Brown returning punts

Was any indication given why Brown was doing punt return duty yesterday? I know Archer got hurt, but I don't think I even remember him ever being back there. Do they have no confidence in Archer to do the PR duties? I still hate the idea of having your #1 reciever back there on kick duties.
If Archer is out, who goes back there? Brown again? Wasn't DHB supposedly pretty good at special teams?

 

Tomlin, wants Brown returning punts, because in his words "He doesn't live in my fears".

I don't blame Tomlin, Archer tried returning a couple punts in pre-season and he wasn't too great at it.
He would get better after some time. But, Brown is a threat to return one to the house if he gets the chance.
He doesn't ever muff one trying to catch them.
He made bad mistake not fair catching that one that hit on the 8-9 yard line and the browns almost downed it at the 1.
Lucky the ball broke the plane and it as a touchback. But, that would have been huge for Cleveland yesterday.
I'd keep Brown returning punts. Besides, 65 percent of the time you just fair catch them anyway, because of good hang time etc.
Upside, is Brown can take it to the house, better than anybody on the roster.

 

Brown is too much of a weapon on returns (similar to Holmes years back). Archer is still learning more on punt returns...i could be wrong...but wasnt it him that didnt do too many punt returns in college...but mainly kickoffs?

Yes I think it is a risk...but until Archer or someone else becomes decent at them...I dont think we'll see a change.

 

I never understood the Archer pick.

Very frivolous on the part of Colbert/Tomlin. But they've shown this type of impulsive "chase the quick fix" solution on special teams in the past (i.e. Sepulveda).

We already had one of the better punt returners in Brown. If the intent was to save Brown from damage, then you have to expect a drop off (and honestly, how much different from two 8-8 seasons would we be with average returns and not Brown's?).

Archer just doesn't seem to fit to me. And the fact he is so undersized is just asking for injuries to slow him down.

I have no problem continuing to use Brown on punt returns. Especially those where he can field the punts in the 50-35 yard line range. If you want a sure handed guy to field the punts standing on the 10 yard line, you can find those pretty easily. Plus that would save Brown potential injury.

Make the Archer decision even more of a head scratcher.

 

Really? I liked the pick a lot. The guy is crazy fast and can return kickoffs. AB is just better at punt returns.

 

Anytime Archer was on the field the Browns were keying on him and is opened a lot up. I loved the pick and still do

 

How often do PRers actually get injured? Seems rare to me, so put your biggest threat there, and that is AB -he can break a big play any time he touches the ball. I don't understand the fear of returning punts -seems receivers are much more apt to get injured going across the middle and getting their knee blown out by a low blow.

 

yes
but yesterday after the bruce lee move I feared he would be blown up even on a fair catch
especially after the score tightened
I'm too old for this
but that's what I would coach

 

Thank you Del, I have been saying this since we drafted him, other than special teams the numbers just don't add up for a third rounder?
With Bell, Heath, AB, Wheaton the numbers do
not compute?

 

I disagree, the ankle injury has nothing to do with his size. it could happen to anyone on the field. archer is not just a fast guy, he's a good football player. just small. AB isn't a whole lot bigger. he was a good pick and will be back.

my only concern is if it's the same ankle as he struggled with last year at kent st.. I saw the play happen and said it looked odd when he went down and a tug from a brownie defender all at the same time. it was nothing to do with his size though.


AB is the best punt returner we have. that's what you do to win. you put your best guys on the field. he's a 1,000 - 1,000 man at both of his crafts. the first guy to do it in the NFL. that's like a long friggin time. let him do what he does, while he can. players play.

 

Mac, I said nothing about his size or his unfortunate injury, All I am trying to say that there is not enough touches to go around? Can we afford the luxury of a third rounder that may not see the ball unless he is on ST's? Oh they will try to force feed it to him and hopefully with his amazing speed he will break a couple. I hope the kid succeeds. But there aren't too many Sproles
in this league.If I am running the show 26 and 84
are getting the the more targets on offense.Proven performers that need the ball in there hands a lot.Keep feeding the pig.This is why and of course injury that AB will have to relinquish his punt return duties. Not only does it save the possibility of losing AB to posssible injury but gives a kid a chance to prove himself and get him the extra touches that he will not receive in our offense.

 

I think we saw in preseason that they want too and will use him in the offense.

as for AB returning punts, is it better for him to run a punt back forty yards, or have him have to make up those forty yards by catching 4-5 passes on offense? I would think he's in more of harms way having to be on the field longer with more touches, giving other teams more shots at him.

 

I guess we will agree to disagree.