Felix Jones to Return Kicks; Dez Bryant to Return Punts
It looks as if Cowboys special teams coach Joe DeCamillis has his return guys set for Sunday night's game against the Redskins.
Consistent with the team's depth chart, Felix Jones will remain Dallas' primary kickoff returner to start off the year. He is also still listed behind Marion Barber at tailback.
Dez Bryant will be the team's first option at punt returner now that Patrick Crayton is a Charger. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah will back up both return spots.
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Aaron Novinger
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I am pretty surprised that AOA didn't get the call for kick returner.
With Felix being counted on more in the offense and AOA only being a backup DB who showed pretty good glimmers of returning talent I would have thought AOA was the definite choice. Oh also, I can’t wait to see Dez back there for his first return.
Formerly Cowboyfan729
If I had a nickel for every time the Eagles won the Super Bowl, I would have zero nickels
Agreed.
Felix should NOT be returning kicks. First of all he hasn’t looked amazing doing it, and secondly if he’s stepping into a starting role and getting more touches I can only ignore his durability for so long.
As for Dez, until he’s confirmed #2 I don’t see any reason not to make an impact on ST.
Semper Fi Do or Die
Projected 2010 Record: 12-4. You heard it here first
Felix isn't stepping into a starting role at tailback
He will share carries with MB3 so there’s no reason he can’t return kicks as well. I for one has thought he looked amazing at times returning kicks, all he needs is a seam and he’s gone.
In Romo we Trust
He had that one great return against the Eagles in 2008
but outside of that I can’t think of a time where I watched Felix return a kick and thought he was so amazing. Granted, our problems in the kickoff return game are probably as much as a result of the blocking as anything else (there always seemed to be one missed block) but I don’t think we would be missing a ton if AOA did returns instead of Felix. As such, I think it would be better to put our 4th DB back there than the guy who, in my opinion, should get the majority of carries this year.
Formerly Cowboyfan729
If I had a nickel for every time the Eagles won the Super Bowl, I would have zero nickels
+1
Agree…given a seam even AOA can take it to the house
by thejanusman on Sep 10, 2010 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions
He's going to be starting Terry.
That’s like saying was the #1 WR last year.
Semper Fi Do or Die
Projected 2010 Record: 12-4. You heard it here first
I thought AOA would've been kick returner...
and its a little surprising that two of the guys we need the most on offense have return duty…
That being said, I think special teams are going to have a big impact on the game Sunday night. And I think Dez may play a big part in that.
Go, take it to the house Dez!
I’m kind of surprised that Felix is taking KO’s, he wasn’t even in my top 3 guesses (AOA, Ogletree, Dez)
"I have a feeling that when the lights come on, he's going to respond." - Coach Wade Phillips on rookie WR Dez Bryant being ready for prime time.
If either of these guys gets injured on a kick
All of this blog and every media type will jump down Wade’s throat and JJ will have some “leaked” youtube whiskey video talking about how dumb Wade is and how he is going to fire him via twitter.
Only pain and constant BSPN coverage can come from this…..
Miles Austin: Covered
Jason Witten: Covered
Roy Williams: Wide Open
Trusting Your Wide Receiver To Make The Catch: Priceless
Nah
Everyone expected Dez to be a returner. You don’t buy a Viper and keep it under 55mph.
"I have a feeling that when the lights come on, he's going to respond." - Coach Wade Phillips on rookie WR Dez Bryant being ready for prime time.
by APerfectStar on Sep 10, 2010 3:27 AM CDT up reply actions
Smart move by Wade
get the ball in the hands of your playmakers. Neither one of these guys are starting so what better way to get them touches in the open field than by having them return kicks? They could get hurt on offense, too. This is football you can’t play scared.
by b roo on Sep 10, 2010 3:19 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
That's true to some extent
but you still need to play smart. While FJ has returned KO’s before, do you really want one of your prized RB’s on special teams? You’d have never seen Dorsett or even Emmitt running back KO’s or punts. Neither Landry or JJ would have allowed it and for good reason.
"Drew is a winner"....Roger Staubach
The good reason
was that those guys were getting 25-30 touches a game on offense. Felix doesn’t. Felix deserves and needs more open field touches. This is how you get him those touches. That is smart. Tom and Jimmy would make sure any part-time offensive player contributed on special teams for sure.
by b roo on Sep 10, 2010 4:08 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
I was all set to agree with Cowboy 88, but you have convinced me. Well done
Lifetime Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey
Larry Allen + Rayfield Wright = Roy Williams
My Beer Blog: http://tiltingsuds.wordpress.com/
Okay....
if he needs more touches, why not simply make HIM the starter in the rotation then? Barber showed he’s a better closer than a starter and Choice can be his backup. Use Barber on those tough 3rd downs, sparingly in the first half and then more toward the end of the game. The only problem with this may be that FJ is an injury prone RB and if that is the case, wouldn’t he be more vulnerable on Special Teams than running the regular offense?
"Drew is a winner"....Roger Staubach
It is the "open field touches" that convinced me. I'd actually make Choice the starter and bring in Barber in the "Enter Sandman" role
Lifetime Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey
Larry Allen + Rayfield Wright = Roy Williams
My Beer Blog: http://tiltingsuds.wordpress.com/
This is a good argument
but I would stick with the fact that while Felix may be considered a “part-time player” based off his carries, I think it is undeniable that he is more important to our offense than that tag would suggest. He is the only big play RB we have and by the end of last year was showing real signs that he could be the main dog for this offense. So yes, we do run it by committee, but Felix in my opinion is more valuable to this team than just as a “part time” offensive player. I think that type of rhetoric simply doesn’t underscore the value of Felix as a rare commodity on this team.
Formerly Cowboyfan729
If I had a nickel for every time the Eagles won the Super Bowl, I would have zero nickels
it sute will ..
both guys can take it to the house and joe d has our sts looking good..
Davie Wilson
how bout them cowboys!!!
by scotscowboyfan on Sep 10, 2010 7:26 AM CDT up reply actions
+1
Very excited to see Dez on punt return.
RW is the opposite of WR. Coincidence? I think not.
by aussie_cowboy on Sep 10, 2010 7:51 AM CDT up reply actions
AOA
Do we think its purely the fact that we want to see some real playmakers in there with Dez/Felix?
Or is it because AOA is lacking confidence or dropping KOs? Or both?
Yeah. I'm kinda concerned they'd risk Felix on kickoffs...
But we’ll see how it goes. If he gets hurt tho, the condemnation that will come down on Wade will rival that of Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction.
"They need security in the world, Craig!"
In a way, it's more risky to have AOA returning kicks.
The nickel corner, Scandrick, is basically a starter, so AOA is the backup for 3 guys. If Jones or Dez get hurt, god forbid, we still have 2 good RBs and a solid WR corps.
by Baked Potato Soup on Sep 10, 2010 8:43 AM CDT reply actions
Yeah but if Scandrick or Newman gets injured I think
you would see Ball slide into that vacated CB role and then see Hamlin take over the FS role. God forbid, but I think it would take more than one injury for AOA to see significant time.
Formerly Cowboyfan729
If I had a nickel for every time the Eagles won the Super Bowl, I would have zero nickels
Felix shouldn't be returning kicks
I understand wanting your playmakers to get touches, but honestly, FJ didn’t look very comfortable returning kicks. I recall him looking hesitant and not exploding to a gap. I would rather have AOA in there just because I think he will do a better job.
+1
AOA has more to prove and will give it all hes got. Where Felix might be trying to hard to not get hurt. If you want a playmaker to give him more touches then give Felix more touches running the ball, catching the pall during the Offense
Really?! Really?!
I agree
that the best returner should run back kicks but I was goiing with the assumption that the coaches chose who they thought was best. I’m sure if DeCamillis thought AOA was better he would use him wouldn’t he? They’ll probably try out a few different guys at it during the season. Is returning a kick all that more risky than taking a handoff? Maybe OCC has some statistics on injury rates for RBs vs. returners. Anyway a touchdown run on a return counts for 6 just like one run out of the offense so I don’t get the consternation with having El Gato back there, I’m excited to see him do it. When we drafted him one of the reasons was specifically because of his return skills. He’s still young, he’s not an every down back that needs rest during special teams so let’s cheer him on and hope he takes one to the house in DC!
by b roo on Sep 11, 2010 6:42 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
because on a return
you have 11 guys with 40yds of distance to sprint right for you to lay you out.
Really?! Really?!
That makes sense
put two of our biggest offensive weapons in harms way
Sean Lissemore = The next Bruce Smith
I will buy you a coke if Lissemore has any sacks this year. One per sack.
by Baked Potato Soup on Sep 10, 2010 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions
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