that was the healthiest team I’ve coached. Does that play hand in hand? Who has the answers to those questions? But we’re going to line up, and we’re going to line up to win football games, and I’m talking about all three phases. So we’re going to have the best returner possible back there.
(Last time we saw Jordy returning kicks in a game, he was benched against Arizona. Has he improved?)
I think the injury that he had affected him a little bit in the return game last year. I don’t see that anymore. I think he was a little hesitant in that particular game. But I think he’s done a very good job, and we’ve changed some things schematically in our return game that I think plays to Jordy’s strengths. I like the body of work that Jordy Nelson has given us returning the football on kickoffs in the preseason.Comment
-
Williams has returned in the past and looked fine. In fact, he ran a punt back in 08 (I think) for a TD and was special teams player of the week for the NFL or NFC.Busting drunk drivers in Antarctica since 2006Comment
-
Williams ready to return punts
Posted by Rob Demovsky September 6th, 2010, 2:38 pm
It seems like a gamble, but the Green Bay Packers are going to use starting cornerback Tramon Williams as their punt returner in Sunday’s season opener at Philadelphia.
Williams has returned punts before — six in 2007 (including one for a touchdown) and 13 in 2009 — but now he’s a starter at a position that is already dangerously thin on depth. Putting Williams at further risk for an injury is, well, risky.
But he’s ready for it.
“At this point, I don’t think no one else is coming in here so I’ll most likely be back there,” Williams said after practice today. “It’s not a problem though. I’m ready for it. It’s something I’ve done in the past. It’s nothing new.”
An injury to Williams would be devastating for a secondary that already will be without former cornerback Al Harris, who will miss at least the first six games while continuing to rehab his surgically repaired knee. Also, cornerback Brandon Underwood (shoulder) isn’t expected to play this week, leaving undrafted rookie Sam Shields as the likely nickel cornerback.
That said, Williams doesn’t plan on playing things safe just to avoid injury. So don’t expect to see him back there calling for a fair catch every time.
“I’ve never been the type of guy who takes the conservative way out,” Williams said. “In my book, that’s the way people get hurt, trying to be safe. Just go out and play.”
The decision to use Williams on punt returns was born out of the decision to release Will Blackmon, who was slow to return from a knee injury. What’s more, coach Mike McCarthy said starting receiver Greg Jennings would be the second option on punt returns.
Backup receiver Jordy Nelson will handle kickoff returns.
– Rob Demovsky, rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.comComment
-
Along similar lines, some observers have linked Devin Hester's decline as a punt returner to his installation as a starter on offense. I have never seen a concise explanation as to how that is supposed to work, but it would be interesting to come up with a list of players who have starred on offensive or defensive units and who have also been asked to return kicks. Tim Brown did both for a couple of years for the Raiders. DeSean Jackson returned punts last yera for Philly. Steve Smith did it for about a year with Carolina. Not too many examples out there, and many cases of young players who cut their teeth returning kicks and then stop when they begin to emerge as full-time players.Comment
-
I am praying some of that cluster bleep in the Kansas City game was the musical chairs in Special Teams assignment.Originally posted by Lurker64Bud Adams told me the franchise he admired the most was the Kansas City Chiefs. Then he asked for more hookers and blow.Comment
-
Deion Sanders returned punts throughout his career, some year more than others. He had at least 20 returns in seven different seasons from his 1st to his 12th. Tim Brown was Oakland's primary punt returner until he was 30.Originally posted by hoosierComment
-
Sanders and Brown were not only good returners, they were also very good at not exposing their bodies to direct hits. If Jennings can do it as well as those guys and stay as healthy, great.Comment
-
On key phrase that no one has mentioned from McCarthy's comments: "If that is the direction we go."
Hmm. Bet they have their eyes on someone out there."The Devine era is actually worse than you remember if you go back and look at it."
KYPackComment
-
Ya, I was thinking the same thing. TT made an "if" statement during his press conference that made me think he may have some ideas.Originally posted by Fritz
It will be interesting to see if they have anyone in for tryouts in the next couple days.Comment
-
I believe the giants tried this trick once upon a time.Originally posted by wikipediaThe only time success comes before work is in the dictionary -- Vince LombardiComment
Comment