Why doesn't Rivera value a returner at all?

[AggieLean]

I miss Mark Jones.

[KillerKat]

Every area that Rivera hasn't valued over the years always gets exposed and he never learns until it's too late. WR, OL, S, PR/KR. 

[Mr. Scot]

49 minutes ago, AggieLean said:

I miss Mark Jones.

After the NFL stopped allowing wedge blocks, Jones wasn't as effective.

[bobcat91]

We dont value many positions. WR, S, OL. And because of that we lose in the trenches, lose in one one one match ups and lose in the secondary. All of that is where the game is won in the NFL. I watched SF, who has been investing in DL for several years simply manhandle us. What an innovative offense they run compared to us. And our first round pick cant make the field is is just an expensive toy. We need a complete overhaul.

[Snake]

1 hour ago, AggieLean said:

I miss Mark Jones.

Who??? 

[Shocker]

Looks like we signed Quadre Henderson to the PS.

[Black&BlueBubba]

8 hours ago, Go DJ that's my DJ said:

I just don't understand Dortches purpose on this team if he isn't going to return kickoffs and punts.

After the Zylstra muff last week I bet we see Dortch at PR. But Bonnafon looked like crap at KR. 

[GoobyPls]

6 hours ago, TheRed said:

This is a very valid discussion considering how many years it's been since we've actually had a competent return game. The fact that Ginn is the best option we've seen since Steve Smith is discouraging to say the least. Truthfully the ineptitude in that area also extends to the offense as well in terms of continuing to throw poo at the wall instead of actually addressing the issue head on. Whether it's shuffling the OL right before the game, a comedy of errors on special teams, or converting defensive linemen into offensive tackles, let's just be plainly honest, Ron Rivera is out of his depth in this area. And that is what separates coaches like Ron Rivera from the Pete Carroll's and Bill Belichick's of the NFL who have been to multiple Super Bowl's and actually won.

Ginn was a mediocre returner with also, all he did was run out of bounds.

 

Byrd was the only half way decent one who didn't fumble every other kick 

[Call Me James]

I'm guessing it's had a lot to do with the team's injury history with startetd, lack of depth, Ron's personal philosophy and the kick off rule change. 

[GRWatcher]

Yes, the k/p returner's 1st job is to securely catch the ball. That needs major fixing. From there, it's to make the 1st man miss. That's the problem I see this year. There's been 3-4 tacklers around our return man when he catches the kick with no other Panther player in sight. The odds of him making 3-4 tacklers miss or not being nervous go way down.  We used to have speed on special teams and I'm just not seeing it this year.  The camera stays on the return man so it's difficult to tell but I'll bet our gunners/jammers are being manhandled. Which may be why Dortch wasn't playing; besides being a return man, he would be a jammer when we are the kicking team. Maybe he doesn't have that skill down yet.

[PghPanther]

Watching the pennies while throwing away the dollars....................more like why doesn't this organization value a good offensive line?

Skill running players are a flash in the pan...........but a dominant oline impacts every phases and aspect of the game including the performance of a defense and special teams...

Move the chains and you control the game............a flashy returner is good for highlights but is no place to focus a priority on. That's the big problem with this organization.

Patriots, 49ers, Saints............top notch offensive lines........

[cookinbrak]

SF's kicker kept dropping the ball at the goal line, forcing a return. They know that you can't fumble a touchback.

[Davidson Deac II]

13 hours ago, Mr. Scot said:

After the NFL stopped allowing wedge blocks, Jones wasn't as effective.

And yet still far superior to anyone we have had this year.

[DeAngelo Beason]

18 hours ago, Bartin said:

Are there any teams that invest significant resources into finding a returner? Seems like everyone just uses whatever they can find/late round pick. Most of the time they don’t work out. Occasionally you get lucky. We haven’t. 

Agreed.  Much bigger things to complain about with this roster.