Steve Smith Punt Return

[Edward Teach]

I think I remember seeing Smith on the bench before he returned the punt looking pretty pissed...like he wanted to contribute more, but he just wasn't getting the touches. Next thing you know, he is back there to return the punt. Coincidence? I think not.

[megadeth078]

Punt returners don't have a 40% chance of dying on the field. I wasn't worried for a second. It's nice to see that he wanted to get involved more. He didn't have to return the punt to make an impact seeing as how he bailed the whole team out on that comeback drive, but I admire his passion to contribute.

[neverlosethefeeling]

They put him back there in a game within the last couple weeks but the ball was either fair caught or he let it go for a touchback IIRC

[shinner]

What was with that?

Stupid is what it was...I don't care how many people thought it was great. It ain't worth losing your star WR on a friggin' punt return where guys can tee off on him. We have a PR man, let him do his job.

[Scutty]

Curious move at best but I'm going to agree with Shinner here.

It ain't worth losing your star WR on a friggin' punt return where guys can tee off on him. We have a PR man, let him do his job.

Whether Smith wanted to do it or not the bigger picture should have been the deciding factor.

If Smith had been injured on the return what would we be saying here right now?

[runrunpass]

From John Fox.

Q. Why did Steve Smith return a punt yesterday?

"He's a guy who's been pretty adequate at that position before. As we get into this next (post) season, he may or may not be something we look at. We don't want the playoffs to be the first time he did it. He's practiced there, but we want to see him in a game situation."

http://blogs.charlotte.com/panthers/2008/12/foxs-monday-new.html

[natty]

lol @ "pretty adequate"

I honestly didn't realize it was him until he made that little dart move.

[megadeth078]

Steve Smith is not a pussy. He can handle a punt return, guys. Whenever he takes a huge shot on a bad play, he always bounces right back up, but when it's a punt return, there's a suddenly a huge chance that he'll get a career-ending injury? Please. You guys just love to worry over nothing.

[SorthNarolina]

I made a topic a few weeks ago before the huddle went MIA about trying smith at PR

i was thinking we would bench jones for smith which would lead to having a very strong 4 WR set and it would add a game breaking element to the return game that jones doesn't bring

the playoff atmosphere is a perfect time to try it too

I don't know if they will go through with it but it would be a very interesting move if they did, the announcers would be all over it

[runrunpass]

I made a topic a few weeks ago before the huddle went MIA about trying smith at PR

i was thinking we would bench jones for smith which would lead to having a very strong 4 WR set and it would add a game breaking element to the return game that jones doesn't bring

the playoff atmosphere is a perfect time to try it too

I don't know if they will go through with it but it would be a very interesting move if they did, the announcers would be all over it

Yeah, making Jones inactive and using Smith on punt and kick off returns and activating Jarrett and Hackett would be great.

[Davidson Deac II]

From John Fox.

Q. Why did Steve Smith return a punt yesterday?

"He's a guy who's been pretty adequate at that position before. As we get into this next (post) season, he may or may not be something we look at. We don't want the playoffs to be the first time he did it. He's practiced there, but we want to see him in a game situation."

http://blogs.charlotte.com/panthers/2008/12/foxs-monday-new.html

Well, I like this better than going for the kill that some people said was the reason. But when he went down hard, I nearly had a heart attack.

[natty]

It's not an injury concern, it's stamina. Smith would be way too tired for his 4th quarter heroics were used to seeing.

[shinner]

Yeah, making Jones inactive and using Smith on punt and kick off returns and activating Jarrett and Hackett would be great.

Hell yeah...Steve Smith is not a pussy. He can handle a punt return. Whenever he takes a huge shot on a bad play, he always bounces right back up. No worries.

[megadeth078]

Yeah, making Jones inactive and using Smith on punt and kick off returns and activating Jarrett and Hackett would be great.

why would that be a great idea? Jones will pretty much have a greater impact on our game than both of those receivers put together. No offense to either of them, but Jones has been giving us great field position all season. I don't see why we would want to take that away just so we could see 4 wr sets, only to end up passing it to Moose and Smitty as usual.