I don't understand where people get the idea that Roberts was drafted only to return punts. The kid was drafted as a receiver, who could also return punts.
Because the primary reason he was drafted in the third round was his abilities as a punt returner, and because we don't have a punt returner on the roster right now. This is as ludicrous as if I tried to say that Daryl Washington wasn't drafted to replace Karlos Dansby.
Down the line (like in a year or two), I'm sure the Cards are hoping that Roberts can develop into a solid slot WR so that Breaston can leave as a free agent, but there's little doubt that the Cards went with Roberts so early in the draft because they hoped him to have an impact on returns.
And yes anyone who thinks he wasn't drafted to return punts is fooling themselves. That is precisely why he was drafted, which is why he has been out with the first team punt return all camp.
They tried to find the next Breaston and so far have failed. Seriously even the beat writers are clowning the guy. He is AWFUL
Meh. Too early to tell. It's not like the return unit was giving Roberts a ton of room to make moves, either. Houston punted maybe one time in the entire first half? Four times in the whole game?
I haven't seen him in camp, but I'm not ready to close the casket on this guy.
I remember as a rookie someone said that Breaston had a chance to be a good WR and I blasted him. did you see him in college, can't catch the ball, too skinny, he was drafted to return kicks.
So far it's the exact opposite, he hasn't been as good returning kicks as expected, and he's developed into a starting WR who has reliable hands.
So I won't give up on Roberts yet, lots of rookie WR's get nervous and have the drops. Hell the best WR to ever play the game dropped a lot of balls in his rookie camp and preseason, not that I expect Roberts to come close to Jerry Rice, but it happens to a lot of rookies.
Breaston was a solid PR his rookie year. 2 returns over 40 yards, 9.4 yard average. Considering that our coverage teams have been below-average his entire time here, I'm not going to sweat it too much. Was Breaston dynamic? Not really, but he was good enough.
I think that Breaston lost some of his passion for the return game once he established himself as a WR and didn't focus on that part of his game enough. I think that was part of the motivation in drafting LSH last year, and the Cards were trying HARD last season to find any answer besides Steve Breaston for the punt return job in camp last year.
I'm agnostic on the future of Andre Roberts, but if he doesn't establish himself as a dependable special teams player, then it's going to be a disappointment. Anyone who says that it's no big deal if Andre Roberts doesn't seize the punt return job is revising history. Just to take you back in the way-back machine from four months ago:
There are clearly some of you out there less than thrilled about the Roberts pick. Know this — the Cards have been looking for a punt returning alternative for Steve Breaston for a while. Not because Breaston isn’t good, but because he has become that valuable as a receiver. Before Roberts, there wasn’t anyone on the roster that was a true candidate. The Cards also needed speed at receiver. Roberts has some of that as a former track guy. They needed a slot guy. Roberts does that. They needed another candidate as fourth receiver, since the leading in-house candidates were unknown quantities in Ed Gant and Onrea Jones.
Plus, Whisenhunt likes the idea of a guy from the Citadel. Don’t get him wrong. Roberts is here because of what he does on the field. But add that to surviving and thriving at a military school, well, Whiz likes that. His father attended the school and he knows what it is about (Whiz took a visit there before going to Georgia Tech).
http://blog.azcardinals.com/2010/04/23/after-the-second-day/
The Cardinals went with a receiver in the third round, taking Andre Roberts of the Citadel. He’s 5-foot-11 but he ran a 4.46 40. He can return punts, averaging 15.5 yards a return this past season, which is a big deal since Steve Breaston will likely lose that role as he moves up to the No. 2 wideout. He also is a two-time team captain.
“I believe I am explosive, quick and elusive (on punt returns),” Roberts said, adding he has returned punts since his freshman year of high school. “I feel like I have gotten it down. … I do believe I have sure hands.”
He averaged 19 yards a return as a junior.
Roberts realizes it was the Senior Bowl and combine that jumped his stock. The Cards are looking for a No. 4 receiver after losing Anquan Boldin and Jerheme Urban this offseason.
http://blog.azcardinals.com/2010/04/23/cards-take-wr-roberts-in-the-third/
EDIT: The person who I thought had a bad game was the girl who was wearing the Ravens Anquan Boldin jersey in section 123. Really? This was the time when you decided to break out the black-and-purple?
http://www.entertonement.com/clips/...mlinson-The-LaDanian-Tomlinson-Electric-Glide
I could see myself doing the same thing...
