WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2022 Rose Bowl MVP, Seattle Seahawks)

[OregonBuckeye]

He’s going to run a 4.58 at the combine and be a perennial pro bowler.

Did you see the 40 times this year? He'll run 4.45 or better

 

[RugbyBuck]

I just don't see the sense in letting your WR1 return punts.

 

[pnuts34]

I just don't see the sense in letting your WR1 return punts.

Agreed, not sure why they can't put Evan Pryor back there

Also, shouldn't he have a new nickname now that Wind and Fire are gone?

 

[RugbyBuck]

Yes, Pryor or one of the many other talented, but young guys we have. We’re not stressed for returners, I wouldn’t think. Maybe, Jefe.

 

[jebussmurf]

I just don't see the sense in letting your WR1 return punts.

Unless his instructions are to signal fair catch at the snap and catch the ball, I agree.

 

[RugbyBuck]

Unless his instructions are to signal fair catch at the snap and catch the ball, I agree.

That’s fair, I guess, if he has the best hands, but if we don’t have somebody else, that’s a recruiting/development issue. Still run the risk of having some kid plow him on the fair catch or roll up into his knee. He wouldn’t be anywhere near a punt if it was my call.

 

[CMic]

Saw somewhere that Cam Martinez was getting some snaps at Punt Return. Would be interesting and a better option from a risk management standpoint than JSN.

 

[Steve19]

...shouldn't he have a new nickname now that Wind and Fire are gone?

Personally, I thought those nicknames were nonsense created by ESPiN (I think) trying to make a talking point.

 

[GovTressel]

I think your estimate of his sprint speed is questionable.

We’ll find out in a year.

 

[GovTressel]

I just don't see the sense in letting your WR1 return punts.

Nick Sabin does.

 

[RugbyBuck]

Whether he does or not doesn't make it less stupid. In any endeavor, you only expend valuable assets where there's some likelihood of marginal-plus benefit and/or you don't have an alternative. Here, the possible negative consequences clearly (seem to, anyway, as I'm not in the WHAC) outweigh the benefit of using JSN over another of Hartline's guys or a RB who can handle it.

 

[TooTall]

I just don't see the sense in letting your WR1 return punts.

This. scUM lost their best WR returning punts and kicks last season. Keep JSN away from ST. There’s plenty of talent to justify NOT having him back there returning punts.

 

[Zurp]

Whether he does or not doesn't make it less stupid. In any endeavor, you only expend valuable assets where there's some likelihood of marginal-plus benefit and/or you don't have an alternative. Here, the possible negative consequences clearly (seem to, anyway, as I'm not in the WHAC) outweigh the benefit of using JSN over another of Hartline's guys or a RB who can handle it.

I agree with you, unless you have Ted Ginn Jr who can be returning punts and kicks.
And I'm not saying JSN is TGII. I'm just throwing my own exception to your rule.

 

[ScriptOhio]

“I'm not where I want to be,” Smith-Njigba said Thursday. “I feel like my ceiling is way higher. I feel like I can get way better in all aspects of the game.”

 

[RB07OSU]

This. scUM lost their best WR returning punts and kicks last season. Keep JSN away from ST. There’s plenty of talent to justify NOT having him back there returning punts.

I had been harping on this concept all year when Garrett Wilson was back returning punts (often times during blowouts). JSN is now obviously the guy at WR, put someone else back there. Egbuka did a great job at KR and he might become too important to get hurt back there like JSN did, but he could be a good start. Point is plenty of other guys should be back there next season so JSN stays healthy.