The Land of No Returns

[richpjr]

Land of No Returns

The Browns have 250 punt return yards this season. The Seahawks have 236. The Bengals have 214.

The Chargers?

Three.

San Diego has yet to leave the driveway in its punt-return game. Its three-yard total is tied with the 1968 Lions for third-lowest in NFL history after six games. The Chargers have attempted seven returns in total, waving for 11 fair catches. There also was an Allen muff that led to a touchdown in Week 2 against the Bengals.

Wide receiver Jacoby Jones Jones was signed in March for a return-game spark. He injured his ankle in the season opener and missed three games. So far, he has four returns for a combined negative two yards. On Sunday, his two attempts went for a combined negative seven.

[Lightningwill_420]

little train.jpg

[Stinky Wizzleteats+]

This shows how they are trying harder to replace establish offensive and defensive starters and can not afford the luxury of special teams or depth.

[Steve]

I don't even care about the yards as much as the decisions Jones is making. We have a number of rookies who have more upside then Jones who is nearing the end of his career. The way I viewed it was that we wanted a guy with more experience to maybe not break as many runs, but just avoid the obvious mistakes that young return guys make. But if Jones is going to make horrible decisions, return kicks 8-9 yards deep in the endzone, run backwards on punts.... then why not save the roster spot, have a rookie do it (Herdon), and open up a practice squad spot.

Experience doesn't count if you are still going to make stupid mistakes.

[Steve]

This shows how they are trying harder to replace establish offensive and defensive starters and can not afford the luxury of special teams or depth.

How does it show that? We went out and got one of the guys with the best records as a return specialist in the NFL? It did the superficial job of showing everyone we were serious about it. Jones was brought in as a receiver 2nd, but mostly as a return guy.

Like so many FA, he has been a complete failure. He is either trying to hard to justify himself, or he is just not trying to make good decisions. Field position has killed us this season. It cost us the Steelers game and has badly hurt us every other game.

[MakoShark]

I think Stinky forgot the sarcasm smiley, Steve.

3/6/2015: Jacoby Jones signed a two-year, $5.5 million contract. The deal included a $1.6 million signing bonus. 2015: $900,000, 2016: $3 million, 2017: Free Agent

I was going to calculate Jones' $/per yards, but I can't. He's in the 'red'. He should be paying the Chargers, not the other way around.

[ArtistFormerlyKnownAsBKR]

Steve's on point here. I never liked this signing to begin with. He's literally added nothing to the program since his return other than being sure-handed on his fair catches and steadying everyone's nerves about KA fumbling again. Decision-making has been terrible. He's not worth the money or the the roster spot blocking someone else who might have upside.

[MakoShark]

You're up early.

I think we were all in agreement on Jones. Then and now.

[Steve]

But PR/KR is an easy fix. Cut Jones, promote Herdon, and read him the riot act.

Right now, fair catch every single punt and we come out ahead, which says very little about any return guy. It is not like he has been a step away from breaking any, either.

Someone did mention that there is a small value keeping Kenan Allen from having to return punts, which is true. But if it comes to that again, just send a hands guy out and have him fair catch.

[ArtistFormerlyKnownAsBKR]

You're up early.

Yep, on my way to catch a flight.

[foreigner]

Yep, on my way to catch a flight.

Steve is up early too.

[richpjr]

I liked the Jones signing at the time as our return game was so bad last year. It's hard for me to fathom that we actually got worse - a lot worse, with him back there so far.