Should the Broncos draft a return man?

[Stand Ablaze]

I was thinking that it would be neat to draft a player who specializes in returning kicks. I don't think Glenn Martinez is really getting the job done, I mean he had a return for a TD, but the next punt he fumbled the ball trying to get too cute and fumbling the ball has been his problem. So I'm saying kind of what Miami and Chicago did with drafting a return man, just to return kicks. I can't think of any return men off the top of my head that the Broncos could draft, maybe you guys do?

Anyways, just an idea.:D

[underrated29]

it would be worth our while but only as a late rd pick. I personally like what hall has done returning them. But we need him healthy before he can make a big impact.

[lex]

Brian Witherspoon, Stillman

[SR]

I think it would be a waste of a pick.

[sneakers]

I think it would be a waste of a pick.

Agreed. It would be like drafting a kicker in the first or second round.

[Watchthemiddle]

We don't have enough draft picks as it is with all of our needs. I would put KR/PR at need about 13. Front 7, FS to replace Lynch, O-LINE and every day every down HB to name a few would be my wish list.

[AFGAHNI_BATTLE_DONKEY]

if their is one in the 6th or 7th round then yes. only reason i think we should pick it late is because we have more important needs.


to all the people that think a return man is a waste of a pick.

look at darrent williams.
2nd round pick and was originally picked to be a return man.

field position makes a huge difference.

[AFGAHNI_BATTLE_DONKEY]

Agreed. It would be like drafting a kicker in the first or second round.

not really

[Bronco4ever]

Over the years, we have always had projects at returners: Watson, Kasper, Sapp, Hixon ect... and none of them have really panned out as a returner. Teams like the Bills and Bears went out on draft day and picked up up some nasty return men. That's why their special teams are some of the best in the biz, they went out and got them. I'm not necessarily in favor of drafting a returner with a first day pick in 08, but if you want the good ones, you are gonna have to draft them high.

[Bronco9798]

If your special teams can set you up a return and stay disciplined, you don't need to go after a return man. Just plug somebody in that has some speed and discipline waiting for his lanes to open up.

[Tned]

If your special teams can set you up a return and stay disciplined, you don't need to go after a return man. Just plug somebody in that has some speed and discipline waiting for his lanes to open up.

Yep, both our kick coverage and kick blocking teams have been pretty undisciplined for quite a few years now.

[Bronco4ever]

Yep, both our kick coverage and kick blocking teams have been pretty undisciplined for quite a few years now.

It'd actually be nice if we could get a good ST's coach. I wonder how much say Burns has on the ST unit. O'Brien should get the axe, so would Burns take his place? I always likes Burns' enthusiasm for the game.

[AFGAHNI_BATTLE_DONKEY]

If your special teams can set you up a return and stay disciplined, you don't need to go after a return man. Just plug somebody in that has some speed and discipline waiting for his lanes to open up.

having a good return man wouldnt hurt though.
its not all on the blocking. we need a guy that is an expert in returns and has the speed and skills to make people miss. our return guys cant do that.

i mean seriously do you really think the bears blocking is so good that glenn martinez can get returns like hester?

if we had hester we would be a much better team.

[Bronco9798]

having a good return man wouldnt hurt though.
its not all on the blocking. we need a guy that is an expert in returns and has the speed and skills to make people miss. our return guys cant do that.

i mean seriously do you really think the bears blocking is so good that glenn martinez can get returns like hester?

if we had hester we would be a much better team.

Oh, I agree with you. I just don't think you set your sites on a specialist like a returner. Teams try and fail every year. 32 teams and 2 great return guys in Hester and Parrish from Buff. 30 other teams just plug somebody in. It's a risk not worth the reward. I'm just saying, find somebody in camp that can get some positive yards and put you in a position to play the short field. I hate our return game. I also think the blocking and set ups suck as well as the returners.

[claymore]

Oh, I agree with you. I just don't think you set your sites on a specialist like a returner. Teams try and fail every year. 32 teams and 2 great return guys in Hester and Parrish from Buff. 30 other teams just plug somebody in. It's a risk not worth the reward. I'm just saying, find somebody in camp that can get some positive yards and put you in a position to play the short field. I hate our return game. I also think the blocking and set ups suck as well as the returners.The Bears also suffer at other positions (like their whole offense) to get good guys blocking on ST's......... All the returns I have seen from Hester were 80 100 yard sprints with the occasional Bronco Punter hurdle.

[AFGAHNI_BATTLE_DONKEY]

Oh, I agree with you. I just don't think you set your sites on a specialist like a returner. Teams try and fail every year. 32 teams and 2 great return guys in Hester and Parrish from Buff. 30 other teams just plug somebody in. It's a risk not worth the reward. I'm just saying, find somebody in camp that can get some positive yards and put you in a position to play the short field. I hate our return game. I also think the blocking and set ups suck as well as the returners.

i agree that we shouldnt draft anyone for our return game unless we can get someone in the 6th or 7th. this year we have much more important needs but im sick and tired of being ranked last in average starting position.

if we draft one we need to get someone that had sucess in the ncaa like darrent wiliams did when we drafted him for our return game.

all im hoping for is some kind of improvement for next year. weather its through the draft or even your way of getting a guy that can return in camp.

[Bronco4ever]

Oh, I agree with you. I just don't think you set your sites on a specialist like a returner. Teams try and fail every year. 32 teams and 2 great return guys in Hester and Parrish from Buff. 30 other teams just plug somebody in. It's a risk not worth the reward. I'm just saying, find somebody in camp that can get some positive yards and put you in a position to play the short field. I hate our return game. I also think the blocking and set ups suck as well as the returners.

Don't forget Cribbs from Cleveland. He started out red hot this year.

It would be nice though if we stopped putting special teams on the back burner for once and try to fix our deficiencies on special teams. Our special teams have been consistently been below average for too long. Bad field position=inefficient offense. Our STs have been putting our offense in holes for years.

[Tned]

It'd actually be nice if we could get a good ST's coach. I wonder how much say Burns has on the ST unit. O'Brien should get the axe, so would Burns take his place? I always likes Burns' enthusiasm for the game.

Wasn't O'Brien supposed to be a ST whiz that was going to turn everything around? That didn't exactly go according to script, whether it is his fault or the talent is hard to tell.

[Bronco9798]

Should of signed Rodriguez as ST coach when we had a chance to.

[Bronco4ever]

Wasn't O'Brien supposed to be a ST whiz that was going to turn everything around? That didn't exactly go according to script, whether it is his fault or the talent is hard to tell.

Probably both. You need players to go along with the philosophy. I also get the feeling like O'Brien isn't stopping poor habits that are forming within his unit. I think we all expected a little better performance than this.

[SmilinAssasSin27]

I liked the kid out of Miami (OH) last year and he is playing quite well for Carolina. This year I like Darius Reynaud of West Virginia. I'd definitely like to see the braintrust give him a shot in round 5 or later.

[SmilinAssasSin27]

We don't have enough draft picks as it is with all of our needs. I would put KR/PR at need about 13. Front 7, FS to replace Lynch, O-LINE and every day every down HB to name a few would be my wish list.

One thing we have plenty of is pix. We have 2 4th rounders, 2 5th rounders and 2 7th rounders. We have the pix to take a flyer on a returnman. That being said, I would like the returnman to have a shot at contributing as a WR as well.

[AFGAHNI_BATTLE_DONKEY]

One thing we have plenty of is pix. We have 2 4th rounders, 2 5th rounders and 2 7th rounders. We have the pix to take a flyer on a returnman. That being said, I would like the returnman to have a shot at contributing as a WR as well.

exactly man. you might get another darrent williams who was a return man contributing big to the defense.

[DenBronx]

i agree that we need to address kr/pr but ask miami if they had do do it all over again if they would have picked a kr over quinn? kr/pr is not something to build a franchise around but a qb's and rb's are and teams that have huge holes especially in defense shouldnt even entertain the thought of spending a 1st day pick on a kr or pr.

[lex]

There is a CB out of Stillman named Brian Witherspoon who can run a 4.2. I wouldnt mind drafting him. Same with Paul Raymond, a WR out of Brown. Both of these guys could have huge value in the 7th.

[TXBRONC]

Wasn't O'Brien supposed to be a ST whiz that was going to turn everything around? That didn't exactly go according to script, whether it is his fault or the talent is hard to tell.

Like Bates he should be given a chance to improve. With O'Brien I think we got a mixed bag. The coverage units were terrible but the return units did get better as the season progressed.

In my opinion I think we have found our kick returner and punt returner in Hall and Martinez.

[MOtorboat]

I'm sorry if I don't read through this thread, but NO, NO, NO!

Draft a few hard-working guys in the later rounds to block...that will make a bigger impact.

[BroncoAV06]

To many of you are thinking of Ginn. In no way should a team do that again but a return man would be a player that would contribute. Yes other areas are in need of young talent as well.

5th or 6th you can easily target a RB/WR or CB that was not high as a position player but has good speed and return skills. Martinez to me is better at punts then kicks and deinitly not a go to returner. Hall is better when he fields the kick offs.

I agree with some above, blocking is not the whole thing, Cribbs, Hester they make people miss. And lex you hit the nail on the head.

Field position would be so nice, not going to take it to the house every time but to have a player with the threat of actually doing that would be huge. In no way does it garuntee being a better team but it is part of the puzzle that can be solved with one pick and or find, unlike o-line, d-line etc..

Lets just take a look at some of the leading returners this year:
1) Josh Cribbs WR CLE: KO-57 ret, 1,752 yds, 2 TD, 20+ 47, 40+ 7, Avg 30.7, Punts-26 rets, 270yds, 20+ 4.
Signed as an undrafted free agent by Cleveland on April 29, 2005.
2) M. Hicks RB SF: KO-59 ret, 1,410 yds, avg 23.9, 20+ 41, 40+ 3,
Originally signed by Chicago as a rookie free agent on April 26, 2002…Waived by Chicago on August 31, 2003…Signed by San Francisco as a free agent on December 31, 2003…Waived by San Francisco on September 5, 2004…Signed by San Francisco to the practice squad on September 6, 2004…Signed by San Francisco from the practice squad to the 53-man roster on November 3, 2004
3) Glenn Holt WR CIN: KO-56, 1,369, avg 24.4, 20+ 34, 40+ 3, TD 1
Signed with the Bengals on May 9 as a college free agent ... Waived Sept. 2, and signed Sept. 4 to the Bengals practice squad ... Signed to the roster from the practice squad Oct. 20, and played in the final 11 games, mostly on special teams.
4) Ted Ginn WR MIA: KO-57, 1,322 yds, 23.2 avg, 20+ 37, 40+ 2, Punt-23 ret, 224 yds, 9.7 avg, 1 TD, 20+ 2, 40+ 1,
Drafted 07 first round 9th overall.
5) Steve Breston WR ARI: KO-57 ret, 1,314 yds, 23.1 avg, 20+ 37, 40 + 2, Punt- 40 ret, 388 yards, 9.7 avg, 1 TD, 20+ 3, 40 + 2,
4th round pick in 2007

36) Andre Hall: KO-17, 432 yards, 25.4 avg, 20+ 14
42) G. Martinez: KO-15, 330 yards, 22 avg, 20+ 9, Punt-12 142 yards, 11.8 avg, 1 TD, 20+ 1, 40+ 2.

In the Broncos case Hall in limited time at KO has decent numbers and good average. I think Hall a full season as the primary KO return man, and Martinez as the punt returner could put up solid numbers. Both are 2nd teir return men and Iwould not mind adding a speedster if it is at the right time.

From the top 5, 3 are undrafted so it also goes to show you that a returner can be had after the draft, again position players that are not looked at as doing something in the NFL but have speed and return work in college come in handy.

[Simple Jaded]

Chris Johnson--East Carolina




Overall grade: 7.9
Position rank: 4


CHRIS JOHNSON MEASURABLES
Height: 5-10 Weight: 199
40-yard dash: 4.32 10-yard dash:
20-yard shuttle: 60-yard shuttle:
Broad jump: 225-lb. bench:
3-cone drill: Vertical jump:
Wonderlic: 20-yard dash:

Chris Johnson
RB, East Carolina

War Room analysis
Strengths: Has it all -- speed, elusiveness, hands, route-running skills, quickness, explosion and competitive fire. Shows good vision to locate the hole and burst through it. Shows little wasted movement, and cuts upfield quickly. Shows good strength and leg drive to gain yardage after contact. Is not afraid to lower head and pick up tough yardage. Makes would-be tacklers miss in the open field. Is at his best running to the corner, and is adept at spotting cutback lanes once outside the tackles. Can outrun defenders who have the angle on him. As a former wide receiver, shows natural hands and good concentration. Understands the route tree, and is a solid route-runner. Gains good separation in and out of breaks. Is tough and not afraid to go over the middle. Also is an outstanding kickoff return man, attacking and hitting the creases hard and showing the speed to make big plays.

Weaknesses: Is thin; must add bulk to hold up in the NFL. Is not much of a blocker; will get in the way, but is not a go-getter. Must become more aggressive and improve technique as a blocker. Has small hands, and could have trouble with ball security in traffic in the NFL.

Bottom line: Johnson is an explosive player who has not reached his potential. He has all the tools to be a special player in the NFL, making big plays as a runner, receiver and return man. He has world-class speed and outstanding cutback ability and is tough. He is a threat to score on every touch. Johnson's senior season started slowly, but he rebounded nicely and shows the ability to make a major impact in the NFL. His lack of bulk probably will cause him to slide into the second or third round......