When the New York Jets drafted Kyle Wilson in the first round, they talked up his ability as a dynamic punt returner. In the preseason, he returned exactly zero punts. But they're going to unveil him Monday night against the Baltimore Ravens, adding another juicy subplot to the season opener. Wilson will share the punt-returning duties with old reliable, Jim Leonhard, special teams coordinator/"Hard Knocks" star Mike Westhoff said Friday. Westhoff wouldn't say how they'll be used -- top secret -- but it's safe to assume it will be based on situations. For instance, if the Ravens are punting from "plus" territory (on the Jets' side of the 50), it might be the sure-handed Leonhard. You don't want to be muffing punts near your own goal line. This is a tough spot for Wilson, who didn't get a shot in the preseason because his role on defense expanded with the absence of Darrelle Revis. The coaches didn't want to burden him with too much responsibility. Now, imagine playing your first professional game on Monday Night Football and being asked to return punts for the first time in the NFL. Westhoff knows the deal, but he has total confidence in Wilson, who brings the home-run element into the equation. "If he had been our guy in the preseason," Westhoff said, "we'd have three touchdowns." In his career at Boise State, Wilson averaged 12.6 yards and scored three touchdowns on punt returns. http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/jets/post/_/id/1639/kyle-wilson-gets-shot-as-punt-returner
I have total faith in Wilson. He's done it before and it seems like he has nice vision on the returns.
If westhoff has confidence in him I feel better, but in a game like monday night, somebody muffing the ball could cost the game.
I know Ray Lewis' weapon of choice is a knife but when I pulled up the page and the first thread was "Kyle Wilson gets shot..." I got a little worried.
It's a great run, but it's made by the outstanding first block that takes out two defensive players at the same time.
Westhoff said yesterday that Wilson returned punts in EVERY ST practuce throughout camp, so he has plenty of reps. They just needed to see Joe McSlipppery Hands and Larry the little receiver in preseason to evaluate them. But Wilson was the plan all along, so he's been prepped for it. Great Westhoff interview yesterday, available on the team webpage.
Fail...let's try this again http://<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fUwj7JemkC4?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fUwj7JemkC4?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>
I give up...just go to Youtube and put in Kyle wilson punt return and get ready for an amazing show of talent...wow
