Blackburn is official

[t96]

15 minutes ago, TheRed said:

The Panthers special teams under Rivera for the better part of a decade were either average to mediocre or just flat out abysmal. I'm good with Blackburn, but we definitely are past due for seeing some improvement of any kind in that area. Particularly with the return game. I don't imagine someone like Harbingers who is still making excuses for Rivera will have much to say about that though.

Have we had a single legit return man since Smitty (who we couldn’t use anyways since he was our #1 WR)?

[TheSpecialJuan]

[TheRed]

Just now, t96 said:

Have we had a single legit return man since Smitty (who we couldn’t use anyways since he was our #1 WR)?

Ted Ginn Jr, and even he had some lapses from time to time. That's pretty much it. We are due.

[Ricky Spanish]

14 minutes ago, TheRed said:

The Panthers special teams under Rivera for the better part of a decade were either average to mediocre or just flat out abysmal. I'm good with Blackburn, but we definitely are past due for seeing some improvement of any kind in that area. Particularly with the return game. I don't imagine someone like Harbingers who is still making excuses for Rivera will have much to say about that though.

ST got significantly better the season Blackburn was promoted. Last year the dude was given table scraps at returner from start to finish and hurney did little to stock the bottom of the depth chart with any ST talent.

I personally think Blackburn has been fine. Far and away better than 2014 when we allowed Seattle to hop the line 4 times in a row on the same field goal attempt

[Basbear]

27 minutes ago, Cracka McNasty said:

ST got significantly better the season Blackburn was promoted. Last year the dude was given table scraps at returner from start to finish and hurney did little to stock the bottom of the depth chart with any ST talent.

I personally think Blackburn has been fine. Far and away better than 2014 when we allowed Seattle to hop the line 4 times in a row on the same field goal attempt

I echo this. The whole team got worse after Rivera got canned. I know all teams get injuries and when they happen the biggest changes happen at ST. You get new players mid-season and youre best guys get promoted to fill the injuries. You have to make it work with no time on a squad that magnifies mistakes. Plus they always get over-ruled about players too. Blackburn has had to make gunners and returners out of players that by no means where gunners or returners.  

[TheSpecialJuan]

I wonder what happened to Heath Farwell? Blackburn's assistant

[The Huddler]

1 hour ago, Captain Morgan said:

NFL teams allowed seven punt return touchdowns in 2019. Carolina allowed three of those. When one team allows more than 40% of the league's touchdowns, it probably needs to fix something.

stats without context are the most misleading and useless bullshit in the world

[SmokinwithWilly]

Hopefully we now have a coach who will put some emphasis on ST and get this GM to actually get a return guy. I never understood how ignoring a part of the game that can greatly impact field position was so completely ignored under Rivera.

[MHS831]

At least we still have Hurney.  That is all we need to know.

[t96]

1 hour ago, TheRed said:

Ted Ginn Jr, and even he had some lapses from time to time. That's pretty much it. We are due.

Yeah Ginn briefly but it seemed Ron never fully trusted him... We had fuging Bersin back there quite a bit in 2015, unbelievably.

[cardiackat88.]

5 hours ago, t96 said:

Have we had a single legit return man since Smitty (who we couldn’t use anyways since he was our #1 WR)?

Boy I remember the last time we put the #1 WR as the returner.....

That one bonehead ran into DJ Moore fielding a punt and then shoved a referee in the same game.

[GRWatcher]

5 hours ago, cardiackat88. said:

Boy I remember the last time we put the #1 WR as the returner.....

That one bonehead ran into DJ Moore fielding a punt and then shoved a referee in the same game.

It was Drew Carter. DJ was probably in pee wee then. I'm assuming you're talking about Smitty. Maybe I'm wrong?

 

[Moonstone]

6 minutes ago, GRWatcher said:

It was Drew Carter. DJ was probably in pee wee then. I'm assuming you're talking about Smitty. Maybe I'm wrong?

 

He is talking about DJ Moore and Rashaan Gaulden, it happened this season

[GRWatcher]

11 hours ago, t96 said:

Have we had a single legit return man since Smitty (who we couldn’t use anyways since he was our #1 WR)?

Ginn wasn't any more impressive than Philly Brown who did score a td on a punt return. So, short answer is no. Over the years we have had a few excellent returners. Michael Bates comes to mind. Rod Smart, Chris Gamble, Tyrone Poole. 

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/car/career-returns.htm