You're partially missing the point. You brought up an example of a valuable player being hurt returning punts as a reason not to do it. Your point is since there's the possibility of him getting hurt out of his regular position, it shouldn't be done. Before I jump on board that bandwagon I want to know how many players have sustained serious injuries solely on punt returns to establish how likely it is that the PR will be hurt. If there's some laundry list of players that this has happened to, I'd like to see it before agreeing to your point. If Les Miles goes for 5 4th down conversions against Florida and one of them doesn't work, with no NC, and the season we had in 2008, EVERY FAN would be calling for Alleva to get on the phone with Saban's reps for a deal. It's a no-win with the fans: if you gamble and win, you're a genius, if you lose you're a bum and don't let the door hit you on the way out. Guess what chief, the QB is always in the line of fire of a bunch of kamikaze crazies, it's called the defensive line and blitzers. Again, show me the proof that PR is such an abnormally dangerous job as opposed to QBs or any other position, and I'll agree to your point. I am NOT saying you are necessarily wrong in your thinking on valuable players on PR.
I was going to let this go at first, but now it has appeared in multiple posts. Sehorn was returning the opening kickoff of a game. HE WAS TOUCHED, but since one person fabricates something without a source.... I guess others just believe. Check this: "The injury never did dramatically unsettle Sehorn. When he came to the sideline after being tackled on the opening kickoff Aug. 20, he initially avoided the team's doctors." and "Inside his townhouse in Teaneck, N.J., Sehorn has a picture of the tackle that tore apart his knee." (Source: PRO FOOTBALL; For Sehorn, 3,000 Stairs and Not a Fan in Sight - The New York Times) Don't forget Kevin Faulk did it for LSU as well, and I had no problem with that. ColtsTigers said he could not recall anybody being injured returning kicks. I just listed the Sehorn injury because that is what popped into my head (...and to further support ColtsTigers and everyone else in an uproar about this: Sehorn is the only player I can recall off the top of my head getting hurt returning kicks). Fellas, there is no right or wrong... just our opinions. Mine was simply to not put Peterson returning punts. If Peterson and Trindon are both equally good punt returners, why not let a rested Trindon do it instead of Peterson who has been chasing WRs all over the field? :huhon't know why there is such an attack on this issue?:huh: I agree and respect everyone's opinions (especially yours dolemite).
Good point, it's definitely not a black or white issue. Trindon's legs are a sure thing, but his hands are suspect. If he gets that element of his return game down, he's got great potential as a PR. His improvement is something the coaches have to evaluate, and why they're getting paid to do this and I'm not. :milesmic:
If they are equal you put ion TH because opposing coaches will still fear him and will prefer to shank punts OB for 30 net yards.
If TH and PP are equal, I don't want EITHER of them doing it. TH's punt fielding abilities are very unlikely to be improved, with his track schedule. He can't possibly fit in time to practice fielding punts with incoming would be tacklers AND operate the track schedule he has. - I want someone there who can- 1) Catch the ball in traffic without muffing it. ***This rules out TH and Chad Jones. 2) Run the ball back should the seam appear...give us good field position. - It's really that simple. I cannot believe there are no individuals on this roster that can do this. I don't think the starting QB should be doing it. He's a little busy getting ready for the series to come...getting some coaching advice at that time. But other than that, I don't care WHO does it...as long as they do #1 very well, and #2 secondarily. Just need someone with balls, hands, and speed. Surely someone can do it, and if it's a starter, no problem. Teams use their starters all the time to do it. I can't believe it's being looked at like it's a problem. - Greatest, sorry if I misunderstood your post...more sorry for agreeing without checking facts.
Do we have two PR guys? You bet. Do we have two effective punt returners? I ain't so sure. We had talent last year but still finished #5 in the SEC in punt returns. It's nice to have a pool of talent to choose from, though.
And for the record, punt return isn't just one dude. It helps if he has vision and speed. But interrupting the gunners is pretty damned important as well.
You're arguing semantics. We studied Seahorn's case in school, after more research was done on these injuries, and after he returned to the field. Regardless of what that article says (notice it was written during his rehab, when guys still missed up to two seasons with those injuries), science has proven the tackle was incidental to the end result. The acl was gone the moment his leg got stuck in the turf and he tried to cut. The tackle took his mcl because he was basically stuck. Seahorn was the major reason they had to get new turf in Jersey. I'm sorry for saying he didn't get touched. But my point was, at that time, bad plant and cuts on poor field conditions (not necessarily poor fields) accounted for more knee injuries than tackles did. Nowadays field conditions have improved, but you still can't predict when a knee will plant and turn the wrong way...such as in the case of Mike Mackenzie, Javon Walker, Rodney Harrison, the Patriots rookie who blew out his knee his running in sand at the pro-bowl about ten years ago. I think Daunte Culpepper tore all three major ligaments Basketball is an even better example. The vast majority of those injuries occurred without contact with anything but the hardwood. Of course that's not to discount the impact tackles have had on knees, as evidenced by Tom Brady, Carson Palmer, Deuce (once), and all the linemen that blow out knees but noone notices. So I agree with you there, but I don't agree with holding the best person back from specialist duties because of that fear, when plenty of evidence suggest there really is no correlation between kickoff/punt returns and major injuries versus down plays and major injuries, even at percentage rates. That's why so many NFL teams, Saints (Bush and Moore), Bears (Hester), Vikings (Burelson), Jaguars (Ratliff I think?), Panthers (use Steve Smith on PRs sometimes), and countless others use skilled starters in these roles. But please believe, I'm not arguing with you. I'm sure we both agree there is no right or wrong approach here...just an agree or disagree.
