If I remember correctly, Trindon made a TD saving stop on a AU player returning Perriloux's fumble in the 1st half of the 07 Auburn game. He caught the guy from behind inside the 10 yd line.:helmet::crystal::LSU231::crystal::helmet: Although I wouldn't want to rely on him as a full time defensive back.:lol:
You would honestly say that THIS YEAR, Shep is more important than PP? Not likely. Maybe one day, but not right now.
I don't like the idea of using starting DB's to return punts. The Saints did that years ago with Tyrone Hughes. The guy was a beast his rookie year when all he did was return K's & P's. The next year, Mora started using him on defense, and his skills as a punt returner seemed to go down. I got the impression that he was gassed from playing defense.
I'm not saying Shep is more important. I'm saying PP has more experience catching footballs, is bigger, can probably take hits better (since he delivers them all the time), etc. Plus, I think Shep will have enough pressure this year playing WR on occassion and having to keep his QB gamebook up to speed. I just like PP better back there. That's a good point and one I hadn't considered. :thumb:
Rueben Randle. People from the recruiting side know I talk him up a lot being that he's from the hometown, but seriously, the kid was elite as a punt returner in high school. He only returned one his senior year as a result of playing QB, but that one went for a TD and that was after the previous return was called back for a penalty. The opponent stupidly re-kicked, and he returned that one too. He did it just to show he could still do it. His junior year when he was the primary punt returner, he returned 6 for TDs. He led the state in return yardage and average, despite having several called back for penalties. I know this is college and not high school, but IMO, he deserves a chance, especially if you figure he goes no higher than #3 WR on the depth chart this year. He's sure handed, not afraid of contact, and he's certainly not small or fragile...pretty fast too... If he had chosen to go to Bama, he was going to be the punt returner from day one. That's mainly because LSU typically recruits "athlete" types who fit well with PR as their primary role. Saban doesn't typically do this, so it's common for his best guy to return punts even if he starts elsewhere, i.e Skylar Green. Punt returning is not about homeruns. They're nice to get, but punt returning is about positive field position. If you get two or three punt returns for TDs from one guy, you've done great. Guys like Reggie Bush, Jeremy Maclin, Peter Warrick, etc. were rare finds, and even they "only" got 3 or so per year. I have no problem whatsoever with Shep returning punts. He has that kind of ability, and he's in as much or more danger as a QB as he is as a punt returner. Blindside hits are as bad as the no halo rule in college punt returns...but we all know Ciron Black ain't giving up any blindside hits. He's gonna run gimmick plays from the wild tiger or slot position trying to find space in the open field...why not let him do it on punts and/or kicks as well? And I'll say this, Trindon ain't THAT damn exciting on returns. He's turbo-fast so he's a threat, but he isn't that shifty. It's not as if he has a huge collection of highlight reel returns. His returns are usually a result of him simply being fast and the return team setting him up perfectly. How often does he create his own magic ala, Bush, Maclin, Felix Jones, Harvin, old school Kevin Faulk? Skylar Green was better on returns.
E) None of the above. Not that I have another option, but TH has had his shot and just can't get it done; CJ doesn't have the great speed; Shep needs to be on the field running screens, draws, and wild tigers and shouldn't waste energy returning punts; ditto on Peterson from the defensive perspective.
