The thing about replacing Cobb is we just need someone reliable to hang onto the ball.
It shouldn't be too hard for whoever is returner to match or at least get close to his numbers he was pretty average last year returning.
I could see peoples arguments to keep him as a returner if he was tearing it up but he wasn't.

The thing about replacing Cobb is we just need someone reliable to hang onto the ball. It shouldn't be too hard for whoever is returner to match or at least get close to his numbers he was pretty average last year returning. I could see peoples arguments to keep him as a returner if he was tearing it up but he wasn't.

I agree.
Other than having a stud returner (Hester in his prime, etc...) I don't think that the punt returner position is really all that critical so long as they can reliably field the ball.
Any return yardage on top of that is just a bonus in my eyes.
It's not just from the perspective of trying to save Cobb from injury, but also to give him a rest to keep him fresh all game and all season long.

I see where yall are coming from but returns have played a huge factor in the recent playoffs just as much as the ball security aspect. A return for a touchdown in a playoff game can be the deciding factor between who wins and loses sometimes. If we can have that in our repertoire, it only helps us.

Jacoby Jones in the Super Bowl would be my example for this point. He kept the team alive in the playoff game against the Broncos as a receiver with that huge TD to take the game into OT (I almost called them the Colts there).
Then he has that run back for a TD in the Super Bowl that ended up being huge in them being able to hold on to that victory.

DarkaneRules;252286I see where yall are coming from but returns have played a huge factor in the recent playoffs just as much as the ball security aspect. A return for a touchdown in a playoff game can be the deciding factor between who wins and loses sometimes. If we can have that in our repertoire, it only helps us.

Jacoby Jones in the Super Bowl would be my example for this point. He kept the team alive in the playoff game against the Broncos as a receiver with that huge TD to take the game into OT (I almost called them the Colts there).
Then he has that run back for a TD in the Super Bowl that ended up being huge in them being able to hold on to that victory.

and Cobb has been a factor in 0 playoff games.

And to that end, neither has our offense.

Prior to his injury last season, Cobb was a factor during the season in the return game, certainly nothing like some other guys in the league, but better than the alternatives we had to that point.

And that is really the idea here going back to what we said a bit earlier. We are looking for someone to take his place. It is up to them to do that. Fingers crossed!

DarkaneRules;252290And to that end, neither has our offense.

Prior to his injury last season, Cobb was a factor during the season in the return game, certainly nothing like some other guys in the league, but better than the alternatives we had to that point.

And that is really the idea here going back to what we said a bit earlier. We are looking for someone to take his place. It is up to them to do that. Fingers crossed!

My point is "better" isn't really good enough to be worth the risk.
He's got to be significantly better and I don't think he is.
Id rather put a guy out there who may average 3-4 yards less per return and is a #6 or 7 WR or CB on the depth chart as long as they can catch the ball consistently.

Yeah, and it looks like at this point of camp, they are just looking for a kid to catch the damn ball haha!

DarkaneRules;252286I see where yall are coming from but returns have played a huge factor in the recent playoffs just as much as the ball security aspect. A return for a touchdown in a playoff game can be the deciding factor between who wins and loses sometimes. If we can have that in our repertoire, it only helps us.

Jacoby Jones in the Super Bowl would be my example for this point. He kept the team alive in the playoff game against the Broncos as a receiver with that huge TD to take the game into OT (I almost called them the Colts there).
Then he has that run back for a TD in the Super Bowl that ended up being huge in them being able to hold on to that victory.

Ross's muffed punt was a pretty big factor against SF, imo.

nerdmann;252306Ross's muffed punt was a pretty big factor against SF, imo.

and Cobb muffed a punt in the same game he just was lucky enough to be able to pick it up before anyone else got to it.

nerdmann;252306Ross's muffed punt was a pretty big factor against SF, imo.

HUGE momentum shift from that point on.