returns

My opinion? Speed is not the prime requisite I look for in any returner, be it kick off or punt. I like the athlete who has the best vision for seeing the field in front of him, in that he sees the cuts before he is there to make them. You can have the best schemes for blocking the coverage team, but you had better have your returner back there who can see the field the best, knows that the ball must be caught and not allowed to ever hit the ground, and that has adequate speed after making his cut to get the ball up field. Being a returner is the most dangerous job in football, and he better be able to take a hit as well. After working on his fundamentals of catching the kicks, putting it away and getting a good start upfield, being a returner is pretty much of an inborn ability and conditioned reflex response sort of thing. You can work and improve, as you can at any position, but it really boils down to being an instinctive type to be a really good returner.

J.C.Easton