It Really Isn't That Hard

[Harry]

to find a punt returner. Now BA wants to risk Peterson in that role despite the high potential for injury in that position. There were plenty of these guys in the draft. There were several available as UDFAs. There were even a few veteran FAs.

The problem is the Cards have continually undervalued this aspect of the game. They have left the offense with poor field position by failing to recognize the value of flipping the field, which a talented punt returner can do. In fact, as Peterson showed his rookie year, this player has the potential to even put points on the board. Peterson now clearly recognizes the injury potential and typically looks for the easiest way to end the play. The best returners appear to run with reckless abandon. That's no longer Peterson.

The Cards seem to think they have to tie up a roster spot to get this guy. Most of these players can contribute at least in limited roles. Regardless this position is too important to continue to ignore season after season. How many times have the Cards trailed late in the game, the defense held and the Cards fair caught the punt when there was room to run? In fact they finally put Peterson back there some last season and he did have a couple of good returns, but this was only wnen the Cards' season was on the line.

That old definition of insanity comes into play here and the 2017 team seems to have little room for error, let alone are they in position to get Peterson hurt. There's still time to fix this as final cuts come into play. The Cards just need to realize this is a commitment they need to make.

 

[cardpa]

History has proven that kick and punt returners have enough value to warrant a position on the roster and is worth using a spot on it.

 

[az jam]

They drafted T.J. Logan to return kickoffs and said they will also work him on punt returns.

 

[BigRedRage]

They drafted T.J. Logan to return kickoffs and said they will also work him on punt returns.

They have said that he has never returned punts and they do not plan to play him there. Candidates leaked by team and media for PR are peterson, john brown and jj nelson.

 

[Stout]

They have said that he has never returned punts and they do not plan to play him there. Candidates leaked by team and media for PR are peterson, john brown and jj nelson.

Well, that's just stupid.

 

[BigRedRage]

honestly, if our punt return coverage can improve from returning players who were injured and new players, I am okay with peterson back there. He is electric with good blocking, he just hasnt had good blocking for a few years and I have reservations as to if he will now considering we have the same ST coach

 

[az jam]

They have said that he has never returned punts and they do not plan to play him there. Candidates leaked by team and media for PR are peterson, john brown and jj nelson.

Too bad but this is what was reported on Cards site after they drafted him:

“He’s a guy that we’d been focused on for quite some time,” General Manager Steve Keim said.

The 5-foot-9, 196-pounder ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine, the fastest mark among running backs. He averaged 32.9 yards per kick return and returned two for scores as a senior. Logan didn’t return punts in college and hopes to add it to his repertoire.

“Any way I can help, whether that’s kick return, catching punts, being on kickoff team, it doesn’t matter,” Logan said. “I just want to help contribute.”

 

[BigRedRage]

Too bad but this is what was reported on Cards site after they drafted him:

“He’s a guy that we’d been focused on for quite some time,” General Manager Steve Keim said.

The 5-foot-9, 196-pounder ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine, the fastest mark among running backs. He averaged 32.9 yards per kick return and returned two for scores as a senior. Logan didn’t return punts in college and hopes to add it to his repertoire.

“Any way I can help, whether that’s kick return, catching punts, being on kickoff team, it doesn’t matter,” Logan said. “I just want to help contribute.”

Yeah i remembered that and now realize it was him saying it, not the team.

http://blog.azcardinals.com/2017/06/02/peterson-as-punt-returner-again/

In a perfect world, the Cards would have a guy who could return kicks and punts, but rookie T.J. Logan should end up with the kick return spot and he’s never returned punts, and frankly, he probably shouldn’t start now.

Smokey Brown is an option, although having your No. 2 receiver in harm’s way isn’t that much different than your No. 1 cornerback. J.J. Nelson has done it, but his double-whammy fumble/injury when he was doing it as a rookie in 2015 sticks in the mind. Nelson too is important to the offense and exposing his slight frame to more punishment would likely give pause.

Maybe it is as simple as getting Peterson better lanes within which to run. Maybe, as the Cardinals showed in 2015, as long as Peterson isn’t turning it over, that’s all they need in that part of the game. But getting a breakout return or 10 during the season wouldn’t be bad either.

 

[DVontel]

Think it's smokescreen.

 

[Krangodnzr]

For whatever reason this team hasn't put an emphasis in grabbing a punt returner in a very long time. This isn't just an Arians regime issue.

 

[Buckybird]

He is electric with good blocking, he just hasnt had good blocking for a few years and I have reservations as to if he will now considering we have the same ST coach

That's total hogwash BRR! The STs has issues, but PP has been in the bottom 1/2 in PRs since his rookie year & he's a big part of the problem as well.

PP isn't a rookie anymore & has run scared and falls down or runs out of bounds ala Ellington. It makes zero sense to put #21 back there when he's basically going to do zilch. A great returner has to run & play fearless, which #21 hasn't done since year 1

 

[Reign Blood]

The way kickoffs are now with just about every kick going into the end zone it seems pointless to draft a kick returner.

 

[Brak]

BA was interviewed by Jude LaCava last night and he specifically mentioned that TJ would "get a look" as punt returner. But I agree with Harry's sentiment on the topic, and the downplaying of special teams in general, by the Cards. They had better improve significantly this year or the fact that Amos Jones was retained will look even more outrageous than it already does after last year's repeated meltdowns. And Peterson has shown he's definitely not the answer at PR.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

Better to just put a "hands" guy back there to fair catch every punt, than to risk any injury to PP21.

 

[WildBB]

Peterson is back there for ball security, that's it. Brown was back there in the 1st half of games last season when healthy.

 

[BigRedRage]

Better to just put a "hands" guy back there to fair catch every punt, than to risk any injury to PP21.

I think that is another reason they keep putting him back there. he is a top hands guy for fair catching

 

[unseenaz]

Injury is my main concern for Pat returning punts, not his ability or lack of ability. Yes we need a reliable hands guy (lol if you think that's Nelson) but not worth the risk of injury to our best defensive player

 

[Shane]

honestly, if our punt return coverage can improve from returning players who were injured and new players, I am okay with peterson back there. He is electric with good blocking, he just hasnt had good blocking for a few years and I have reservations as to if he will now considering we have the same ST coach

Blocking maybe... But he has been playing scared and it's blatantly obvious... he hasnt been close to electric since his rookie year... hes actually bordered on suckage

 

[cardncubfan]

PP was probably told to play it safe & just secure the ball. We know nothing.

 

[Shane]

PP was probably told to play it safe & just secure the ball. We know nothing.

At some point you can't try and defend everything the team does.. lol If all your doing is playing it safe there is no reason to have PP returning kicks at all.

 

[PJ1]

That's total hogwash BRR! The STs has issues, but PP has been in the bottom 1/2 in PRs since his rookie year & he's a big part of the problem as well.

PP isn't a rookie anymore & has run scared and falls down or runs out of bounds ala Ellington. It makes zero sense to put #21 back there when he's basically going to do zilch. A great returner has to run & play fearless, which #21 hasn't done since year 1

Agreed. The guy has clearly demonstrated he wants nothing to do with the return game.

 

[jbeecham]

The reason PP has been returning punts is because the other guys weren't reliable catching & holding onto the ball.

Nobody wants Pat P injured, but I'd rather have him fair catching or gaining a few yards & running out of bounds than having other guys muffing punts or fumbling on the return.

Hopefully, TJ Logan will show that he can be trusted as a punt returner.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[kerouac9]

to find a punt returner. Now BA wants to risk Peterson in that role despite the high potential for injury in that position. There were plenty of these guys in the draft. There were several available as UDFAs. There were even a few veteran FAs.

The problem is the Cards have continually undervalued this aspect of the game. They have left the offense with poor field position by failing to recognize the value of flipping the field, which a talented punt returner can do. In fact, as Peterson showed his rookie year, this player has the potential to even put points on the board. Peterson now clearly recognizes the injury potential and typically looks for the easiest way to end the play. The best returners appear to run with reckless abandon. That's no longer Peterson.

The Cards seem to think they have to tie up a roster spot to get this guy. Most of these players can contribute at least in limited roles. Regardless this position is too important to continue to ignore season after season. How many times have the Cards trailed late in the game, the defense held and the Cards fair caught the punt when there was room to run? In fact they finally put Peterson back there some last season and he did have a couple of good returns, but this was only wnen the Cards' season was on the line.

That old definition of insanity comes into play here and the 2017 team seems to have little room for error, let alone are they in position to get Peterson hurt. There's still time to fix this as final cuts come into play. The Cards just need to realize this is a commitment they need to make.

The Arizona Cardinals in 2016 ranked 29th in average punt return yardage (6.1). The NFL median was 8.4 YPR. I'm not sure 2.3 yards on 40 punts spread over the season is that big a deal.

 

[JeffGollin]

Just a reminder that punt returns aren't only about the punt returner. The reason for such a shabby YPR average may have something to do with the other 10 guys on the field.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

The way kickoffs are now with just about every kick going into the end zone it seems pointless to draft a kick returner.

Not true. Teams started realizing we had poor kick returners and began kicking off short of the endzone forcing our bad returners to actually return the kickoffs. Often then reached the 15-19 yard line and we invariably started off possessions with a greater uphill battle than most.