Kick and punt returners

[Nconroe]

Ok, perhaps every position can be upgraded or should be to stay young atleast with backups.

Probably we should look at some WR, RB, and DB who have that skill.

Last year Texans actually did very good on both punt and kick returns.

Overall rank was 7th statistically. , from nfl.com stats.

On punt returns we had appears third best yds/return, and more returns over 20 and 40 than almost any team with no fumbles. ( and I know several were returned due to penalty as well)

kick returns on left and punt returns on the right

Rk Team G Pts/G TotPts Ret Yds Avg Lng TD 20+ 40+ FC FUM Ret RetY Avg Lng TD 20+ 40+ FC FUM
1 San Francisco 49ers 16 23.8 380 39 1,060 27.2 102T 1 33 2 0 0 44 544 12.4 55T 1 10 3 23 1
2 Minnesota Vikings 16 21.2 340 53 1,428 26.9 104 1 39 5 0 1 33 277 8.4 53 0 3 1 20 0
3 New Orleans Saints 16 34.2 547 42 1,111 26.5 92 0 33 2 0 0 2 9 294 10.1 72T 1 5 1 19 0
4 New York Jets 16 23.6 377 62 1,633 26.3 107T 1 41 7 0 3 44 426 9.7 53 0 5 1 21 6
5 Tennessee Titans 16 20.3 325 32 832 26.0 100T 1 25 3 0 1 47 490 10.4 79T 1 7 1 18 1
6 San Diego Chargers 16 25.4 406 43 1,100 25.6 105T 1 33 3 0 0 31 264 8.5 31 0 2 0 12 1
7 Houston Texans 16 23.8 381 29 730 25.2 50 0 20 4 0 2 51 529 10.4 79T 1 7 5 11 0
8 Pittsburgh Steelers 16 20.3 325 35 877 25.1 52 0 27 2 0 0 33 347 10.5 60T 1 6 2 26 0
9 Baltimore Ravens 16 23.6 378 42 1,047 24.9 77 0 31 3 0 4 3 6 345 9.6 68T 1 4 1 27 3
10 Seattle Seahawks 16 20.1 321 46 1,142 24.8 54 0 34 5 0 0 42 464 11.0 37 0 7 0 16 2

[Nconroe]

Then looking at punt returners with the most punt returns we see Jacoby did pretty good in comparison.

Patrick Peterson and Marc Mariana considered the best perhaps and Jacoby was right there with them.

again, punt returns on the left and kick returns on the right, info from nfl.com, sorted by no. of returns

Rk Player Team Pos Ret Yds Avg Lng TD 20+ 40+ FC FUM Ret RetY Avg Lng TD 20+ 40+ FC FUM
1 Brandon Tate CIN WR 42 998 23.8 45 0 29 1 0 2 51 543 10.6 56T 1 5 2 17 1
2 Jacoby Jones HOU WR -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 49 518 10.6 79T 1 7 5 7 0
3 Marc Mariani TEN WR 32 748 23.4 49 0 24 2 0 1 46 490 10.7 79T 1 7 1 18 0
4 Patrick Peterson ARI CB -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 44 699 15.9 99T 4 8 5 22 3
5 Leon Washington SEA RB 43 1,084 25.2 54 0 33 4 0 0 41 464 11.3 37 0 7 0 16 2
6 Ted Ginn SF WR 29 800 27.6 102T 1 25 1 0 0 38 466 12.3 55T 1 9 3 18 0
7 Davone Bess MIA WR 1 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 37 442 11.9 25 0 5 0 24 3
7 Stefan Logan DET WR 33 832 25.2 42 0 29 1 0 2 37 301 8.1 28 0 2 0 28 4
9 Brandon Banks WAS WR 51 1,174 23.0 47 0 33 3 0 2 36 328 9.1 55 0 8 1 9 5
10 Josh Cribbs CLE WR 39 974 25.0 63 0 29 3 0 0 34 388 11.4 84T 1 6 2 8 3

[Nconroe]

Looking at the draft, Bleacher report had some info on their top 10 return prospects for this skill set. some WR, CB, RB , some fast, some good results
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...rner-prospects

Marquis Maze, Alabama Position: WR Pos2: KR/CB Height: 5-08 Weight: 186
He averaged about 28.5 yards per kick return in 2011 to go with over a 13-yard average on his punt returns. 40 Time: 4.51 40 Low: 4.39 40 High: 4.59
Projected Round: 7 Stock:

T.Y. Hilton, FIU Position: WR Pos2: KR Height: 5-10 Weight: 183
he averaged more than 30 yards per kick return and more than 23 yards per punt return in 2011. 40 Time: 4.37 40 Low: 4.30 40 High: 4.47
Projected Round: 4-5

Josh Robinson, Central Florida Position: CB Pos2: KR Height: 5-10 Weight:199
more than 15 yards per punt return in 2011. Jr/2012
40 Time: 4.33 40 Low: 4.24 40 High: 4.46
Projected Round: 2

Devon Wylie, Fresno State Position: WR Pos2: KR Height: 5-09 Weight: 187
Wylie averaged more than 15 yards on his 29 punt returns in 2011, to go along with two return touchdowns.
40 Time: 4.39 40 Low: 4.30 40 High: 4.49
Projected Round: 4-5

Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati Position: RB Height: 5-10 Weight: 197
He returned six punts at Cincinnati for a respectable 12.5-yard average.
40 Time: 4.47 40 Low: 4.35 40 High: 4.57
Projected Round: 2

[barrett]

I am reading JJ had a 10.6 average and Peterson was about %50 better at 15.9. That is not close.

JJ is average as a PR and could be good if he'd get upfield.

[Nconroe]

I agree Peterson is way ahead, or atleast about 5 yds better than anyone else ,

but how about rank 2 through 7, all the rest are in 10's which is where Jacoby is.

10 seems to be above the average of guys who return more than one or two occasional kicks.

I agree he dances around a lot, but seemed to try to improve that the second half of year when he got above 10 yds/return.

I seem to remember first half of year we were down below 8 or less yds/return.

anyways, if he takes a pay cut, I think ok to try out for some backup WR and improve that skill set and perhaps KR, but if gone, seems a popular thought.

Maybe a good scenery change would help as fans are on his back here and that can't be fun for anybody. not sure they could trade a low round or future draft pick for him, perhaps, they have time now it seems till atleast training camp or cuts to decide what to do here.

I think some of the guys mentioned above as top punt returns in this years draft, or perhaps others, would be a good idea to draft, if available, perhaps in 3-5th round and see if we can upgrade, as we always should be trying to do.

For sure a good kicking game is very important, and it is a special team thing, not just one guy.

[HPF Bob]

Taking punt returns for touchdowns greatly inflates the average. Peterson had several kick returns for touchdowns last year. ANY team would take a guy who can run back kicks like Peterson or Hester (why the Bears use Hester less on kick returns is somewhat baffling).

I think the bottom line here is that Jones is earning his keep as a kick returner and periodic receiving option. Enough to justify his contract?? I don't really think so but he's closer to it than many here think he is.