Eagles Looking For A Punt Returner
BETHLEHEM -- The Eagles are hoping to phase DeSean Jackson out of the punt return business. While they aren’t ready to say he won’t be returning any punts this season, they are hoping to find somebody that can handle most – if not all – of the punt return duties.
Eagles Looking For A Punt Returner
Paul Domowitch, Daily News NFL Columnist
BETHLEHEM -- The Eagles are hoping to phase DeSean Jackson out of the punt return business. While they aren’t ready to say he won’t be returning any punts this season, they are hoping to find somebody that can handle most – if not all – of the punt return duties.
"DeSean will return some, but we’ll primarily focus him on offense, and hopefully find a guy that can do what he can do," special teams coach Bobby April said Tuesday morning.
"We want to use (Jackson) offensively as a weapon. There’s some wear and tear on a guy his size. (The risk of) injury. Just the amount of running he does. Most of his routes, he’s not running the three-step hitch. He’s stretching the field. We’ve got a lot invested in keeping his legs replenished."
Jackson handled 29 punts last season, returning 17 and fair-catching another 12. He averaged a career-low 6.7 yards per return. The Eagles finished 28th in the league in punt returns.
Three potential punt return candidates right now: rookies Cliff Harris, Brandon Boykin and Damaris Johnson. Two others who also will get opportunities in training camp: Mardy Gilyard and Ron Johnson.
There’s a good chance Boykin, the team’s fourth-round pick, will unseat Deon Lewis as the team’s kickoff returner. He set school records at Georgia in kickoff return yards (2,663) and touchdowns (4). He averaged 24.2 yards per return for the Bulldogs.
But he doesn’t have as much experience at returning punts.
"He did do some," said April. "But he wasn’t the primary guy. He doesn’t have as much background returning punts as he does returning kicks. So, the confidence level he shows, how he charts out catching punts in practice, is going to be a big factor. Because you’ve got to secure that ball. You’ve got to catch it and secure it. If you can’t do that, it doesn’t matter (how good you are)."
The player that April is anxious to see return punts is Harris, the undrafted free agent cornerback out of Oregon. Two years ago, he returned four punts for touchdowns for the Ducks and averaged 18.8 yards per return. He was thrown off the team last year after being cited for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. A few months before that, he was cited for driving 118 miles an hour with a suspended license.
"He’s a phenomenal punt returner," April said. "He’s very much like DeSean, he really is. He reminds me of DeSean when I watched DeSean at Cal. Really, really explosive. Once they get going, they can pull away. We really want to see him in the preseason. We’re going to give him a chance to make the team. And make it as a punt returner."
What, no Reno Mahe or Greg Lewis this year? And I thought we were building a dynasty? Not without these 2 guys your not. Sheesh...— thegamepa
Really excited about Cliff Harris, I think he will be avery good d back and punt returner.— Eaglehaslanded- At least Harris likes speed....ijs— NC Eagle Fan
If Harris doesn't work out, he can always get you your shake on time!- .
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I will accept any returner who can either return the ball
for 4 yards
or do better than 6.7 yards per return
just so Jackson can remain healthy and
go deep for Vick’s perfectly placed ball .— Redwoodser 
Why they phasing Jackson out since he w3as supposed to be so gifted at it? After the contract he just signed he should be back there every punt.- would be good if we have a punt returner then we can put djack back there with him and have a duel threat and have teams wondering who will catch the ball. but i guess we are looking se we can keep him on the field only to be a receiver. so guess it wouldnt make sense.— defroe
- Been a long time since we've had a great kick returner (maybe never how about)! Love to see Boykin and Harris handle return duties and also keep Damarius Johnson instead of Chad Hall as back up return man. Hall has had his run here and time for some fresh blood back there. Like these "speedsters" as returns could be a dangerous part of the Eagles game going forward!— connorjr
- @defroe The issue with throwing both back there is that you'd be asking Desean to block....it would make more sense to allow him to focus on being a receiver. He's worth more on the field than off...— MrJayScott
- Canadian Football league BURNER - Hamilton Tiger-Cats returner Chris Williams : Pass it along to the birds scouts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XodbitT4fMw— Atlas - Who's Deon Lewis? Any relation to the Eagles running back Dion Lewis?— jasvic
- We need this position filled by a stud - Brian Mitchell was great and so was the safety who had season ending injury several years ago. This is an undervalued role, has been less than mediocre last several years and needs to be filled by someone "better than average."
Long returns are back breakers!— frustrated1 - I live in the Pacific North West, Harris ( from U of O) is special. He made some stupid mistakes, and the local press was on Oregon to make an example, he was it. He does look like Jackson on punts, and on D, he looks like Asante. Harris was All American D back, before getting cocky, and screwing up. I think he has learned his lesson.— camasbud
Let's see how Cliff and Damaris do in pre-season and go from there
