Kevin Brady
There hasn’t been a bigger training camp star than CeeDee Lamb.
The first round rookie receiver has stolen the headlines day in and day out at The Star, as fans continue to build the hype around this wide receiving corps as a whole. Cowboys executive Stephen Jones spoke about Lamb’s hype on 105.3 The Fan this week, discussing just how big an impact the rookie can have in 2020.
“I think he’s going to make a big big difference in our offensive football team, and for that matter even special teams. It’s not going to surprise me to see him back there potentially helping in the return game as well” – Stephen Jones.
Special teams, you say?
CeeDee Lamb did work as a punt returner while at Oklahoma, averaging 8.8 yards per return on over 50 returns. Of course, the Cowboys did once use a first round stud wide out as a punt returner in the past, to the tune of two touchdowns in 2020.
That player was Dez Bryant, who Lamb has earned comparisons to over the course of Cowboys Camp.
Lamb is set to make a run for Rookie of the Year honors this season, and a couple big punt returns would go a long way for both his individual accomplishments and team victories in 2020.
I would like to see Lamb get a crack at the punt return duties. He possesses the requisite skill set, that being great hands and elusiveness coupled with rare ability to break tackles. Dez did it till they deemed it too risky for their franchise WR. The same concerns I have with Lamb. Might be worth the risk though since we got very little field pos advantages from our returners last yr
The reasons they let Dez do it in 2010 are the same reasons they should let Lamb do it in 2020…WR depth and lack of a better option at PR.
In 2010 they had Miles Austin and Roy Williams. Basically, two “#1” WR’s even though RW was in decline and Austin had an injury history. Patrick Crayton was a better than average PR but requested his release or a trade once they drafted Dez. They traded him to San Diego for a FB. That left a hole at PR since Ogletree and Hurd weren’t that impressive at it.
In 2020 they have Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup. Amari is definitely a #1 and Gallup has developed to the point he could be a #1 if needed. Cobb and Tavon Austin are both gone and Wilson hasn’t stayed healthy enough to show whether he has much of a knack for it or not. Unless one of the DB’s or WR’s can step up in camp and show a real aptitude for it, there’s really not a better option than Lamb.
All true. And I would suspect that Lamb will serve as both the “good hands guy” (around the 10-yd line) and the regular returner. I understand the injury risk, but if he’s good at it, then I’m a proponent of starters playing special teams. I wouldn’t rule out Pollard either.
Good point on Pollard. I’m excited to see what he can do now that the Garrett Leash has been taken off. From what has leaked out of camp, Pollard should be very exciting this season.
Pollard skill set would appear to be ideal for returning punts, but I’m not sure if he has any experience doing so….does he? I know Lamb returned a lot of punts at OU. Yea Pollard is another guy that needs the ball in his hands more. Felt that he was another underutilized weapon the Cowboys failed to use last yr I think in recent yrs they used Punt r guys that were sure handed ( a very important trait) but lacked game breaking ability, with Lamb they would seem to have both.
Pollard was mostly a kick returner in college and a darn good one at that. He did have a few punt returns though: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/tony-pollard-1.html
Not very impressive on the PR’s. Maybe they felt he was too valuable on KR’s to give him many PR opportunities?
I had no idea T Pollard had SEVEN kick returns for TD in college career. That’s pretty impressive albeit in the less then powerhouse AMERICAN conference. Traditionally most prolific PRs have been smaller and extremely elusive guys (Dante Hall/Devin Hester) types. What with kick off returns being an almost non factor, it would seem that more emphasis would be on finding a great punt returner. At any rate our spec teams can’t be any worse then last yr. Ignoring spec t is like ignoring ur short game in golf. It’s not a sexy part of the game, but ignore it at ur peril.