Preparing for the Dangerous Return Man

by: T.J. Troup
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At 6:50 in the third quarter on Sunday, February 10th 2008, in Hawaii, Rob Bironas kicks off for the AFC. Devin Hester takes the ball on the 4-yard line, and heads up field. At the 18-yard line he suddenly stops and throws back across the field to Cowboy tight end Jason Witten who advances the ball 35 yards into AFC territory. When special teams coach Mike Stock of the NFC asked Hester ‘Why?’ Devin's response was, "I saw him waving.’ In the last two years Devin Hester had advanced the ball on kickoff and punt returns on his own, and with incredible success. During Mike Stock's long successful coaching career he has seen and heard many things, yet Hester's response might be a first. As special teams coach of the Green Bay Packers Coach Stock's job is to stop Devin Hester from "breaking" the long kick return.

October 14th in Soldier Field and Chris Kluwe of the Vikings is punting to Hester late in the first quarter. Hester zips up the right sideline for 89 yards and a touchdown. In their 47-year rivalry the Vikings and Bears have fought to the finish many times, and special teams coach Paul Ferraro knows that his guys had to respond to the challenge. Hester gained just 19 yards on his last 3 punt returns as the Vikings punt team had done their job, yet Coach Ferraro's other special teams' was the difference. With the score tied at 31- 31, Adrian Peterson returned the Bears kickoff 53 yards to set up Ryan Longwell's 55-yard winning field goal.

This essay concerns the history of the kick return, and the thoughts of these two fine coaches in preparing for a dangerous return man. Due to roster size during the decade of the 1940's there were no specialists. Players went both ways, and of course participated in the kicking game. Coaches spent much more of their precious practice time on offense, and what was left, on defense. The rules were also different than today's game. Everyone could release on a punt after the ball was snapped. Blocking below the waist (cut blocks) was also legal.

With the emergence of punt returners Emlen Tunnell and Jack Christiansen in the early '50's, teams began to realize that preparation must take place or these dangerous return men would change field position dramatically. Each game in the NFL has an official play-by-play of the game with the listing of each play. Usually the listing is just that; who did what with no extra verbiage. That said, the game of October 14th, 1951 between the Lions and the Rams in Briggs Stadium in Detroit stands out. In the second quarter with the Rams leading 10-7, Norm Van Brocklin of the Rams punts to Christiansen who fields the ball on his 31. Rather than just stating that Christiansen returned the ball 69 yards for a touchdown...the play-by-play reads as follows: "Christiansen proceeded to dance, weave, wriggle, and slice his way through tackler after tackler, finally breaking loose to run wide along the East sideline for a 69 yard touchdown.” Christiansen's excellence had evoked this detailed notation.

We now have a visual picture in our minds of Christiansen's return, and all of us can recall other similar returns. Later in the game Christiansen returned another Ram punt for a touchdown to become the first player in history to return two punts for a touchdown in a game. In this game Jack Christiansen set the record for the most yards gained on punt returns in a game.

On the same day in New York, Emlen Tunnel returned punts 147 yards to also break the record for most yards returning punts in a game. Two men on the same day breaking the record for most punt return yards in a game? Amazing! Coaches knew that their strategy must change or guys like Christiansen and Tunnell would determine the outcome of the game. Punters began to look to the advantage of hang time, and coaches spent more time on the hustle aspect in getting their "gunners' down the field to prevent the long return. By the mid '50's the average punt return decreased as many more fair catches occurred (fair catches counted as returns in this era).

The kick return game has become specialized with each decade to the sophistication we have in today’s game. Both Coach Stock and Coach Ferraro see a similarity in the kick return in today’s game in regards to the deployment of the blockers, how the return will be blocked, and finally, which direction to go on the return (right, left, or middle), whether it is a punt or kickoff. Coach Stock discussed that at times a kick returner cannot get to his blockers and must "set up on his own.” With the kicking team running down the field, the return man gets away from the "gunner" and heads up the sideline away from not only his blockers, but most of his opponents. Thus, "spacing," a term Coach Ferraro discussed in detail, becomes even more important. The return man that can see the crevice between opponents and exploit it is on his way to glory. Since time is of the essence on the practice field each coach must have as many specific details worked out before hitting the field.

Both coaches shared what they considered the qualities of the great kick returners. Coach Ferraro stated that "courage, and vision" rank right at the top of the list. Besides those two qualities, Coach Stock added that "anticipation and the quick burst" are necessary ingredients. These two men stated that Hester "is at the top of the list “ but that "each team has a return man who can take the ball the distance, and we must be prepared for it.”

So, how do the pro’s prepare for the outstanding return man? Coaches Stock and Ferraro discussed that in breaking down game film of the Bears they noticed the enthusiasm the Chicago Bear blockers show on a Hester return. Thus, they would use this as a motivational tool for their men who attempt to limit a Hester return. The Chicago Bears record over the last two years is 20-12, and in those twenty victories Hester has return 64 punts for 900 yards (14.1) with 6 touchdowns.

Hester's punt return average in the twelve Bear losses is an excellent 12.8, but he has only one punt return touchdown when the Bears lose. Six times Hester has returned a punt over 60 yards for a touchdown. Late in his rookie year of 2006 Hester became the main kickoff return man for Chicago. Before a national television audience on Monday night December 11th in St. Louis, he tied a league record by returning two kickoffs for a touchdown in a victory over the Rams. On November 12th, 2006 the Giants trailed the Bears by four in the third quarter and lined up to kick a field goal. The attempt was wide and Hester returned the ball 108 yards for a touchdown to seal a Bear’s victory.

Through Devin Hester is considered the best return man in the game today, there have been many great kick returners in league history. Listed below are the best return men of all-time…

RETURNERS OF MERIT
Emlen Tunnell: This former free agent became the first prolific punt returner, as he refused to fair catch the ball. In a 24 game span (1951-52) he returned 64 punts for 900 yards. He held the record for must punt return yards in a career until Rick Upchurch broke it in 1979. Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Jack Christiansen: This former Colorado State sprinter joined the Lions in 1951, and in his rookie season returned two punts for a touchdown in a game TWICE! After returning 6 punts for touchdowns on just 64 returns early in his career, teams learned to kick away from him. Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Ollie Matson: This former Olympic medalist set a then existing record of 35.5 yards a kick-off return in 1958, and returned 6 kickoffs for a touchdown in his career (still tied with many for the record). The Pittsburgh Steelers allowed only 3 kickoffs to be returned for a touchdown against them during the decade of the '50's...all of them by Matson. Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Abe Woodson: This former University of Illinois hurdles champion not only led the league in kickoff return average three times, but still holds the record for most yards returned on kickoffs against a team with over 900 yards against the Detroit Lions.

Bobby Mitchell: This former Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins star is known mostly as a receiver and runner, yet returned 5 kickoffs for touchdowns on 83 returns. He is the first player in league history to return a kickoff for a touchdown in four consecutive seasons. Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Gale Sayers: In the span of just 36 games the Kansas Comet returned 6 kickoffs for a touchdown. Still the record holder with a lifetime 30.5 kick return average. Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Billy Johnson: After six seasons, White Shoes had the highest lifetime punt return average at 13.2. Returned punts over 3,300 yards in his career with 6 touchdowns.

Rick Upchurch: This former Denver Bronco tied Jack Christiansen's record of 4 punt return touchdowns in a season. Returned punts for over 3,000 yards with 8 touchdowns in his career.

Eric Metcalf: Along with Christiansen, Metcalf became the only other player to return two punts for a touchdown in a game twice. Still the existing record holder with10 punt returns for a touchdown in a career.

Brian Mitchell: The most prolific kick return man in league history with over 1,000 punt and kickoff returns. Gained over 19,000 yards with a league record 13 touchdowns. This mark is in jeopardy though, as Devin Hester already has 12 in just two seasons.

TJ Troup is a teacher, coach, writer and researcher and can be reached at zeuglodon44@cox.net

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