Kick Returner or Punt Returner?

[rick34125]

Which position is more valuable to a team, a good kick returner or a good punt returner?

I tend to think a good punt returner:

1. It's harder to gain yards off of punts.

2. A dropped punt will often lead to a turnover, which is not the case with a dropped kickoff

3. In a defensive game, creating better field position off of punts will net more points.

4. If your team is getting more kick return opportunities than punt return opportunities, you are probably not going to win the game anyway. (btw both games that Justin Miller returned kickoffs for touchdowns, Colts & Browns, the Jets lost)

[nj meadowlands]

Kick returner. PR's only real job is to not fumble.

[Alk]

Punt returner by a narrow margin IMO. A punt returner faces alot of things that a kick returner never does. Fielding a ball that is spinning and spiralling in a different direction every single time inside the 20 yd. line with gunners baring down on him at breakneck speeds. A kick returner usually has 10-15 yds. between him and the first tackler.

[nj meadowlands]

Punt returner by a narrow margin IMO. A punt returner faces alot of things that a kick returner never does. Fielding a ball that is spinning and spiralling in a different direction every single time inside the 20 yd. line with gunners baring down on him at breakneck speeds. A kick returner usually has 10-15 yds. between him and the first tackler.

The question is which is more valuable, not which is harder to do.

[rick34125]

The question is which is more valuable, not which is harder to do.

Alk makes a legitimate point. protecting the ball has a lot of value especially at that position. i would say this is part of the equation.

[Alk]

The question is which is more valuable, not which is harder to do.

Well, punt return is the harder job and there is alot more to lose if the play is screwed up so obviously punt returner is more valuable. I'll write it in crayon for you next time.

[nj meadowlands]

Well, punt return is the harder job and there is alot more to lose if the play is screwed up so obviously punt returner is more valuable. I'll write it in crayon for you next time.

[Alk]

You sure do have a purdy mouth...wait, you probably couldn't read that either. Hold on a second.

You sure do have a purdy mouth.

[124]

I'm gonna go with they're on the same level.

A KR and PR both are there to make good field position, not turn the ball over and make an electrifying return once or twice or maybe more, a season.

[Barton]

Well, punt return is the harder job and there is alot more to lose if the play is screwed up so obviously punt returner is more valuable. I'll write it in crayon for you next time.

YoU suCk!

[ShadowJet35]

A good KR at best gets 3 or 4 TDs a year.

A good Punt returner can, after a valueable defensive stop, get a team easily past the 50, which can make things entirely easier.

[Ghost]

KR, you always want to respond if the other team scores, unless it's halftime of course.

[green_blood]

Squeal like a pig!

[rick34125]

A good KR at best gets 3 or 4 TDs a year.

A good Punt returner can, after a valueable defensive stop, get a team easily past the 50, which can make things entirely easier.

so you're saying punt returner is better? did you vote that way?

[Jetsfan80]

I say equal. While punt returning is indeed more difficult (making the value of a good one increase), you have to remember that a LOT of punts end up either: 1) going into the end zone for a touchback; or 2) caught for a fair catch.

The kick returner does not have that luxury. Every kickoff needs to be fielded (not necesarilly by him, but over 90 % of the time its the KR) and returned.

And is a fumble any less disastrous if it happens to the KR than to the PR? Fumbles at ANY time are costly.

[drago]

Well, punt return is the harder job and there is alot more to lose if the play is screwed up so obviously punt returner is more valuable. I'll write it in crayon for you next time.

way to bring back the avatar, i can rest easy now.

in regards to this thread...PR is more important...but really, who cares, its like debating between a left footed punter, or a right footer.

[ShadowJet35]

so you're saying punt returner is better? did you vote that way?

yeah

[Jetlag]

I say punt returner. Alk already made some good points about it. Also a good PR can break a defensive struggle. Lastly If you see a KR a lot, it's not a good thing.

[GLH222]

Both very important because they are so directly related to all important field position. However, a punt returner hopefully gets more opportunities- assuming the D does its job. I'll straddle on this one though and go with equal

[flgreen]

Depends how good your D is. If your D is good, you never see your kick returner.

If your D stinks he could be your offensive MVP

[timbok]

I say kick returner...if u return a TD to start the game..you have a lot of thrill..and muster on your side...