<![CDATA[Draft for Need: Kick/Punt Returner]]>One of the areas that the Browns were pathetic at last year was their punt and kick return game. They seemed to have lost faith in Travis Benjamin who was the best there, and anyone else was really no good. Justin Gilbert who was a good return man in college was just never given a chance to show his potential there.

So, perhaps the Browns may use one of their 10 picks on a return specialist. According to NFL.com these are the best Kick/Punt return prospects:

Nelson Agholor USC

Mario Alford WVa

Kaelin Clay Utah

Tyler Lockett Kansas St.

Marcus Murphy Missouri

JJ Nelson UAB

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000485526/article/2015-nfl-draft-top-six-returnspecialist-prospects

]]>https://brownsboard.com/topic/36898/draft-for-need-kick-punt-returnerRSS for NodeFri, 02 Oct 2026 01:55:49 GMTWed, 29 Apr 2015 13:56:51 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Draft for Need: Kick/Punt Returner on Wed, 29 Apr 2015 15:14:36 GMT]]>Actually I want us to take Lockett, if available, as our 2nd rd pick because he can do it all and would make an excellent slot guy as well. He will not be there in the 3rd round for us-guarantee it.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/501707https://brownsboard.com/post/501707Wed, 29 Apr 2015 15:14:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Draft for Need: Kick/Punt Returner on Wed, 29 Apr 2015 15:14:05 GMT]]>

Zombo said:

Last year was an anomaly IMO.

Plenty of guys on the roster that can return kicks.

Benjamin didn't have his usually zip last year, first year back from knee surgery, he should be fine this year and have plenty of competition.

Zombo

If they could pull down Nelson Agholor in the second round.....that would be a plum to add to that competition imo. Any chance of that?

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/501704https://brownsboard.com/post/501704Wed, 29 Apr 2015 15:14:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Draft for Need: Kick/Punt Returner on Wed, 29 Apr 2015 15:09:14 GMT]]>Last year was an anomaly IMO.

Plenty of guys on the roster that can return kicks.

Benjamin didn't have his usually zip last year, first year back from knee surgery, he should be fine this year and have plenty of competition.

Zombo

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/501700https://brownsboard.com/post/501700Wed, 29 Apr 2015 15:09:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Draft for Need: Kick/Punt Returner on Wed, 29 Apr 2015 15:08:38 GMT]]>

@gftchris said:

"Since Tabor’s arrival, the Browns lead the league with an average of 11.3 yards per punt return and rank eighth in total kick-return yards"

http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/coaches/Chris-Tabor/3949ec45-873c-4216-ae50-f0fb6f61b10e

That is from the Browns publicity department. Why does something in the back of my mind tell me not to trust it. Sorry, but when your unit is ranked 28th in both KR and PR....you can't be that good. Of course, I think that was all Josh Cribbs.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/501699https://brownsboard.com/post/501699Wed, 29 Apr 2015 15:08:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Draft for Need: Kick/Punt Returner on Wed, 29 Apr 2015 15:03:41 GMT]]>"Since Tabor’s arrival, the Browns lead the league with an average of 11.3 yards per punt return and rank eighth in total kick-return yards"

http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/coaches/Chris-Tabor/3949ec45-873c-4216-ae50-f0fb6f61b10e

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/501692https://brownsboard.com/post/501692Wed, 29 Apr 2015 15:03:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Draft for Need: Kick/Punt Returner on Wed, 29 Apr 2015 15:00:57 GMT]]>

@gftchris said:

Chris Tabor is our ST coach, and has been for a while now (by Browns standards).

Well, he seems to be doing a half assed job. Good at one half, bad at the other half.

Of course, it would help if he had a Josh Cribbs.....which we don't have on this roster apparently.

(Is the Kent State QB available in this draft.....former Kent State QBs do well at this: Cribbs, Edelman)

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/501691https://brownsboard.com/post/501691Wed, 29 Apr 2015 15:00:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Draft for Need: Kick/Punt Returner on Wed, 29 Apr 2015 14:56:51 GMT]]>Chris Tabor is our ST coach, and has been for a while now (by Browns standards).

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/501688https://brownsboard.com/post/501688Wed, 29 Apr 2015 14:56:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Draft for Need: Kick/Punt Returner on Wed, 29 Apr 2015 14:55:41 GMT]]>

@gftchris said:

Yeah, I meant same as Gilbert, someone who did in college, but wasn't used last year, so could be an option in a pinch this year.

Its a head scratcher why they didn't try to use Gilbert as a PR. Were they trying to "protect their investment" in the #8 overall pick....or did they just not trust him.

Or was the problem scheme/coaching. Do we still have the same ST coach? We shouldn't, not after that performance.

Though, it appears that the Browns, while being bad in PR and KR, were pretty good against punts and kicks.

They ranked 9th best in the league against Kick returns and 8th best against punt returns.

They did not allow a return for a TD either against punts or kickoffs.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/501687https://brownsboard.com/post/501687Wed, 29 Apr 2015 14:55:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Draft for Need: Kick/Punt Returner on Wed, 29 Apr 2015 14:48:12 GMT]]>Yeah, I meant same as Gilbert, someone who did in college, but wasn't used last year, so could be an option in a pinch this year.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/501680https://brownsboard.com/post/501680Wed, 29 Apr 2015 14:48:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Draft for Need: Kick/Punt Returner on Wed, 29 Apr 2015 14:45:35 GMT]]>

@gftchris said:

Bear in mind that Taylor Gabriel was a solid return man in college also.

Well, he wasn't really used either. Here are the Browns stats from last year in the punt/kick return area:

Punt returns:

Benjamin 15

Poyer 7

Leonhard 4

K'wan Williams 1

6.7 return avg. -0- TDs

Rank: 28th in the league Longest return: 37 yards

Kick returns:

Benjamin 12

Marlon Moore 13

Poyer 1

Draughn 5

Gabriel 4 (24.0 avg.)

21.6 return avg. -0- TDs Longest return: 39 yards

Rank: also 28th in the league.

Terrible on both acccounts

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/501677https://brownsboard.com/post/501677Wed, 29 Apr 2015 14:45:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Draft for Need: Kick/Punt Returner on Wed, 29 Apr 2015 13:59:54 GMT]]>Bear in mind that Taylor Gabriel was a solid return man in college also.

]]>https://brownsboard.com/post/501651https://brownsboard.com/post/501651Wed, 29 Apr 2015 13:59:54 GMT