Punt Return / Kick Return

[RepStar15]

Whom do you predict will return kicks and punts? I can’t imagine Trevor Davis having a roster spot at this point, but can any one else take on return specialist?

 

[Dantés]

Trevor Davis has 37 career returns for 448 yards (12.1 YPR).

Jaire Alexander returned 4 punts last year for 25 yards (6.3 YPR)

Josh Jackson returned 5 punts in college for 37 yards (7.2 YPR)

Tramon Williams has 74 career punt returns for 663 yards (9.0 YPR) including 12 for 83 in 2018 (6.9 YPR)

Ka'dar Hollman had 1 punt return at Toledo (zero yard)

Darnell Savage had 1 punt return at Maryland (36 yards)

Darrius Shepherd, rookie mini camp invite from NDSU, had 44 career punt returns for the Bison for 538 yards (13.1 YPR) and a touchdown.

I do not want to see critical members of the defense risking injury returning punts. Alexander is arguably the most important piece of our defense. He's small, had some injuries in college, and isn't even that good in the PR game. Savage is basically the only free safety we have on our roster, also slight, and only has one punt return to his name in college. Tramon Williams is 36 and isn't effective any more.

None of those options compare to Trevor Davis. Yes, it would be nice to give that spot to someone else. But he's good at it and the Packers wouldn't be up a creek on offense if he got hurt on a return.

The only other option I really see on the 90 man roster right now is that Shepherd kid from NDSU. I actually just discovered his PR ability in researching an answer to your question. Some more on him:

• 5'10.5" 186 lbs
• Pro day forty times range from 4.57-4.61
• 35.5" vert; 120" broad
• 7.13 3C; 4.40 SS
• 62 catches, 1065 yards, 9 touchdowns in 2018
• Chipped in 7 carries for 41 yards on the ground
• Accounted for 38% of the Bison's receiver production
• Next highest producer in their passing game: 23/389/1

If people aren't familiar with FCS football, NDSU is the Alabama of that level. They absolutely dominate.

So he's a poor athlete who was really productive for a good program.

If he can beat out Trevor Davis, more power to him. But I kind of doubt it.

 

[PackFan2]

• 5'10.5" 186 lbs

• Pro day forty times range from 4.57-4.61

Dang.. for someone weighting in at 180s you'd expect him to run at least 4.45. He has the most experience besides Tramon. Interesting. Im guessing they like Trevor davis as their return guy, unless they bring someone later in (i hope so).

 

[Pkrjones]

Late last season Zook talked about trying CB's Josh Jackson and/or Tony Brown back to receive punts, not sure if he ever did, though. Brown has 4.35 speed and 6.78 3cone so possibly has the ability.

I'd love it if they could use a 4 or 5 CB for those duties rather than a dedicated guy (Trevor Davis) who can't help on offense if needed.

 

[Dantés]

Dang.. for someone weighting in at 180s you'd expect him to run at least 4.45. He has the most experience besides Tramon. Interesting. Im guessing they like Trevor davis as their return guy, unless they bring someone later in (i hope so).

I really don't understand why people hate Trevor Davis so much. He was the 163rd pick... at least he found a way to contribute to the team.

I was really wanting the Packers to find a returner who could contribute to the offense, but as they haven't done so I would much rather have Davis than some scrub UDFA.

If the worst were to happen and the receiving corps was decimated, I'd rather have Davis come up than an undrafted rookie. Maybe one of the kids will shock me, but I don't really think so.

 

[PackFan2]

He was the 163rd pick... at least he found a way to contribute to the team.

Tbh he only stayed on because hes a draft pick. If he was an UDFA he'd be out. Sure Davis contributed.. but so have others too and they got the boot just cause they were UDFA. The thing Davis has going for him is playing for Rodgers and one of the veterans to the young WRs but if Moore or Scantling light up on special teams, wont suprise me if Davis gets gone.

 

[Dantés]

Tbh he only stayed on because hes a draft pick. If he was an UDFA he'd be out. Sure Davis contributed.. but so have others too and they got the boot just cause they were UDFA. The thing Davis has going for him is playing for Rodgers and one of the veterans to the young WRs but if Moore or Scantling light up on special teams, wont suprise me if Davis gets gone.

He found a niche as a punt returner where no one else has been close to his ability in some time.

 

[GBkrzygrl]

I really don't understand why people hate Trevor Davis so much. He was the 163rd pick... at least he found a way to contribute to the team.

I was really wanting the Packers to find a returner who could contribute to the offense, but as they haven't done so I would much rather have Davis than some scrub UDFA.

If the worst were to happen and the receiving corps was decimated, I'd rather have Davis come up than an undrafted rookie. Maybe one of the kids will shock me, but I don't really think so.

I'm not crazy about him because it seems like he called for a fair catch, a lot. I don't like his decision making. There were occasions when he would get a good head of steam and get some good yards, but it did not seem to happen that often. He didn't play much last year and I honestly don't remember what he did when he played. I would keep him only because they don't have anyone better at this point. Maybe with the tweaks in the ST he might become more consistent.

 

[Dantés]

I'm not crazy about him because it seems like he called for a fair catch, a lot. I don't like his decision making. There were occasions when he would get a good head of steam and get some good yards, but it did not seem to happen that often. He didn't play much last year and I honestly don't remember what he did when he played. I would keep him only because they don't have anyone better at this point. Maybe with the tweaks in the ST he might become more consistent.

He certainly needed to improve his decision making from 2017. He called for 22 fair catches. But I think we need to cut him some slack in that that was really his first time being a full time punt returner. He didn't do much of it in college. In the very limited sample size of 2018, he called for 1 fair catch and returned 4 punts... for whatever that's worth.

 

[Pkrjones]

He was IR'd last year for a hammy. Whether it was "a hammy" or if he really was badly injured isn't known by us fans.

I don't "hate" Davis as a human being but I severely dislike the idea of a dedicated spot on the game-day 46 for a guy to return punts unless his name is Devin Hester from a decade ago, or Dante Hall from 2 decades ago.

Game-day spots need to be for guys who may be needed on O or D if injuries occur (an extra OL, DL or RB).

Back-end of the roster guys need to be ST'ers... including the return guy(s).

 

[OldSchool101]

Now that we know we didn’t pick at WR or a punt return specialist. I think Davis has a good chance to make this roster. He’s had multiple returns come back due to poor coaching and follow through execution by his comrades on ST.

That said. Unless we get this ST discipline on track and make a marked improvement? ..it won’t matter who returns punts because we will start 10 yards backwards either way. Hate to sound coarse, but we’ve got to call a spade a spade and get this sloppy ST thing fixed first and foremost.

 

[Dantés]

He was IR'd last year for a hammy. Whether it was "a hammy" or if he really was badly injured isn't known by us fans.

I don't "hate" Davis as a human being but I severely dislike the idea of a dedicated spot on the game-day 46 for a guy to return punts unless his name is Devin Hester from a decade ago, or Dante Hall from 2 decades ago.

Game-day spots need to be for guys who may be needed on O or D if injuries occur (an extra OL, DL or RB).

Back-end of the roster guys need to be ST'ers... including the return guy(s).

Do you also have an issue with a coverage guy like Crawford being active on game day?

 

[tynimiller]

I don't know if Davis will make a roster...the staff talking I think there is a good change 4 TEs are on roster...which IMO means 5 tops at WR (Adams, GMo, MVS, EQ I think are locks...Kumerow, JMon and Davis battle for 5th)

 

[Pkrjones]

Do you also have an issue with a coverage guy like Crawford being active on game day?

I would if that was his only value to the team. Crawford was a rookie ILB with potential ~ too good to cut but not ready for serious playing time. Crawford may pan-out, which is why he gets a 2nd year to progress & be ready for some playing time on D.

Davis was a 3rd year guy in 2018 and was the #8 or #9 WR ~ no chance in Hades of making the roster as a WR. They IR'd him in hopes that IF there was a chance a playoffs they could bring him back as a returner. He showed (the "old staff" over the last 3 years) that he would never help the offense, and therefore his only value was as a ST returner.

 

[Dantés]

I would if that was his only value to the team. Crawford was a rookie ILB with potential ~ too good to cut but not ready for serious playing time. Crawford may pan-out, which is why he gets a 2nd year to progress & be ready for some playing time on D.

Davis was a 3rd year guy in 2018 and was the #8 or #9 WR ~ no chance in Hades of making the roster as a WR. They IR'd him in hopes that IF there was a chance a playoffs they could bring him back as a returner. He showed (the "old staff" over the last 3 years) that he would never help the offense, and therefore his only value was as a ST returner.

I would argue that Davis offers about as much on offense as Crawford does on defense.

 

[gbgary]

anyone but a starter or key contributor. at this point i'd rather keep davis than teo redding, or maybe even j'mon moore, just for return duties.

 

[OldSchool101]

I don't know if Davis will make a roster...the staff talking I think there is a good change 4 TEs are on roster...which IMO means 5 tops at WR (Adams, GMo, MVS, EQ I think are locks...Kumerow, JMon and Davis battle for 5th)

I think we’ll keep 6 WR and PS 1. If Kumerow continues to impress, I think either J’mon or Trevor could miss the 53.

 

[firstdown]

He was IR'd last year for a hammy. Whether it was "a hammy" or if he really was badly injured isn't known by us fans.

I don't "hate" Davis as a human being but I severely dislike the idea of a dedicated spot on the game-day 46 for a guy to return punts unless his name is Devin Hester from a decade ago, or Dante Hall from 2 decades ago.

Game-day spots need to be for guys who may be needed on O or D if injuries occur (an extra OL, DL or RB).

Back-end of the roster guys need to be ST'ers... including the return guy(s).

STs are vitally important, McCarthy paid no attention to them at all and paid the price. Davis is a game changer. If he played last year, we would have won 2 to 3 more games, we would have made the playoffs and McCarthy would still be coach. His ONE year doing punt and kick off returns (2017), he was rated the #1 returner in the league by Pro Football Focus. At 700k this year, he's a bargain for us.

 

[Mondio]

Same as always, He's on the bubble. Him getting beat out is a good thing because it means we're better. I'm not reserving a spot for him, but he can fill the position if nobody else steps up.

 

[TomBrownFan40]

Indeed. Just because we want an upgrade doesn't mean we HATE anybody.

Stepping back and looking at the big picture, one of the aspects I wanted the Pack to upgrade this off-season was overall team speed. I was thinking a burner receiver or back that could also return kicks would be a key component in that upgrade. I'm disappointed that did not happen but, I know we can't have everything. The good news is we most definitely improved on defense in that area. For that, I am happy.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

STs are vitally important, McCarthy paid no attention to them at all and paid the price. Davis is a game changer. If he played last year, we would have won 2 to 3 more games, we would have made the playoffs and McCarthy would still be coach. His ONE year doing punt and kick off returns (2017), he was rated the #1 returner in the league by Pro Football Focus. At 700k this year, he's a bargain for us.

I think you just made a lot of us happy that Davis was put on IR twice last year.

While I appreciate your optimism about the guy, IMO the Packers did not miss the playoffs because Davis was hurt.

 

[RepStar15]

I like the Darius Shepard signing to fight for a role at PR.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

I like the Darius Shepard signing to fight for a role at PR.

Sheppard was decent returning punts for North Dakota State (13.1 yards on average on 44 attempts) but we'll have to wait and see if his success at the FCS level successfully translates to the NFL.

 

[gbgary]

with the rule changes (kick-offs have basically gone away) i couldn't care less who does it. just don't fumble/muff it or fair-catch it inside the 10.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

with the rule changes (kick-offs have basically gone away) i couldn't care less who does it. just don't fumble/muff it or fair-catch it inside the 10.

It would be a huge mistake not putting enough emphasis on special teams. The Packers would definitely benefit from having an improved return game in 2019.