Charles Sims: Kick Returner?
May 19th, 2014
One good thing about rookie minicamp for draft picks is coaches can try them out at different tasks without taking practice snaps away from veterans.
That seems to be the case already with running back Charles Sims.
Joe already brought word that Sims was involved in punt returns this weekend, the first time he has ever done that.
Joe also noted how Bucs coach Lovie Smith is concerned about the current flux of the Bucs’ return game.
So don’t be surprised if Sims becomes a kick returner. Lovie confessed that is a very real possibility.
“Yes, with new guys coming in, we searched their history a little bit, to see what they’ve done, from Pop Warner on,” Lovie said. “Charles has returned, feels comfortable with the kickoffs. I wanted to know if he’s ever returned punts – he hasn’t. If you have good hands, normally you can do a few things, and we’ll keep working on that.”
Uh, oh. There’s that comment on his hands again (think Sims won’t be targeted in the passing game?). For the record, Sims returned just four kicks in college, all last season, for a total of 53 yards.
It will be interesting to see how Lovie attacks the return game. He clearly believes the Bucs need an upgrade. Who doesn’t? Eric Page showed some moments, both good and awful last year. And we know now how the Bucs missed out on Devin Hester this winter.
May 19th, 2014 at 2:04 pm
Just because a guy is fast doesn’t mean he is a kick returner .. we all seen how that worked out with Demps last year… we need to trade a 5th round pick next year for LeGarrette Blount so he can be the primary kick returner
May 19th, 2014 at 2:10 pm
Didn’t we re-sign Page early?……I guess you can never have too many PR/KR…..& if you can find better, fine…but I think Page was OK & probably would improve this year given another year’s experience & more practice.
May 19th, 2014 at 2:26 pm
@pablo…I think you need to wait until 4:20. Blount the PR/KR…LMFAO.
May 19th, 2014 at 2:51 pm
rayjay1122 Says:
May 19th, 2014 at 2:26 pm
@pablo…I think you need to wait until 4:20. Blount the PR/KR…LMFAO.
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Trading a 5th is what’s stupid. We could’ve had him for no compensation other than salary a month ago…. but yes, Blount returned kickoffs last season for the Pats and did a very good job.
May 19th, 2014 at 3:34 pm
Trading future draft picks is usually a bad idea. And trading for Blount is an even worse idea. And trading for Blount as a kick returner is the worst idea I’ve heard in a while. @Pablo, put the bong away for awhile dude.
May 19th, 2014 at 3:34 pm
@Brandon…true statement. I was not clear enough on my point that though Blount is a capable returner, someone would have to be high to give up a draft pick for him especially since he could have been aquired without giving one up. Also, and I could be mistaken, I thought we traded next years 5th to get the second 5th round pick this year that was used on the OT.
May 19th, 2014 at 3:50 pm
@rayjay1122
We traded a 5th next year….but we had 2….one we recieved from Ravens for Zuttah….I think that is the one we traded to move up.
May 19th, 2014 at 3:50 pm
Bucs didn’t miss on Devin Hester….they swerved to avoid a bad wreck. He’s getting old and after working with him all that time in chicago….the return game is the LEAST of my worries. Lovie has an eye for that and he will put the best guy out there, and I’ll bet anything it will not be Page!!!!!!
May 19th, 2014 at 3:58 pm
Sims > Herron at KR?
May 19th, 2014 at 4:07 pm
@Tampabaybucfan…thanks for the info. I am glad we still have a 5th rounder next year. We need all of the picks we can get so we can build starters and solid depth moving into the future.
May 19th, 2014 at 4:39 pm
Did you forget that there are not alot of kicks that get returned. 3 mill a year for watching the ball go thru the goal post. Try league minimum! No disrespect. Eric Page wasn’t too shabby with that weaka$$ blocking we had on special teams. He might shine this year if he makes it.
NOOO don’t use Herron or Sims at KR. We need both those guys for the offense. We just got a quality slot dammm.
May 19th, 2014 at 5:15 pm
It doesn’t hurt to try all our 4.3 speedsters at punt returns in the Preseason. Not every 4.3 speedster can be a great punt returner. You have to have great hands, good vision as you run, and be tough as nails and have zero fumbles. Sims has the tools for all that. You do know Hester didn’t like doing run backs and have to play a position like the slot too, but there are other special teams players who can do both.
May 19th, 2014 at 6:14 pm
No !
May 19th, 2014 at 9:19 pm
smh
May 19th, 2014 at 10:42 pm
I think we made a mistake in not getting Hester.
May 19th, 2014 at 10:48 pm
Architek …I think the sky is falling.
May 19th, 2014 at 11:21 pm
Glad we didn’t sign Hester, it’s a good sign that Lovie didn’t pull rank to sign one of “his guys” for more than he’s worth, even though he sees KR as a concern. He’ll find somebody,
May 19th, 2014 at 11:29 pm
Hester, is good, but over the hill. Besides McCown, we had to get younger again and do this thing right.(or better) I see these guys trying to prove why we picked him in the 3rd round over a lineman. I’m gonna put my money on them. Maybe it will bite them if we don’t p/u a FA guard and our line does bad this year. This offense will be better this year thou.