Kickoff/punt returners: A new role for A.J. Green?
(This is the finale of a summertime series looking at Georgia’s football team by position.)
TODAY: KICKOFF AND PUNT RETURNERS
- Kickoff returns: Brandon Boykin again figures to handle the bulk of this role. He returned 38 kickoffs last season, while Branden Smith returned 16.
- Punt returns: The competition will resume in August to replace Prince Miller, who graduated (and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens). At least seven players tried out for the punt-return role in spring practice –- Boykin, Smith, A.J. Green, Bacarri Rambo, Rantavious Wooten, Carlton Thomas and Washaun Ealey –- and coaches did not reveal a pecking order or narrow the field. Logan Gray appears likely to continue his role of receiving punts in field-position situations where returns are not set up; his job in this capacity is to decide whether to fair-catch the punt or let the ball go.
- Key stats: Boykin set UGA single-season records last year with 988 kickoff- return yards and three kickoff-return touchdowns. He became the first player in SEC history to return two kickoffs 100 yards in the same season. While Boykin averaged 26 yards per KO return, Smith averaged 17.4 yards with a long of 48. As a team, Georgia averaged 22.1 yards on 60 KO returns, ranking 10th in the SEC. . . . Meanwhile, Miller averaged 11.9 yards per punt return, ranking fourth in the SEC.
- Key question: The question of whether Green, the star wide receiver, will return punts has drawn a lot of attention since he made it known during spring practice that he would like to have the job. (You can find more on that here and here.) Mark Richt said injury concerns won’t dissuade the Dogs from using Green on punt returns, but added that the larger unanswered question is simply whether Green proves to be “the best at that skill. If he is, then we’ll let him play. Or if there are certain times we feel it’s important to get him in there and do that, we might do that, too.”
- Outlook: Clear on kickoff returns, hazy on punt returns.
- Your turn: What say you about the kick-return and punt-return situations?
———-
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128 comments Add your comment
B-ham Dawg
June 29th, 2010
3:53 pm
this job will come down to wooten boykin or smith. i would say that boykin or smith will get the first shot, but if a defensive series goes for a while and then the opposing team punts you probably want someone with fresh legs coming off the sidelines to return. that’s why wooten will be the third option.
uga bill
June 29th, 2010
4:15 pm
Dez Bryant was way bigger than Green, let him catch passes.
Snellville Dawg
June 29th, 2010
4:18 pm
I think, unlike last year, we will actually be able to force a punt.
That said, I don’t care who are returner is so long as they always gain positive yardage and hang on to the football. Why not rotate a few players like we do for kickoffs, or like we did for punts in 08? In 08 we had returns from Logan Gray, Prince Miller, Reshad Jones, and Knowshon Moreno that I can think of. Why not let AJ Green, Carlton Thomas, Brandon Boykin, and Branden Smith rotate the position?
UGA is Just Fine....
June 29th, 2010
4:25 pm
Can any of you fear mongers please show me statistically where this risk of injury returning punts comes from?
There is also a risk he could score each time he touches the ball as well.
AJ is a PLAYMAKER, and the more opportunities he has to make plays the better. There are PLENTY of examples of top playmakers in college returning punts and doing so with great results.
Anyone remember:
R.Ismail – Notre Dame
D.Howard – Michigan
J.Jones – Bama
T.Ginn -Ohio St
P.Warrick- FSU
J.Arenas -Bama
Now all of these players have a couple of things in common
1. They were KEY starters in their respective positions as well as return men, and the teams could ill afford an injury from any of them.
2. They either won or played in a national championship game.
note: before anyone brings up T.Ginn’s injury after his return in the 2006 National Championship game- remember his injury was the result of the dog pile celebration.
Again if AJ is the best man for the job let him return punts.
Boykin is great, but it may be a bit much to ask him to be a shutdown corner, kick returner and return punts. As someone stated earlier it may be better to have fresh legs rather than have him do it after a defensive series.
Go Dawgs!
CamdenMark
June 29th, 2010
4:36 pm
I want to see the midget (Thomas) back there,young man needs to be on the field.
Tell the world
June 29th, 2010
4:49 pm
Just as everybody knew the plays DJ was going to run while he was Green’s backup there is no dought what Gray is going to do when he get’s into a game. We have all heard about his speed and tallents but have yet to see it. If we need AJ to field kickoff or return punts that would be one thing but with the tallent we have there should be no need.
Lee Corso
June 29th, 2010
5:21 pm
Not so fast AJ Green- don’t do it!
What does a coach do?
June 29th, 2010
5:34 pm
Use your best WR on returns and he gets dinged and…daug fans bark loudly.
Do not use the best available talent…daug fans bark loudly.
Mr. Fair Catch
June 29th, 2010
5:42 pm
I vote Logan Grey. What a weapon.
Delbert D.
June 29th, 2010
6:21 pm
UGA is Just Fine…. – Don’t leave out Tim Brown.
Joe Don't Go Squad
June 29th, 2010
6:28 pm
http://joe_dont_go.webstarts.com/index.html
The Real SugarHillDawg
June 29th, 2010
7:40 pm
All you guys who think it’s a bad idea to use AJ for KOR’s ponder this. We should get all the good out of him this year AND I don’t think Murray is going to be able to utilize him as much as a seasoned QB.
BigCaliDawg
June 29th, 2010
8:11 pm
There are a few schools of thought. My first thought (at least what I do on NCAA 10) is to have a super talented back-up return punts and kickoffs. In this case, I would suggest putting Carlton Thomas back there, as he is kind of being wasted with us at the moment. Perhaps when lookin’ at all these guys return, A.J. really is the best, followed by B. Boykin, followed by Carlton Thomas. That complicates things.
If A.J. really is the best, yeah….go ahead. This is his last year with us and we have so many receivers that are ready to step their games up.
Ya know, lining up with Orson Charles, Rontavious Wooten and Israel Troupe as receiving options is not half bad. Let A.J. jog in on 2nd down. It’s all good.
college is forever
June 29th, 2010
8:30 pm
http://www.collegelunchboxes.com A great or even a good punt return can fire up the offense by creating a big play and by giving them a short field. We need our best players on the field at all times and don’t worry about injuries it is the nature of the game. Go Dawgs!!!
Goobo Edwards
June 29th, 2010
9:31 pm
How’s it gonna be? What she say? How’d she say it? Bring back that Greer kid that wore #39. Anyone going to the dance on Friday night to watch me break?
ugaclassof2004
June 29th, 2010
10:27 pm
I refuse to believe that we can’t find someone besides AJ to return punts. Are there no Damien Gary’s or Mikey Henderson’s. What about Boykin, Smith or Carlton Thomas?
uga bill
June 29th, 2010
10:40 pm
Im a fear monger and a realist, Don’t do it !!!
Chuck Carswell
June 29th, 2010
10:50 pm
I’m with edumacated. Why let the other team know your plan? Let the real return men learn the difference between when it’s appropriate to fair catch, get yards or let it go.
AllenWaters
June 30th, 2010
8:44 am
Use AJ for blocking punts which saved us last year! Who else can jump that high?
AllenWaters
June 30th, 2010
8:47 am
Additionally, extra points or field goals! Remember the difference it made and helped us win?
Bulldog59
June 30th, 2010
8:53 am
DP, I guess it went largely unnoticed, but thanks for the update on Joe Kines daughter. Joe was a “throwback” coach, just a “good ole’ boy” and every loves him. Losing your only child has to be devastating. Our thoughts and prayers should be with his family now.
dont risk injuring the best WR in the NCAA
June 30th, 2010
8:55 am
not just “No”, but “Hell NO!”
AllenWaters
June 30th, 2010
9:16 am
Use AJ for blocking any punts, field goals or extra points because it saved us last year against SC! They could have kicked a fg instead of having to score a touchdown at the end of the game! Who else can jump that high? Plenty of players can return and how nice to have 3 for tds.
UGA fan in India that can not wait for the season and glad we have more afternoon kickoffs. With a 9.5 or 10.5 hour difference depending on DST, imagine a night game at 630am on Sunday? We will be much better than last year and thanks to CMR for 90 in 9. Tell us about it BP when you accompkish something at UA. LSU and UF were lucky to play in their NC games because of other teams losing. Glad they won to represent the SEC. Not long ago, the tide was losing games that would have the Bear wondering! All Georgia fans look forward to playing you agian. Get ready!
Headlinin’: Erin Andrews is still in the game | Sport News
June 30th, 2010
10:09 am
[...] • Yeah, you can run, but how’s your wavin’ arm? Georgia partisans will be pleased to note that star receiver A.J. Green is in the mix to liven up the Bulldogs’ mediocre punt-return game, but don’t get too excited: Backup quarterback Logan Gray is still in line to reprise his role as fair-catcher-in-residence. [Atlanta Journal-Constitution] [...]
G
June 30th, 2010
8:47 pm
Make Carlton Thomas a return specialist on punts and kickoff’s with Boykin. If Granthams D steps up there wont be nearly as many kickoff returns. Please don’t let Aj return kick’s other teams will send goon’s out to cheap shot him and take him out of the game.
Romeo
July 5th, 2010
6:04 pm
This is an open letter to Damon Evans. I remember the first time I had contact with you my nephew was a defensive back there and you were the asst. DA at the time . I was having a hard time getting tickets to a dinner the school was giving to it’s team . I called you and with in minutes I had tickets and got to see my nephew accept his awards. I sent you a congrats card when you were given the AD job I was very happy for you and you beautiful family. If someone had named 10 people at U of Ga, and told me that they had done what you did you would have been the last person I would have named. I have read all the thing that people have said about you and you it hurts but it will go away and always remember you brought this upon your self and family. Suround your self with your REAL friends and family they will support you they have never left you Damon and they are waiting on you to return to them. I am sure that the AD job was your dream job guess what there are many more dream jobs out here and you will find one that will give you more than you were getting from Ga. maybe not the money or presteage but freedom and peace of mind as oyu have found out money is not everything. So lick you waunds today because tomorrow you fight yesterday is gone and there is nothing you or I can do to change it and tomorrow is not promissed the only thing you can control is what you do today so don’t look back because there is nothing therelook ahead and pray and I will keep you and you family in my prayers. Hold your head up you have a lot to be proud of . You have a waunderfiul family and you are a gifted young man don’t let anyone tell you who you are you know who you are your friend no. 22
Romeo
July 5th, 2010
6:12 pm
Decory Bryant have you all for gotten.
Ready to talk some football? | UGA sports blog
July 9th, 2010
5:03 pm
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