Fewest Punt return yards in NFL history?

[run pMc]

I don't think Darrius Shepard is the answer. Maybe he develops on the PS, but it's a big leap to Beasley or Edelman territory. Those guys are faster or more explosive/agile players.

Ervin ran about a 4.42 40 coming out of college, so he has speed. PR is different from KR, and in both cases I think you can either do it or you can't. Tremon Smith was more of a KR -- he had limited experience returning punts. If Ervin can at least return punts they'll find someone to occasionally return a kickoff.

I have noticed some teams experimenting with kicking a little shorter -- ostensibly the idea being that the returning team will barely return the kick to the 20 vs. getting a touchback to the 25. Also opens up the chance for a fumble (or a long return) but it wouldn't surprise me if some analytics comes out in favor of kicking to the 2 yd line.

[Cheesehead Craig]

I don't think Darrius Shepard is the answer. Maybe he develops on the PS, but it's a big leap to Beasley or Edelman territory. Those guys are faster or more explosive/agile players.

Ervin ran about a 4.42 40 coming out of college, so he has speed. PR is different from KR, and in both cases I think you can either do it or you can't. Tremon Smith was more of a KR -- he had limited experience returning punts. If Ervin can at least return punts they'll find someone to occasionally return a kickoff.

I have noticed some teams experimenting with kicking a little shorter -- ostensibly the idea being that the returning team will barely return the kick to the 20 vs. getting a touchback to the 25. Also opens up the chance for a fumble (or a long return) but it wouldn't surprise me if some analytics comes out in favor of kicking to the 2 yd line.

The KO return teams can do a fair catch on those and it's the same as a touchback I believe. No team really uses it though, as they hope for the big return instead.

[texaspackerbacker]

Are you sure about that fair catch on kick offs thing? I think it is only a college rule, not the pros.

[pbmax]

Tex, Shepard was not enough of an elite athletes to spend more than two years developing.

If he had stood out in some way along the lines you mention, we’d at least be having a different conversation.

However, I do acknowledge that the blocking was a notch above earlier efforts so he had some help.

But think how long it’s been since ANY punt returner for the Pack had 4 returns over 10 yards each. Maybe the Washingtonians just suck.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Are you sure about that fair catch on kick offs thing? I think it is only a college rule, not the pros.

I know it was last year in the NFL. I thought it still was in place. It was part of the whole "let's make kickoffs safer because we care about the players health, we really do" movement the NFL had for a few moments.

[esoxx]

You've been able to fair catch a kickoff in the NFL as long as I can remember.

[texaspackerbacker]

I don't think Darrius Shepard is the answer. Maybe he develops on the PS, but it's a big leap to Beasley or Edelman territory. Those guys are faster or more explosive/agile players.

Shepherd's 40 time is 4.57; Edelman's is 4.52; Beasley's is 4.49 - hardly a dime's worth of difference. We probably won't see anything happen until next training camp, but I still think Shepherd has a future with the Packers - receiver, punt returner, probably not kickoff returner. Nothing against Ervin, but I think he is JAG - nothing special, just benefiting from the low standard before he came along as well as maybe Redskins' badness. I really think just about anybody on the roster or practice squad could catch a punt and run straight ahead 5 or 10 yards without fumbling - or fair catch it if that yardage isn't there.

[run pMc]

I really think just about anybody on the roster or practice squad could catch a punt and run straight ahead 5 or 10 yards without fumbling - or fair catch it if that yardage isn't there.

But if this is true why wasn't it happening when Sheppard (or others) were at PR?

With opportunities in real games, Sheppard has not made a single positive play that I can think of, and in fact has been involved in several turnovers/negative plays. With no draft pick invested in him, limited athleticism, and negative production, why keep him vs. another player?
Not saying he can't turn into a good player, but it's unlikely to happen. Sure, keep him thru OTAs etc. next year, but bring in enough competition at WR and ST to improve significantly and force him to prove the doubters wrong. Until then, put guys who have done it (Ervin) on the field. They are squarely in the playoff push, playing Sheppard would be a step back.

FWIW, Tress Way (the WAS punter) is a bombs away down the middle type kicker, which allows for more returnable punts. I think it will be tougher sledding for Ervin against the Bears.

[Fritz]

Wait, if you fair catch a kickoff and it bounces around on the five yard line and the other team downs it, then you're stuck starting on your own five, right?

[texaspackerbacker]

The question is, if you fair catch it inside the 25 yard line, do you get it on the 25 like in college? I think the answer is no, but I'm not sure.

[Zool]

If only there were some interconnected set of computers with readily available banks of knowledge to search.

[George Cumby]

If only there were some interconnected set of computers with readily available banks of knowledge to search.

If only. But then people would only look up porn and funny cat videos.

[Zool]

If only. But then people would only look up porn and funny cat videos.

There are cat videos?

[George Cumby]

^lol