By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Tuesday, Apr. 25 2006
Most of the pre-draft talk on the Rams has concerned the need for more
defensive help. Or a tight end. Or even the possibility of taking a quarterback
in the first round.
But all along, the Rams have done a lot of evaluation designed to improved
their return game - or lack thereof.
A lot of games have gone by since the heyday of Tony Horne on kickoff returns
and Az-Zahir Hakim on punt returns. The Rams haven't finished among the top 10
in the NFL in punt returns since 2002 and in kickoff returns since 1999.
They haven't been anywhere close to that lately. Last season, they ranked 29th
in punt returns and 23rd in kickoff returns; in 2004, they finished 31st in
both categories.
But it looks like the Rams are determined to change that. No fewer than seven
of the 33 players brought into Rams Park for pre-draft visits earlier this
month had some kind of kick return experience in college.
Some also play defensive back, or wide receiver, or running back. Or in the
case of Miami's Devin Hester, he plays a little bit of everything.
Hester and UCLA's Maurice Drew are the highest-profile returners who visited
Rams Park. Over his college career with the Hurricanes, Hester returned four
punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns. He has ranked as high as sixth
nationally in both kickoff returns (in 2003) and punt returns (in 2004).
The secret to his success? "It's really not any secret," Hester said. "It's
just natural instinct. I'm a visual-type player who can see things before they
happen."
What NFL teams can't see is where to play Hester when he's not returning kicks.
He has dabbled at cornerback, running back, and wide receiver, without truly
excelling at any. But Hester's explosiveness as a return man alone should make
him a second- or third-round pick in the draft.
Throughout his college career, Drew was the "other" back in Los Angeles,
playing second fiddle to Southern Cal's Reggie Bush. But Drew put up impressive
numbers of his own, combining for more than 3,300 yards rushing and receiving.
Drew's work as a return man was somewhat limited, but electric nonetheless.
Over the course of his college career, he averaged 23.2 yards on 25 punt
returns - four of which went for TDs. Meanwhile, he averaged 24.6 yards on 32
kickoff returns, including two TDs.
There are some concerns about Drew's height - he's only 5-6 1/2. The way he
holds the football has some scouts concerned about the possibility of too many
fumbles in the NFL.
Even so, his ability to return kicks adds value...
-04-26-2006, 05:03 AM
Tweet
Comment