The Deep Ball

[Whatever]

(11-05-2020, 02:47 PM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: Kinda off topic, but I will never understand why we continue to use an active roster spot for Alex Erickson.

Of all our receivers he offers the least in the pass game.  He's a complete non-factor.  He's an average at best punt returner for his career, and he's been below average these past two years.

Why not give his spot to someone else?  Let Brandon Wilson return punts.  Let Gio return punts.  Let Ross return punts. 

Wilson is widely talented, and could use more touches.  Gio was an amazing punt returner in college his last season.  Averaged over 16 yards a return and took two to the house.  He could also use more touches.  Ross also has return experience in college, and is a complete freak from a speed perspective.  Maybe we could actually get something out of him this way?

Alex Erickson has pretty much zero value that I can see.  There's got to be someone else on that 55 man roster that can get you 9 yards a return.  To have a guy like Auden Tate inactive for a game while having this guy being an automatic seems incredibly stupid to me.  He stinks.

Erickson is 7th in PR yards and 6th in average. It doesn't make a lot of sense to bench a top PR for a WR that might get 1-2 targets a game.

PR and KR are extremely different.  On a KR, you have plenty of space and time to field the ball, view the field, and set up your blocks.  On a PR, you've got guys in your face as you're trying to catch it and you also have to make a quick decision on a fair catch or not.  DB's like Wilson don't have the best hands typically, so having them return punts is dicey.