Greg Jennings as a Punt Returner?

[FrankRizzo]

Packers taking big risk using Jennings as punt returner | Packers Insider

What are your thoughts on our best WR back there returning punts?

While Eagles #1 WR Desean Jackson does return kicks, I still don't like it because I want to lessen the risk of any injury to our key WRs.

Our offense is like a high-octane sports car, and missing any of the key parts (and Jennings is the key WR) will lessen the overall performance.

That's why I wanted CLifton Smith so badly, and also why I wanted a return specialist drafted. I wanted Joe Webb, who the Vikings took as a QB. He was like Josh Cribbs in college, a QB, but a potentially great return man.

I thought Blackmon would never be Thrill anymore with the ripped ACL.

I never expected us to have to resort to using our best WR or #2 CB. To me, this is very negligent on the part of Mike & Ted.

 

[armand34]

and in return of acquiring a "real' returner, we keep 3 full backs & 4 TE's, a little frustrating b/c field position is so important

 

[armand34]

by the way??? does Brendan Jackson get that much opportunities as a returner, I don't see him do that often, I believe he should be the front runner on KR's and PR's

 

[FrankRizzo]

Jackson is with Jordyzzz as kick returner. But Tramon and Jennings are supposedly our guys as punt returner.

I hated Pat White as a QB, but why not give him a chance to return punts for us? He's a former great college QB at WVU and should have reliable hands. 2nd round pick of the Dolphins last year because they thought he'd be lethal as a wildcat guy. But turns out Ronnie Brown is a better passer than White is, so they released him last week. Today he signed with Kansas City. Royals. Baseball.

He might prefer one more chance in the big leagues, with the Packers. I'd rather his leg get nailed than Jennings.

 

[YouFrgotPoland]

I mean, they are going with the play to win, best players on the field mentality. High risk high reward type deal. I like the idea that we are getting aggressive and want to play to win, but oh man if Jennings or Tramon went down... I'd lose it. Really wish we could pick up just a decent punt returner... Let's pray everyone can stay healthy.

 

[SpartaChris]

Is there a sudden rash of injuries at the KR/PR positions I'm not aware of?

I look at it like this- Their chances of getting hurt during PR/KR duties are about the same as their chances of getting hurt during any other play on the field, so why not get aggressive and get our best guys out there? You don't win games by playing it safe, you win games by being aggressive and getting after it. This move seems so different from anything else we normally do, so I like it.

 

[PackerFan87]

Hell no

 

[PApackersfan]

omg really!? Mind as well put A. Rodgers back their to, to return punts. That is so f*ck'n stupid of them. If anything put S. Sheilds back their, the kid runs a 4.3 40 with pads. you go and put our #1 reciever out their and he gets hurt cuz sum **** feels like taking a cheap shot on a fair catch and now were left with driver and jones. I will be HIGHLY pissed if they put Jennings back to return punts.

 

[SpartaChris]

Sam Shields can't catch the ******* ball or else he would be the returner. He had I don't know how many drops in practice and even during preseason. Do we really want to stick a guy back there who's a huge risk to turn the ball over just because he's fast?

While I agree I wouldn't want to see Jennings get hurt, lets not forget we also have Jordy Nelson, who for all intents and purposes outplayed Jones during training camp, and Jermichael Finley as pass catchers. Even Brett Swain has shown he has pretty good hands. We're quite deep at receiver.

This isn't to say I wouldn't be opposed to getting a specialist on the roster, but it's not doom and gloom like you're all saying. I was serious when I asked if there was a rash of injuries last season at the PR/KR positions, because you guys are making it out to be like losing either Williams or Jennings for the season is a guarantee or something just because they're returning punts.

 

[FrankRizzo]

80% of us don't like it. We don't think it's worth putting Jennings back there.
Our biggest special teams problems are always the coverage units. We allow too many big returns to opposing KR and PR guys.

Putting Jennings back there in harms way does nothing for that.

But there have to be some natural returners available. Ideally, since Swain is our 5th WR and they like him enough for special teams units, our ideal PR and KR should be a #5 or 6 CB, like Will Blackmon was.

Sam Shields should have been that guy, but I've never seen anyone more clueless about fielding punts and kicks than little Sam. Sam I am. Son of Sam. Son of a *****, catch the ball !

 

[Murgen]

Punt Returns aren't as ******* your body as Kick off Returns according to Drew Pearson. He was on Dallas radio and he returned punts for Dallas back in the 70s. He said it wasn't too ******* his body. He said the Kick off Returns were the ones that busted you up.

Remember, even if he does it, it's probably just until Blackmon gets back at game 7. not like he'll do it all year.

Still, I'd like a dedicated KR/PR guy. But if there aren't any out there, there aren't any out there. So we'll just have to make do.

If it gets Jennings a SB ring, I bet he won't complain.

 

[PackersRS]

If don't play to win, you lose.
You put the best out there at all times.

Now, you have to be smart about it. IF he's tired, you spare him. IF he has any minor injuries, you spare him. You don't win by being reckless.

But it's a very important part of football, the returns. It greatly improves your chance of winning. So you have to put the players that gives you the best chance of winning out there.

 

[SpartaChris]

80% of us don't like it. We don't think it's worth putting Jennings back there.
Our biggest special teams problems are always the coverage units. We allow too many big returns to opposing KR and PR guys.

And 99.9% of us aren't GM's, don't see the films and information they get and don't share the same resources they have.

You know, it could be a case of waiting until after week 1 to sign a vet so as not to have to guarantee their full salary too. Seriously, lets see how this all plays out first.

 

[BigDaddyKaine]

I hate the thought of Jennings or Tramon returning punts or kicks. I don't want to take any unnecessary risks and Jennings returning is an unnecessary risk.

 

[Forget Favre]

And 99.9% of us aren't GM's, don't see the films and information they get and don't share the same resources they have.

You know, it could be a case of waiting until after week 1 to sign a vet so as not to have to guarantee their full salary too. Seriously, lets see how this all plays out first.

Seems like me and Sparta are the only ones who are on the same page with a "wait and see" attitude or a "Don't panic. The Packers know what they're doing." kinds of thinking.

 

[PApackersfan]

you go and put our #1 reciever out their and he gets hurt cuz sum **** feels like taking a cheap shot on a fair catch and now were left with driver and jones. I will be HIGHLY pissed if they put Jennings back to return punts.

While sitting in the crowd on sunday i recall T. Williams calling for a fair catch on a punt return, I hate to say i told you so, but like i said some **** decided to hit him anyway. Im just glad he was ok and that Jennings wasnt back their either.

 

[Mushroom]

This move seems so different from anything else we normally do, so I like it.

Interesting point, lol

 

[Jess]

****ing no. Never. He's too good. And I know it's not like punt returning is all that conducive to injury lately (unless you watched the Wisconsin game), but still.

What exactly did Tramon Williams do to lose his job?

I wish we'd have gotten Clifton Smith. ****ing Dolphins.

 

[chucknorris101]

at least we have KR nailed down

 

[packerfan1441]

Greg Jennings has got great speed and is great in the open field, but I still give the nod to Jordy Nelson he showed great explosion in the kickoff game and has fielded punts since high school why stop him now

 

[PackersRS]

Greg Jennings has got great speed and is great in the open field, but I still give the nod to Jordy Nelson he showed great explosion in the kickoff game and has fielded punts since high school why stop him now

Jordy didn't field any punts. Tramon fielded them all, and did VERY well (though he only ran 1 of them, for 10 yards. The rest he fair caught.) BTW AMAZING game all around by Tramon. If he had caught one of those ints, we'd all be raving about him. To think he pratically shut down DeSean Jackson...

Had HUGE doubts about him, but Tramon was every bit as good as Harris was in his prime last game...

Shields and Burnett weren't very good, though...

 

[Packy]

NO!
Packers have to be on the lookout for injuries. They just lost Grant. Why risk 2 others important parts of the machine?