Darren Sproles

Yes returners help get you to the playoffs, but after many other players. Defense is more important.

 

exactly.

though i feel both need to actually be addressed this offseason

 

No, we would have made the playoffs with a good CB and by playing the right guy at QB. Other than the Jets game, the outcome of our other games would probably not have been different. If anyone seriously thinks the thing that kept us out of the playoffs was our return game, you need to watch film of Kerry Collins and Nick Harper from this past season.

 

Reggie Bush played a decent role. Devin Hester did as well when the Bears went (and actually had a return for a TD to start that game).

 

Desmond Howard won the Superbowl MVP.

*edit - never mind, he was mentioned.

 

Except for 2-3 really elite guys who have multiple TDs returning kicks or punts there is little difference between the rest of the guys.

An extra 2 yards on every KR or 1 yard on punt returns usually doesn't make a difference in games.

Reggie Bush's career yards per punt return is 8.1 which is close to average but his 5 career TD returns did help his team in those games.

That's one thing about Carr is that he was no threat to go the distance and never has so stability and consistency is what you get with him.

 

We'd only need him for special teams. And even then, you're "paying him" his demands Norv Turner gave him on a silver platter. Then you piss off CJ for paying the #2 back 5x what he makes. Not worth the trouble. We have Ringer with a lot of potential. We still have Lendale*, Hall, and even Vince. I'd say our running game is fine for now.

Overall, I think we need a S/T guy, but it will probably have to be someone who plays defense if we're going to get him out of Free Agency. Our offense just doesn't really have the needs to complicate things and stir up/entertain ego's.

 

Sproles is a great returner but I ain't gonna happen here. We need help in the return game for sure.