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Thread: UDFA Reggie Dunn

  1. #1
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    UDFA Reggie Dunn

    The ESPN broadcasters as well as the production staff do a great job selling the audience on the drama unfolding in a game tied at 35 with 8:25 left in the 4th quarter.

    The crowd is noisy and boisterous in Boulder, Colo., as the Buffaloes are kicking off to their opponents, the Utah Utes, and the video is chock full of clips of crazed fans dressed up and acting nuts.

    One would think Colorado would not want to put any Utah playmaker in a position to make a play, particularly on the kickoff.

    They failed in that task.

    WR/KR Reggie Dunn erases any doubt about his viability as a pro returner on this, simply due to his freakish burst of speed. The color analyst sums it up the best:

    "Why would you kick it to Reggie Dunn?"

    Dunn ended up with four 100-yard returns in 2012, an NCAA record. This particular return happened to be the second consecutive 100-yard touchdown return in the game, but it was the last score in the game.

    One area of concern for Dunn making this roster is showing position flexibility. While he's a highlight machine in particular packages, he wasn't particularly productive overall, hence the reason he wasn't drafted.

    But you can't ignore speed like that.


    [url]http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2013/5/1/4289012/steelers-nfl-draft-reggie-dunn-kick-returner-highlights[/url]

    Above link has the video of the return. A spark in the return game would be great if we can alleviate the penalties. Seems to be a lot of competition for the returners this year with Justin Brown, Dunn, possibly Wheaton, and McNeal.
    1. C.J. Mosley LB Alabama
    2. Jordan Matthews WR Vanderbilt
    3. (comp) Philip Gaines CB Rice
    4. Arthur Lynch TE Georgia
    5. Ross Cockrell CB Duke
    5. (comp) Derrick Hopkins DT Virginia Tech
    6. Josh Mauro DE Stanford
    6. (comp) Shaquil Barrett OLB Colorado State
    7. Quincy Enunwa WR Nebraska

  2. #2
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    Although I'm a bit wary of his reported 4.2 forty (apparently, there were a lot of similar times at that pro day), if Dunn can be a weapon in the return game, he should have a shot at a roster spot. A real weapon in the return game would be great.

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by phillyesq View Post
    Although I'm a bit wary of his reported 4.2 forty (apparently, there were a lot of similar times at that pro day), if Dunn can be a weapon in the return game, he should have a shot at a roster spot. A real weapon in the return game would be great.
    Several years Tomlin has reserved a roster spot for a returner (Allen Rossum, Stefan Logan) so why not this time too. I think this guy can be a weapon in both kick off and punt.
    Steeler Nation in Spain

  4. #4
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    if you have a Devin Hester/Dante Hall, you KEEP him... those guys had entire careers based on being return specialists

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by SteelerOfDeVille View Post
    if you have a Devin Hester/Dante Hall, you KEEP him... those guys had entire careers based on being return specialists
    OK let´s the kid prove in preseason if he belongs. What I meant in the previous post was I think a roster spot is justified if he is a waepon as those you correctly mention.
    Steeler Nation in Spain

  6. #6
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    The video said he averaged 45+ yards per return. But can he return punts because they're likely kicking everything out of the endzone on KOs.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by flippy View Post
    The video said he averaged 45+ yards per return. But can he return punts because they're likely kicking everything out of the endzone on KOs.
    A pure kick returner's value has definitely declined:

    Kickoff rule change has big effect on NFL

    January, 3, 2012
    1/03/12
    3:10
    PM ET

    By Paul Carr | ESPN.com

    Before the NFL season, one of the rule changes that received the most discussion was how moving kickoffs up five yards to the 35-yard line would affect the return game.

    Kickoff Returns Last 5 Seasons


    Ret pct Touchback pct
    2011 53.4 43.5
    2010 80.1 16.4
    2009 80.7 16.1
    2008 82.1 14.4
    2007 82.5 12.4


    As expected, the raw number of kickoff returns and kickoff returns per game was significantly down from previous years. 1,374 kickoffs (5.4 per game) were returned in 2011, compared to 2,033 (7.9 per game) in 2010.

    Expressed as a percentage, 53.4 percent of kickoffs were returned this season, a huge drop from 80.1 percent in 2010.

    In a related note, touchbacks skyrocketed to 43.5 percent this season, more than two and a half times last year’s rate of 16.4 percent.

    Did the rule change deprive fans of excitement? From a numbers standpoint, the answer is yes. Nine kickoffs were returned for a touchdown in 2011, compared to 23 in 2010.

    The 2011 rate of 153 kickoff returns per touchdown was close to double the rate of 88 per touchdown in 2010. But it was actually better than the rate of 163 returns per touchdown from 2008.

    Many returners appeared to be taking back kicks from deeper in the end zone, which likely explains the additional yard and a half per return this year, 23.8 yards compared to 22.3 in 2010.

    Avg Starting Field Position
    After Kickoff


    2011 22.1
    2010 26.8
    2009 26.4
    2008 27.2
    2007 28.1


    The change becomes glaringly obvious when looking at average starting field position. The average drive after a kickoff started just past the 22-yard line, down almost five yards from the previous year.

    With each team averaging 189 possessions this season, that adds up to an additional 888 possible yards per team, which may account for part of the offensive boom in 2011.

  8. #8
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    Too bad Kickers kick it out of the end zone more than half the time now.
    Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go...
    Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go...
    Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go...!!!

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by SidSmythe View Post
    Too bad Kickers kick it out of the end zone more than half the time now.
    But still there are punts
    Steeler Nation in Spain

  10. #10
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    It seems to me that guys who excel at kick returns in college are not always the best punt returners in the NFL? Does it seem that good college punt returners make good kick returners?

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