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[QUOTE=Batmans A Scientist;4503342]Huh. Tough crowd. Only one other Kickoff returner in the last 30 seasons had more than 20 kickoff returns and a higher average than McKnight.
In fact, only Percy Harvin had more than 10 kickoff returns and a higher return average than McKnight in the past decade.
He certainly slowed a bit in the 2nd half, but his return average on returns were among the best since 1980.[/QUOTE]
And we've had some great one's under Westhoff over the years. From Morton, Miller, Leon, Brad Smith etc, etc; none were as electric/explosive as Joe McKnight in regards to his kick return ability last season. He's a keeper just for the simple fact that he's only 24 years of age and can provide us with solid field position for many of years to come.
As a player heading into his 3rd NFL season, McKnight hasn't shown his ability on the offensive side of the ball yet (he's been buried behind our depth) but he does feature the type of ability in which our coaching staff can line McKnight up all over the football field. Out of the backfield, lined up in one of the slots, can be featured out of a Tim Tebow led Wildcat formation, and with Sparano as our offensive coordinator, we may even see McKnight featured during screen plays due to his ability in the open field. It's all about finding ways to get this kid into the open field because at 5'11/205 pounds? He can develop/become a dynamic offensive threat for Sanchez and our offense. Say what you say about McKnight, but you can't deny the god given talent's he's been blessed with.
Guys such as Leon Washington, Woodhead, Welker, Chrebet, Warrick Dunn, Sproles, Dexter McCluster, Reggie Bush etc, etc are/were all smaller when in comparison to Joe McKnight. I don't wanna hear this talk about him being "too little, too small or too brittle" because LeSean McCoy at 5'11/208 is pretty much a spitting image of McKnight in regards to size/weight and overall body build/stature.
Last season his talent only began to scratch the surface in regards to his kick return ability. Heading into last season, after McKnight's rookie season, none of us (around here) knew that he'd be capable of performing as one of the NFL's elite kick returners, so, who's to say that after his 2nd season last year, heading into his 3rd year this up coming season, that any of us (around here) know what he "can't" do on the offensive side of the football? Because you don't.
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