Were the Packers too quick pulling the trigger on Ross?

[Patler]

There were many reasons that led to that Packer defeat in Cincy on that day and IMO the blame shouldn't have been cast on Jeremy Ross.
.....

Should Jeremy Ross have been made a scapegoat in any way after this game?

In my most honest opinion... NO way... Hose.


GO PACK GO !

Woodbuck;
Ross wasn't released because of his performance in that game only. As I mentioned, during pre-season they did everything they could to find someone other than him for the return positions, because he did not play that well. He was shaky in the two regular season games before the Bengals game. That miscue was sort of the last straw.

He mishandled punts and kickoffs even when he didn't have turnovers. As a result, the Packers were often using Cobb for punt returns. That signaled to me that Ross was on thin ice, because the entire reason for having Ross was to keep Cobb from having to be the return guy.

Against SF he took a kickoff out of the endzone and was tackled at the 8 yard line. Overall he was getting only 10-15 yards on kickoff returns, and game announcers commented on his poor performances, mostly because he just looked hesitant and unsure.

[Patler]

Woodbuck;

These threads will give you the flavor of how Ross had been doing for the Packers even before the Bengal game:

http://packerrats.com/showthread.php...ss-is-released

http://packerrats.com/showthread.php...-vs-Washington

http://packerrats.com/poll.php?polli...do=showresults

http://packerrats.com/showthread.php...Y-Stinky-Pinky

[KYPack]

Ross was snakebit when he got cut from GB, Woody. If he tried to eat a bwl of soup, he wudda dropped the spoon.

He played his way off the Packers, nobody could trust a return with him back there. that's why they went to a guy like Hyde back there, the sure hands.

Ross was not mechanically sound in returning punts. He was stomping after the kicks and then lunging and reaching when he fielded them. You can't keep playing a guy who won't learn the return skills.

[denverYooper]

Comment woodbuck27:

I'm going to post this article here because it's appropriate on this thread:

http://espn.go.com/blog/green-bay-packers/post/_/id/4734/starter-pack-why-crosby-but-not-ross

Starter Pack: Why (Edit: Mason) Crosby, but not ( Edit: Jeremy) Ross?

Dec. 10, 2013 ... 8:00 AM ET

By: Rob Demovsky | ESPN.com

The article elides several details, like the restructuring of Crosby's contract and the fact that they brought other kickers in to compete with him. So it's not as though they gave Crosby a pass. The more I hear about Ross, the more it sounds like he might have been turning into a basket case in Green Bay.

And I think he punched a coach or something.

[run pMc]

Ross has rare talent with the ball in his hands. Everyone knows that.
Trouble is, he had developed a fumbling problem, which makes him a coach-killer. If you're Slocum or M3, you can't keep him if you want to keep drawing a paycheck.

Yes, I know we've had players like Ahman Green who used to fumble and then "get it fixed", but Ahman got more touches in a game than Ross did all season.

What's are the first three qualities you think of when you think of a good PR/KR? I think sure hands, good judgement, and fearlessness. (Being quick and fast helps too...)
Ross didn't have trustworthy hands, and you can't have a guy like that catching punts. Especially when roster spots are so coveted.

[pbmax]

The ESPN piece also does not give Crosby's previous production much credit for the difference. Crosby had several years before the bottom fell out that he was everything McCarthy wanted in a kicker. He could kick directionally on KOs, supremely well executed onside kicks (including inventing one specialty double bounce of his own), very good accuracy under 40 yards, etc.

Prior to the catastrophe, his only weakness seemed to be mid-long distance right hash and average performance on 50+ yard FGs.

Ross had no such resume.

[KYPack]

Ross has rare talent with the ball in his hands. Everyone knows that.
Trouble is, he had developed a fumbling problem, which makes him a coach-killer. If you're Slocum or M3, you can't keep him if you want to keep drawing a paycheck.

Yes, I know we've had players like Ahman Green who used to fumble and then "get it fixed", but Ahman got more touches in a game than Ross did all season.

What's are the first three qualities you think of when you think of a good PR/KR? I think sure hands, good judgement, and fearlessness. (Being quick and fast helps too...)
Ross didn't have trustworthy hands, and you can't have a guy like that catching punts. Especially when roster spots are so coveted.

Ross has good hands, he's a wr. His problem in fielding punts cleanly was in his mechanics. A punt returner has to use a different running style when getting to the catch point. The returner has to glide to the catch point. By gliding, I mean he has to run on the balls of his feet to avoid jarring his eyes with his running style. That will cause you to lose your bead on the ball. Once you get to the catch point, set both your feet under you and catch the ball in your hands. Do not let the ball come into your body. You also should have both elbows under your hands to form a "bottom" on the ball. Keeping your elbows in makes a natural cradle in case you are gonna take a lick. Gather the ball in and do not lunge after it. Lunging will extend your hands and you are far more likely to muff the catch.

Once ya catch it, run like ya run, get your return yards.

Ross at Detroit has been fundamentally sound. Here, he was a stomper and a lunger and it cost him his job.

[woodbuck27]

Woodbuck;
Ross wasn't released because of his performance in that game only. As I mentioned, during pre-season they did everything they could to find someone other than him for the return positions, because he did not play that well. He was shaky in the two regular season games before the Bengals game. That miscue was sort of the last straw.

He mishandled punts and kickoffs even when he didn't have turnovers. As a result, the Packers were often using Cobb for punt returns. That signaled to me that Ross was on thin ice, because the entire reason for having Ross was to keep Cobb from having to be the return guy.

Against SF he took a kickoff out of the endzone and was tackled at the 8 yard line. Overall he was getting only 10-15 yards on kickoff returns, and game announcers commented on his poor performances, mostly because he just looked hesitant and unsure.

OK Patler...I wasn't where I could see that game nor have use of a puter. It wasn't till NOV. '13...that I was able to try and catch up on all things Packers since TC.

Thanks.

[woodbuck27]

Woodbuck;

These threads will give you the flavor of how Ross had been doing for the Packers even before the Bengal game:

http://packerrats.com/showthread.php...ss-is-released

http://packerrats.com/showthread.php...-vs-Washington

http://packerrats.com/poll.php?polli...do=showresults

http://packerrats.com/showthread.php...Y-Stinky-Pinky

Thanks ..I'll study the LINKS later today Patler... Mae and I have a Seniors Lunch to attend. Lots of snow in the driveway to remove.

Too much time before the or Spring again. Winter...not my favourite season.

GO PACK GO !

[woodbuck27]

The article elides several details, like the restructuring of Crosby's contract and the fact that they brought other kickers in to compete with him. So it's not as though they gave Crosby a pass. The more I hear about Ross, the more it sounds like he might have been turning into a basket case in Green Bay.

And I think he punched a coach or something.

Punched a coach or a couch?

[woodbuck27]

Ross has rare talent with the ball in his hands. Everyone knows that.
Trouble is, he had developed a fumbling problem, which makes him a coach-killer. If you're Slocum or M3, you can't keep him if you want to keep drawing a paycheck.

Yes, I know we've had players like Ahman Green who used to fumble and then "get it fixed", but Ahman got more touches in a game than Ross did all season.

What's are the first three qualities you think of when you think of a good PR/KR? I think sure hands, good judgement, and fearlessness. (Being quick and fast helps too...)
Ross didn't have trustworthy hands, and you can't have a guy like that catching punts. Especially when roster spots are so coveted.

Well stated...good points.

Nice post.

Repped.

[woodbuck27]

Ross has good hands, he's a wr. His problem in fielding punts cleanly was in his mechanics. A punt returner has to use a different running style when getting to the catch point. The returner has to glide to the catch point. By gliding, I mean he has to run on the balls of his feet to avoid jarring his eyes with his running style. That will cause you to lose your bead on the ball. Once you get to the catch point, set both your feet under you and catch the ball in your hands. Do not let the ball come into your body. You also should have both elbows under your hands to form a "bottom" on the ball. Keeping your elbows in makes a natural cradle in case you are gonna take a lick. Gather the ball in and do not lunge after it. Lunging will extend your hands and you are far more likely to muff the catch.

Once ya catch it, run like ya run, get your return yards.

Ross at Detroit has been fundamentally sound. Here, he was a stomper and a lunger and it cost him his job.

It seems that the Lions ST Co-ordinator...John Bonamego has straightened him out. It's all going well for Jeremy Ross now:

http://www.detroitlions.com/news/coordinator-cut-up/article-1/COORDINATOR-CUT-UP-Jeremy-Ross-season-of-redemption-continues/715aff21-2b86-4626-b2b6-a627bcd5ea9b

COORDINATOR CUT-UP: Jeremy Ross' season of redemption continues

Posted Dec 10, 2013

BY: Tim Twentyman ... Senior Writer ... LIONS

" .."One of the first things I said to him when he walked in the door was, 'One man's trash is another man's treasure,'" special teams coordinator John Bonamego told detroitlions.com. ...." FR. LINK

Click on LINK if you want to read the whole article.

GO PACK GO !

[woodbuck27]

The ESPN piece also does not give Crosby's previous production much credit for the difference. Crosby had several years before the bottom fell out that he was everything McCarthy wanted in a kicker. He could kick directionally on KOs, supremely well executed onside kicks (including inventing one specialty double bounce of his own), very good accuracy under 40 yards, etc.

Prior to the catastrophe, his only weakness seemed to be mid-long distance right hash and average performance on 50+ yard FGs.

Ross had no such resume.

Yes.

[Patler]

It seems that the Lions ST Co-ordinator...John Bonamego has straightened him out. It's all going well for Jeremy Ross now:

http://www.detroitlions.com/news/coordinator-cut-up/article-1/COORDINATOR-CUT-UP-Jeremy-Ross-season-of-redemption-continues/715aff21-2b86-4626-b2b6-a627bcd5ea9b

COORDINATOR CUT-UP: Jeremy Ross' season of redemption continues

Posted Dec 10, 2013

BY: Tim Twentyman ... Senior Writer ... LIONS

" .."One of the first things I said to him when he walked in the door was, 'One man's trash is another man's treasure,'" special teams coordinator John Bonamego told detroitlions.com. ...." FR. LINK

Click on LINK if you want to read the whole article.

GO PACK GO !

I didn't realize Bonamego was in Detroit. He was the Packers ST coordinator for something like 3 years under Sherman, and has a reputation of being very good at it.

[pbmax]

I didn't realize Bonamego was in Detroit. He was the Packers ST coordinator for something like 3 years under Sherman, and has a reputation of being very good at it.

His time here was a disappointment. His units weren't a tire fire but the improvement wasn't dramatic at all.

Has to be viewed as a condemnation of the personnel at the time.