Why is Amendola Returning Kicks?!?

[redseat]

I get he can get it done on kick returns and all but WHY in the world is he still returning kicks?! He is basically the ONLY receiver the Patriots have and now he gets hurt returning a kick. Heck, he didn't even return it, he was getting OUT of the way of a kick!

 

[NEhomer]

Returning kicks is extremely important and DA has the hands and the running ability.

 

[Rex Racer]

Football players play football.

 

[Carnzo]

Not worth the risk of loosing him, shit, too late.

 

[redseat]

Football players play football.

they do but when you are basically now the offense at WR you really have to step back and think about it

 

[molsaniceman]

U play to win the game

 

[NWPATSFAN]

I don't like it. Why can't the Pats find a ST player who can return punts/kick offs? Tired of seeing players like Brown, Welker, Edelman, Amendola back there. Heck Gronk said he wants to return kicks. Is he next lol

 

[redseat]

hahaha, please no Gronk returning kicks!

 

[Yankee Traveler]

Slater seems the natural choice with his speed and toughness, can he flat not catch?

 

[redseat]

Slater seems the natural choice with his speed and toughness, can he flat not catch?

I think they just want him to tackle instead of receive but that would be a good choice imo but there has to be a reason why BB doesn't have him out there catching.

 

[ohiopatsfan]

BB puts players where they can do the most good for the team. Slater is best on special teams, where he is an all-pro. He did play at WR and return kicks in college (two for touchdowns his senior year, I believe). He will probably be a last resort option at WR. Harper will handle returns at least for the Broncos game (hopefully, for the rest of the year so that Amendola has one less chance for a major injury). Remember also that Blount returned kickoffs before and was pretty good at it. Hopefully, Martin's hammy is good enough for him to go against the Broncos on Sunday. Otherwise, BB may need to pick up a street free agent. The fact that he hasn't already done so makes me think he may go into the next game as is and take his chances. The Broncos have the #1 defense in the NFL. There are many people who say that a loss now might be the best thing for the Pats. Take away the pressure of going undefeated, get the walking wounded back on the active roster and prepare for the playoffs. I know BB would never intentionally tank a football game (although last year's finale against the Bills was close to it) but he always looks at the final outcome, which is a ticket to play in the Super Bowl.

 

[wood20ks]

I gotta agree with the o.p.

Why in the hell, would you take DA and have him return kicks when your next wr is an actual third option?

And being that's the only thing to bitch about Bellicheck,thank your lucky stars.....

 

[CreepCreep2014]

For a ST freak like BB why he would not have just a return man is weird. He has a RB who sucks on the roster just because he is good at ST. You have 8 S on the roster because 7 of them play ST. Yet no PR? So it's Harper job for now, if that fails......I think Chung is the next up. Didn't he return punts before?

 

[redseat]

last night explained why he does

That lost the game for the Patriots

 

[NWPATSFAN]

last night explained why he does

That lost the game for the Patriots

I'm not sure that play alone lost the game? Sure it goes to show you how important STs are. still not sure why BB hasn't drafted or found a FA fast/shifty RB or WR as his return specialist?

What I think really contributed to the loss was the terrible play calling. The Pats like always went safe running the ball. Too predictable and not getting anything out of it except keeping the D honest. At one point in the middle of the game they ran it 3 straight plays, no deception straight off guard runs up the middle. Resulting in a 3 and out. All the momementum changed. Then toward the end of the game when they should've run they pass and Gronk gets hurt?

I blame Josh more than Harper. Oh well go Pats hope they can hold onto HFA?

 

[redseat]

I'm not sure that play alone lost the game? Sure it goes to show you how important STs are. still not sure why BB hasn't drafted or found a FA fast/shifty RB or WR as his return specialist?

What I think really contributed to the loss was the terrible play calling. The Pats like always went safe running the ball. Too predictable and not getting anything out of it except keeping the D honest. At one point in the middle of the game they ran it 3 straight plays, no deception straight off guard runs up the middle. Resulting in a 3 and out. All the momementum changed. Then toward the end of the game when they should've run they pass and Gronk gets hurt?

I blame Josh more than Harper. Oh well go Pats hope they can hold onto HFA?

Yes play calling was bad as well. However the muffed punt certainly gave the Broncos a ton of momentum

 

[ohiopatsfan]

The muffed punt does indeed show why BB has Amendola/Edelman doing that job. I think chances are good that DA will be back for the Eagles game. I would hope that BB has him just fair catching punts rather than trying to return them, unless a good return is an absolute necessity. As for the game last night, while the muffed punt was certainly a big factor, the Bronco's dominance at the line of scrimmage, on both sides of the ball, especially in the second half, was, IMHO, an even bigger factor. For the third week in a row, TB was pressured almost constantly and, for the first time this season, the Pats' run defense was not up to the task. One good sign, TB was really ticked off after the game. The last time this happened was after last year's KC game and the Pats ran off a string of victories. Hopefully, that will be duplicated this year, although the Pats' depleted roster does make that task more difficult. In addition to DA, Jamie Collins may also be back next week. Early indications are that Gronk's injury is not very serious, which is potentially good news. Anyone hear anything about Hightower? Finally, I went on line late last night to read Mike Reiss's commentary on the game and, unfortunately, opened up the Comments section. The first several posts were so filled with hate for the Patriots and a sense of gloating and "they got what they deserved" that it was absolutley stunning. Posters went all the way back to the Tuck Rule game to make their points about the "evil" Patriots. You would think TB and BB were among the terrorists who took down the Twin Towers. I'm done ranting.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

The muffed punt does indeed show why BB has Amendola/Edelman doing that job. I think chances are good that DA will be back for the Eagles game. I would hope that BB has him just fair catching punts rather than trying to return them, unless a good return is an absolute necessity. As for the game last night, while the muffed punt was certainly a big factor, the Bronco's dominance at the line of scrimmage, on both sides of the ball, especially in the second half, was, IMHO, an even bigger factor. For the third week in a row, TB was pressured almost constantly and, for the first time this season, the Pats' run defense was not up to the task. One good sign, TB was really ticked off after the game. The last time this happened was after last year's KC game and the Pats ran off a string of victories. Hopefully, that will be duplicated this year, although the Pats' depleted roster does make that task more difficult. In addition to DA, Jamie Collins may also be back next week. Early indications are that Gronk's injury is not very serious, which is potentially good news. Anyone hear anything about Hightower? Finally, I went on line late last night to read Mike Reiss's commentary on the game and, unfortunately, opened up the Comments section. The first several posts were so filled with hate for the Patriots and a sense of gloating and "they got what they deserved" that it was absolutley stunning. Posters went all the way back to the Tuck Rule game to make their points about the "evil" Patriots. You would think TB and BB were among the terrorists who took down the Twin Towers. I'm done ranting.

Run D looked good until Hightower went out.

 

[patspa]

They have K Martin also to return punts and kicks that is what he did in Houston for 3 years. Pretty sure he knows how to fair catch.

 

[ohiopatsfan]

Missing Hightower did affect the success of the Bronco's running game. With him in there calling defensive signals, Bronco's average running yardage per play was 3. After Hightower went down, it ballooned to 8. Also, play calling was too conservative late in the 4th quarter. Too much of Blount between the tackles over and over again. Would have liked to see more sweeps in the running game and short passes in the flat, the kind that Wes Welker made a living with. At least plays like this take more time off the clock. Hopefully, BB will replace Harper's spot with a quick, change of pace running back who can operate in space. I know he had several of this type of back in for a tryout recently.