Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New media
New media comments
New resources
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Resources
Latest reviews
Search resources
Members
Current visitors
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Open Football Discussion
Green Bay Packers Fan Forum
Training Camp Position Battles
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="HardRightEdge" data-source="post: 779170"><p>While NFL football in general is a dangerous occupation, returning punts and kickoffs are the most dangerous jobs. That should always be the starting point and the backdrop that runs throughout the dicussion.</p><p></p><p>Again, it boils down tto the following plausible options:</p><p></p><p>Punt returns: Davis, Cobb or Alexander</p><p></p><p>KO returns: Davis or Montgomery.</p><p></p><p>Let's break down those 3 Davis alternatives.</p><p></p><p>Montgomery may look like the most plausible option. He might be viewed as the #3 RB or a matchup option out of the slot. This overlooks something. Odds are Jones is staring down the barrel of suspension:</p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22608504/packers-rb-aaron-jones-pleads-no-contest-marijuana-related-charge" target="_blank">http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22608504/packers-rb-aaron-jones-pleads-no-contest-marijuana-related-charge</a></p><p></p><p>That you have not heard anything yet on the matter is no "all clear":</p><p> </p><p>"Jones could still be subject to a suspension from the NFL, but the league wasn't expected to act until the legal case was resolved" which, as the article states, wasn't resolved until the end of February. Jones is probably in "the program" as we speak. Similar incidents for a first violations often earn a 2 game suspension. That elevates Montgomery to #2 RB and not the cannon fodder one might think. Then there's the prudence of building a roster where Montgomery is relied up to be your 16 game kick returner who has been injury prone throughout his pro career. Further, even if Jones somehow evades a suspension, he only got a smattering of carries after coming back from the MCL sprain last season. In college he had one on the other knee. Availability and possibly degraded performance are open issues leaving open the possibility that Montgomery would be the #2 even after that possible suspensiion.</p><p></p><p>Cobb's history as a punt returner is fairly typical among high pick/front line players who take the job in their first couple of years. Pat Peterson is another example. They do great for a year or two then start to slide. Why might that happen? There are a couple of possibilities. Youthful enthusiam in earning their bones wanes as their position bones are earned. The demands of position play over a long season or two wears on that enthusiasm. They start eyeing that second contract and business decisions come into play. And once you start looking around for core and star players in second contracts being regular punt or KO returners, they get increasingly hard to find. They may have achieved the status to say, "I'd rather not" either from lost enthusiam or protecting the unguaranteed money. I do not see Cobb returning punts except as an injury backup. And while I'd expect him to be serviceable at this stage, how many chances do you think he'd take in a contract year?</p><p></p><p>That leaves Alexander, a rookie, a high pick with high expectations, in the vein of Cobb and Peterson coming in. And as noted above, he's the only young player with any college punt return experience to suggest he can do the job. From that perspective it makes sense. But I don't like that idea for the same reason I don't like Alexander playing nickel corner. Alexander is a particularly aggressive player of slighter stature. You don't want to stifle that aggressiveness. Experience will teach him how to pick his spots against bigger/stronger/faster opponents. Put him an nickel instead of perimeter and the likelihood he takes on punishment from RBs, FBs, H-backs and OLs goes up. Putting that aggressive disposition in that frame returning punts and you have a high risk proposition.</p><p></p><p>I won't say the Packers won't try Alexander on punts. I'd actually expect they will in camp if for no other other reason than to have an emergency backup option for Davis that is not named Cobb. But I won't have to like it.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="HardRightEdge, post: 779170"] While NFL football in general is a dangerous occupation, returning punts and kickoffs are the most dangerous jobs. That should always be the starting point and the backdrop that runs throughout the dicussion. Again, it boils down tto the following plausible options: Punt returns: Davis, Cobb or Alexander KO returns: Davis or Montgomery. Let's break down those 3 Davis alternatives. Montgomery may look like the most plausible option. He might be viewed as the #3 RB or a matchup option out of the slot. This overlooks something. Odds are Jones is staring down the barrel of suspension: [URL]http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22608504/packers-rb-aaron-jones-pleads-no-contest-marijuana-related-charge[/URL] That you have not heard anything yet on the matter is no "all clear": "Jones could still be subject to a suspension from the NFL, but the league wasn't expected to act until the legal case was resolved" which, as the article states, wasn't resolved until the end of February. Jones is probably in "the program" as we speak. Similar incidents for a first violations often earn a 2 game suspension. That elevates Montgomery to #2 RB and not the cannon fodder one might think. Then there's the prudence of building a roster where Montgomery is relied up to be your 16 game kick returner who has been injury prone throughout his pro career. Further, even if Jones somehow evades a suspension, he only got a smattering of carries after coming back from the MCL sprain last season. In college he had one on the other knee. Availability and possibly degraded performance are open issues leaving open the possibility that Montgomery would be the #2 even after that possible suspensiion. Cobb's history as a punt returner is fairly typical among high pick/front line players who take the job in their first couple of years. Pat Peterson is another example. They do great for a year or two then start to slide. Why might that happen? There are a couple of possibilities. Youthful enthusiam in earning their bones wanes as their position bones are earned. The demands of position play over a long season or two wears on that enthusiasm. They start eyeing that second contract and business decisions come into play. And once you start looking around for core and star players in second contracts being regular punt or KO returners, they get increasingly hard to find. They may have achieved the status to say, "I'd rather not" either from lost enthusiam or protecting the unguaranteed money. I do not see Cobb returning punts except as an injury backup. And while I'd expect him to be serviceable at this stage, how many chances do you think he'd take in a contract year? That leaves Alexander, a rookie, a high pick with high expectations, in the vein of Cobb and Peterson coming in. And as noted above, he's the only young player with any college punt return experience to suggest he can do the job. From that perspective it makes sense. But I don't like that idea for the same reason I don't like Alexander playing nickel corner. Alexander is a particularly aggressive player of slighter stature. You don't want to stifle that aggressiveness. Experience will teach him how to pick his spots against bigger/stronger/faster opponents. Put him an nickel instead of perimeter and the likelihood he takes on punishment from RBs, FBs, H-backs and OLs goes up. Putting that aggressive disposition in that frame returning punts and you have a high risk proposition. I won't say the Packers won't try Alexander on punts. I'd actually expect they will in camp if for no other other reason than to have an emergency backup option for Davis that is not named Cobb. But I won't have to like it. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Members online
No members online now.
Latest posts
Why I Love The 2026-2027 Green Bay Packers
Latest: El Guapo
Yesterday at 10:50 PM
Green Bay Packers Fan Forum
Josh Jacobs facing charges…
Latest: milani
Yesterday at 5:13 PM
Green Bay Packers Fan Forum
Christian Watson signs a 4 year 110m extension
Latest: OldSchool101
Yesterday at 12:42 PM
Green Bay Packers Fan Forum
Cam Achord new ST coach - Fire him
Latest: OldSchool101
Yesterday at 11:14 AM
Green Bay Packers Fan Forum
Off Season News
Latest: milani
Sunday at 2:18 PM
Green Bay Packers Fan Forum
Forums
Open Football Discussion
Green Bay Packers Fan Forum
Training Camp Position Battles
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
Accept
Learn more…
Top
