View topic - Enough with Randel-El returning punts!

[steelslep Profile]

OMG, can Tomlin please put someone other then Randel-El back there?! Before yesterday, his average return yards was 3.4...he is clearly not the answer and a shell of the player from 2005...please, put this to rest...

[IronCity__Man Profile]

Maybe it is about the hands. There is more to catching punt than yds per return. Perhaps Brown and Sanders drop them during practice. I know, Randle El dropped one this year but Sanders fumbled a KR yesterday.

A few years ago I remember Wofley saying he watched Ricardo Colclough drop punts left and right during practice. Then they put him back their during the game for some odd reason and he laid it on the turf.

Sometimes there is more than what meets our eye.

[steelslep Profile]

so, we sacrifice ANY yardage on punt returns because our returner can catch? Our ad this week then read something like this..."wanted, punt "catcher"position open for Superbowl-caliber professional football team, no running necessary just be able to catch a punt"....sorry to make light of your response but that is ridiculous...

[smheart78 Profile]

Our special teams is vastly improved over last year. Not a little better, but much better. Last year, FO ranked the Steelers ST DVOA at 30th, this year it is currently in 8th (this would be better by far if REED had made those feild goals). All things being equal, (and Football Outsider stats usually make sure for that) this is a much better ST unit. The front office has done a lot to correct their problems from last year. Addressing the punt catch/return probably had the least upside considering this is the least amount of yards gained/lost on any ST play. Sepulveda seems to have improved and is consistent, the coverage teams seem to have improved and is consistent. Sanders botched kick-off fumble is a testament to the importance of simply hanging onto the ball. El is a vet, consistency and reliability goes a long way. Give them a little credit considering what they were working with last year.

[IronCity__Man Profile]

so, we sacrifice ANY yardage on punt returns because our returner can catch? Our ad this week then read something like this..."wanted, punt "catcher"position open for Superbowl-caliber professional football team, no running necessary just be able to catch a punt"....sorry to make light of your response but that is ridiculous...

Yet it does happen - the Colclough example is as transparent as it gets. Another example is when we were placing Melwede to cover punts even though we had Santonio. Often better to take the possession than to try and avg. 8.9 vs. 4.0 per return.

[smheart78 Profile]

so, we sacrifice ANY yardage on punt returns because our returner can catch?

OK, I can see arguing this point. Of all the stats out there, this is the only one where the steelers rank dead last in the entire league.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/sortableSt ... descending
We rank 5th in the kick-off returns and our offensive stats have been climbing ever since Ben returned.
My point is simply that all teams are averaging about 25 yards per kickoff while only averaging about 9 yards per punt return.

[IronCity__Man Profile]

I was complaining before the weekend that antonio brown shoud be used over Sanders in the kickoff return game - I thought Brown was faster and more explosive but Sanders sat me down with some very nice returns - even taking them straight up the narrow sideline - something you don't see too much. I think Sanders is probably a better overall receiver than Brown so he is getting the roster spot and holding on to it.

I think Sanders as a PR may be an afterthought for the steelers. If Brown gets back into the lineup we may see him back on Punts.

It may only take Randle El one 15 yard return to boost those stats since most based on 11 PRs. But you are probably right that it is unlikely going to happen at current trend.