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<blockquote data-quote="HardRightEdge" data-source="post: 832870"><p>That's harsh. That said, it is worth recalling the reports that Gutekunst was looking to trade Davis with less than 2 weeks before the start of last season while the preseason performance of punt returners ranged from ineffective to strange. Leading the "strange" was Alexander, letting balls hit the ground around the 10 yard line while coming up to block the gunner. It worked, twice, but that's luck.</p><p></p><p>Evidently, Gutekunst was satisfied with the Cobb and Williams fallbacks. Cobb is now gone leaving Williams.</p><p></p><p>I submit that looking just at return yards and average per return is very deceiving particularly when "good" and "mediocre" is separated by perhaps 20 yards per game in field position according those standard statistics. Ferreting out who is or is not good at the job involves a whole other set of skills that do not show up in the basic stats.</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Job #1 is "don't fumble". Fumbles do not show up in the yardage stats.</li> </ul> <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Job #2 is "don't let the ball hit the ground" unless it is inside the 5 which has its own risks. Bad things can and do happen if a returner does not get to the ball. It can bounce downfield for lost field position making the yards or average per return advantage illusory. Worse, the ball can bounce off a teammate for a different kind of fumble.</li> </ul><p>Not all turnovers are created equal. Fumbles on KOs or punts are the worst kind where the ball and a huge chunk of field position is surrendered, to wit:</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.detroitlions.com/video/highlight-lions-recover-packers-muffed-punt-on-goal-line" target="_blank">https://www.detroitlions.com/video/highlight-lions-recover-packers-muffed-punt-on-goal-line</a></p><p></p><p>While this is not the best example, given that two man crowd at the point where the ball is landing, it goes to illustrate the possibilities.</p><p></p><p>So, what you first look for is a guy with good hands and who puts ball security at the top of his priorities. Second, the guy needs to have the courage to come up in a crowd to make the fair catch with the mental toughness to <strong><em>not fumble, </em></strong>to wit<strong><em>:</em></strong></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.titansonline.com/video/trevor-davis-muffs-punt-titans-recover-18069309" target="_blank">https://www.titansonline.com/video/trevor-davis-muffs-punt-titans-recover-18069309</a></p><p></p><p>I've been critical of Davis in the past for not doing what he did in this clip which is coming up into the danger zone to make the fair catch. Maybe that's for the best in light of this attempt.</p><p></p><p>Davis' traditional stats makes him desert without the entree. On those occasions when the punter overkicks his coverage and gives Davis some free run, his elusiveness and speed shows up with some outstanding results. The rest of the time he's a liability. I believe this explains why Gutekunst wanted to move him in lieu of less dynamic but more reliable options.</p><p></p><p>So far, the reliable options are down to Williams. I believe Gutekunst will be looking for any good reason to shed Davis while Williams might just be enough. Somebody else emerging as at least a second option would seal the deal.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="HardRightEdge, post: 832870"] That's harsh. That said, it is worth recalling the reports that Gutekunst was looking to trade Davis with less than 2 weeks before the start of last season while the preseason performance of punt returners ranged from ineffective to strange. Leading the "strange" was Alexander, letting balls hit the ground around the 10 yard line while coming up to block the gunner. It worked, twice, but that's luck. Evidently, Gutekunst was satisfied with the Cobb and Williams fallbacks. Cobb is now gone leaving Williams. I submit that looking just at return yards and average per return is very deceiving particularly when "good" and "mediocre" is separated by perhaps 20 yards per game in field position according those standard statistics. Ferreting out who is or is not good at the job involves a whole other set of skills that do not show up in the basic stats. [LIST] [*]Job #1 is "don't fumble". Fumbles do not show up in the yardage stats. [/LIST] [LIST] [*]Job #2 is "don't let the ball hit the ground" unless it is inside the 5 which has its own risks. Bad things can and do happen if a returner does not get to the ball. It can bounce downfield for lost field position making the yards or average per return advantage illusory. Worse, the ball can bounce off a teammate for a different kind of fumble. [/LIST] Not all turnovers are created equal. Fumbles on KOs or punts are the worst kind where the ball and a huge chunk of field position is surrendered, to wit: [URL]https://www.detroitlions.com/video/highlight-lions-recover-packers-muffed-punt-on-goal-line[/URL] While this is not the best example, given that two man crowd at the point where the ball is landing, it goes to illustrate the possibilities. So, what you first look for is a guy with good hands and who puts ball security at the top of his priorities. Second, the guy needs to have the courage to come up in a crowd to make the fair catch with the mental toughness to [B][I]not fumble, [/I][/B]to wit[B][I]:[/I][/B] [URL]https://www.titansonline.com/video/trevor-davis-muffs-punt-titans-recover-18069309[/URL] I've been critical of Davis in the past for not doing what he did in this clip which is coming up into the danger zone to make the fair catch. Maybe that's for the best in light of this attempt. Davis' traditional stats makes him desert without the entree. On those occasions when the punter overkicks his coverage and gives Davis some free run, his elusiveness and speed shows up with some outstanding results. The rest of the time he's a liability. I believe this explains why Gutekunst wanted to move him in lieu of less dynamic but more reliable options. So far, the reliable options are down to Williams. I believe Gutekunst will be looking for any good reason to shed Davis while Williams might just be enough. Somebody else emerging as at least a second option would seal the deal. [/QUOTE]
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