Return Specialist Josh Cribbs considering signing with the Giants

[Storm]

Give Jernigan the ball on kickoff returns and he could become Josh Cribbs. I don't get the hate of a player who NEVER receives an opportunity (Jernigan). I'll take the younger, better all-around player. I'm good on the return specialists, it has never, ever worked for this team before. We should go out and snag Darius Reynaud again.

[BleedinBlue]

Jernigan has had several chances. The ball goes through his hands and onto the ground and between his legs. It's happened a few times and that's why they finally stopped letting him try to return kicks.

 

Got nothing against Jernigan other than he's not done much with the chances he's gotten. But as far as the returning game, he's shown nothing except a knack for not catching the ball. We haven't had a good returner until Wilson showed us how it's done. But TC doesn't like to have his starters returning and with Bradshaw gone, Wilson is our starting RB.

 

We need a return guy.

[Storm]

Jernigan has had several chances. The ball goes through his hands and onto the ground and between his legs. It's happened a few times and that's why they finally stopped letting him try to return kicks.

 

Got nothing against Jernigan other than he's not done much with the chances he's gotten. But as far as the returning game, he's shown nothing except a knack for not catching the ball. We haven't had a good returner until Wilson showed us how it's done. But TC doesn't like to have his starters returning and with Bradshaw gone, Wilson is our starting RB.

 

We need a return guy.

 

Yet the return guys are already on the team. Yet return specialist is the least important member of the football team who maybe has 2 chances a game to actually return a kick. Yet probably 75% of kicks go into the end zone. It's a wasted signing.

 

Guarantee we don't sign Josh Cribbs, how bout that? We don't need him and he's a waste of cap space. This team doesn't sign one-trick ponies. Not since Reynaud.

[Storm]

He had 2(TWO!) kick returns and averaged 30 yards a return. Bleedin', you clearly have no idea what you're talking about. Clearly he was dropping kickoffs left and right.

[BleedinBlue]

He had 2(TWO!) kick returns and averaged 30 yards a return. Bleedin', you clearly have no idea what you're talking about. Clearly he was dropping kickoffs left and right.

 

I don't know....we must have seen two different Jernigans because if he was averaging 30 yards a return...he'd be the best in the NFL.

 

Here's a clip from analyst Ed Valentine:

 

"We know how good David Wilson was in 2012, averaging 26.9 yards per return while giving the Giants the most dangerous kickoff return game they have had since Willie Ponder averaged more than 25 yards per return in 2004 and 2005. With Ahmad Bradshaw gone, however, Wilson is slated for a full load of carries in the backfield. We also know from history that as players roles increase on offense or defense, head coach Tom Coughlin exposes them less and less often in the return game.

 

Special teams coordinator Tom Quinn would undoubtedly like to have Wilson returning every kickoff, but that seems extremely unlikely to happen, with Quinn admitting over the weekend "that's not my decision."

 

Quinn will likely have to settle for someone other than Wilson, whether it be Jerrel Jernigan, Da'Rel Scott or another player who emerges, returning more often than he would hope. Adding a player like Cribbs, who was actually better than Wilson a season (27.4 yards per return) and has averaged 25.9 yards on 387 career returns, would make losing Wilson's return ability palatable.

 

The Giants have also struggled in recent seasons returning punts. In 2012 they were 30th in the league, averaging 7.2 yards per return. In 2011, the Giants' average of 6.1 yards per return was 29th overall. In 2010 that same 6.1 yards per return average was 31st. The Giants have not been good in the punt return game since Domenik Hixon was healthy in 2009, when they averaged 10.9 yards per return, sixth in the league.

 

 

 

[CrazedDogs]

He had 2(TWO!) kick returns and averaged 30 yards a return. Bleedin', you clearly have no idea what you're talking about. Clearly he was dropping kickoffs left and right.

 

I think he's thinking of punt returns... Jernigan didn't even know how to field a punt until last training camp, his technique was all wrong. I recall reading about his struggles just catching punts in his first two training camps, and even worse last season; one step back to learn correct technique, but still waiting for the two steps forward.

 

Did he even get a regular season rep as punt returner? I can't recall any....

[Treehugger]

I'd like to see more of Scott at KR/PR. That kid's lightning just waiting to strike.

[Mr. P]

Jernigan doesn't have any punt returns in his statistics, he had 8 kick returns in 2011 for 186 yards averaging 23.3, and one last season for 60 yards.

 

 

he did muff a bunch of punts his rookie preseason.

[Storm]

I'd like to see more of Scott at KR/PR. That kid's lightning just waiting to strike.

 

That's true, good point, Tree.

 

I just think for what this position is worth, in today's NFL, the players are already on the roster. They just are. It's not worth bringing in Josh Cribbs for 40 touches a season and 1.0 yard greater YPA. Both Scott and Jernigan are explosive, younger, and have way more upside than Josh Cribbs. Shit Jernigan, pre-draft, was compared to Steve Smith (the good one from Carolina)...he also never gets reps during the regular offense's times on the field either. So I mean, seriously, get these guys on the field and let's see them suck before we bring in a guy who literally can do nothing but run a straight line and benefited from insane kickoff blocking and special teams play his entire career. I'm so sick of hearing about how Giants receivers are on the bubble because they have three studs ahead of them and will never see the field; and now we're talking about giving one up that is pretty talented for a kick returner---a position literally meaningless when every kick is getting downed in the end zone.

[Storm]

Jernigan doesn't have any punt returns in his statistics, he had 8 kick returns in 2011 for 186 yards averaging 23.3, and one last season for 60 yards.

 

 

he did muff a bunch of punts his rookie preseason.

 

Yeah, just to clarify I meant he only had 2 KR last year...not career.

[Nas]

The one silver lining from Cruz not signing is JJ will get quite a bit of reps and I'm sure he'll be looked at to hand the KR PR duties.

[Storm]

Why don't we keep Buehler, a kick-off specialist....and resign Trey Junkin, a long-snapping specialist while we're at it, too. Replace Carr with a holding specialist.

[BlueInCanada]

I never understood the fascination with Cribbs, he had one breakout season and NFL Network and ESPN got on his balls saying the Browns should "Pay da man" as Deon Sanders put it.

 

He's a lack luster WR, a horrible H-back and an above average return man.

 

Seriously we could just sign some UDFA who has done nothing but return punts and kicks and we would get the same value as Cribbs, for a lot less.

[Storm]

I never understood the fascination with Cribbs, he had one breakout season and NFL Network and ESPN got on his balls saying the Browns should "Pay da man" as Deon Sanders put it.

 

He's a lack luster WR, a horrible H-back and an above average return man.

 

Seriously we could just sign some UDFA who has done nothing but return punts and kicks and we would get the same value as Cribbs, for a lot less.

 

That's exactly it, Tree.

[BleedinBlue]

I'm certainly not against giving the rookies a shot at returning kicks...during preseason. But I can't believe they'd come close to putting up the stats that Cribbs has put up.

 

In 8 years in the NFL, Cribbs has returned kickoffs for 10,015 yds (1252yds a season) and that doesn't include returned punts for 2154 yds.

That's a grand total of 12,169 yds gained in 8 years doing nothing but returning a football after a kickoff or a punt - an average of 1,521 yds per season. That's incredible. And to top it off, he has led his team in special team tackles 7 out of 8 years.

 

As far as cost goes...they're saying he's going for league minimum or a little over that, but is looking for a long term contract. That could be the sticking point for some teams. At 29 years old, he might be good for only a couple more years.

 

Regardless...I remember how we scrambled trying to find someone, anyone, who could return a football. We went out and traded away a 2011 draft pick and conditional 2012 draft pick and overpaid for Darius Reynaud as a punt returner because we sucked soooo bad at returning kicks. Turned out, Reynaud wasn't the answer either. It wasn't until Wilson came along that we finally found someone who could turn it on after the catch. But like has been pointed out...now that Wilson will be the number 1 running back, TC won't want him returning kickoffs.

 

I've watched the Giants suck at Special Teams for years and it pisses me off. Last year I screamed and threw things at the TV because no one could stop none other than friggin Joshua Cribbs who returned 6 Giants kickoffs for 221 yards including a touchdown against my Giants. I'm tired of hoping someone steps up on Special Teams. I was delighted with Wilson last year, but I don't want to go through another season holding my breath whenever we receive a kicked football.

[Treehugger]

That's exactly it, Tree.

 

That wasn't me.

[Mr. P]

I'm certainly not against giving the rookies a shot at returning kicks...during preseason. But I can't believe they'd come close to putting up the stats that Cribbs has put up.

 

In 8 years in the NFL, Cribbs has returned kickoffs for 10,015 yds (1252yds a season) and that doesn't include returned punts for 2154 yds.

That's a grand total of 12,169 yds gained in 8 years doing nothing but returning a football after a kickoff or a punt - an average of 1,521 yds per season. That's incredible. And to top it off, he has led his team in special team tackles 7 out of 8 years.

 

As far as cost goes...they're saying he's going for league minimum or a little over that, but is looking for a long term contract. That could be the sticking point for some teams. At 29 years old, he might be good for only a couple more years.

 

Regardless...I remember how we scrambled trying to find someone, anyone, who could return a football. We went out and traded away a 2011 draft pick and conditional 2012 draft pick and overpaid for Darius Reynaud as a punt returner because we sucked soooo bad at returning kicks. Turned out, Reynaud wasn't the answer either. It wasn't until Wilson came along that we finally found someone who could turn it on after the catch. But like has been pointed out...now that Wilson will be the number 1 running back, TC won't want him returning kickoffs.

 

I've watched the Giants suck at Special Teams for years and it pisses me off. Last year I screamed and threw things at the TV because no one could stop none other than friggin Joshua Cribbs who returned 6 Giants kickoffs for 221 yards including a touchdown against my Giants. I'm tired of hoping someone steps up on Special Teams. I was delighted with Wilson last year, but I don't want to go through another season holding my breath whenever we receive a kicked football.

 

no touchdown.

[BleedinBlue]

 

 

no touchdown.

 

Good call. I had read an article in BBV that stated that. But when I look at his stat page, he only ran 221 yards against us on 6 kickoff returns. I remember like it was yesterday throwing things and screaming for someone to take him down - break his legs - do something. He ran through us like we were a high school football team.

[BlueInCanada]

Good call. I had read an article in BBV that stated that. But when I look at his stat page, he only ran 221 yards against us on 6 kickoff returns. I remember like it was yesterday throwing things and screaming for someone to take him down - break his legs - do something. He ran through us like we were a high school football team.

 

And yet we won that game by 20 points.

 

I'm glad you think Cribbs is some sort of great player but he's nothing more then an average return man and a one trick pony.

 

I'd rather have the Giants use Wilson/JJ/Scott as a return player or bring some rookie in, instead of a 30 year old vet who's looking for one last pay day. There's a reason why he cant find a team to sign him because outside of kickoff and punt return he's next to useless.

[Herc]

I'd like to see that as a % of returns. The Browns get scored on a lot.

 

those are total fumbles and unfortunately football reference didn't have them broken down between rushing, receiving and return fumbles but he has 387 career kick returns

[Herc]

Give Jernigan the ball on kickoff returns and he could become Josh Cribbs. I don't get the hate of a player who NEVER receives an opportunity (Jernigan). I'll take the younger, better all-around player. I'm good on the return specialists, it has never, ever worked for this team before. We should go out and snag Darius Reynaud again.

 

haha that bastard looked way better for the titans last year than he did when we had him. i watched a lot of those games and i couldn't believe it was the same guy

[Storm]

That wasn't me.

 

yeah, you were the one before, my bad; exactly BiC.

[Storm]

The problem on our special teams has always really fell on the coach and the scheme/design. Not the players. Those returns Cribbs had were on the coverage team, not Cribbs being Lord of the Kick Return. Dude runs straight really fast and is decent at finding holes. The Giants don't open holes and have been piss-poor at tackling and getting people into position for years on special teams.

[Storm]

haha that bastard looked way better for the titans last year than he did when we had him. i watched a lot of those games and i couldn't believe it was the same guy

 

That's true, he has had several good years outside of the one he spent with the Giants. I think it just highlights how awful our special teams as a whole, from coach to the product on the field, has been for years.

[Mr. P]

I'd take him cheap. Dude is a good return man.