Winfield: Safety… And Punt Returns?
August 21st, 2020
New job?
The Bucs drafted safety Antoine Winfield in the second round because they believed the baller from Minnesota could be an immediate starter.
But is now destined to be the Bucs’ answer to punt returns?
Yesterday, projected return man T.J. Logan was injured by a dumb@ss move in a non-tackling drill. He blew out his knee and is likely gone for the season.
Up next, Winfield?
Bucs coach Bucco Bruce Arians said this morning that given Winfield’s punt return ability in college, he’s going to get a shot at returning punts.
“Antoine Winfield was a heck of a punt returner in college. He will get a look. … Punt returner is so much more important,” Arians said. “There are very few kickoffs returned anymore. [Kick return] is not as important anymore as punt return.”
Winfield has only returned three punts while playing four years at Minnesota, all in his third year in 2018. Why former Bucs assistant and current Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck didn’t use him more as a punt returner, Joe has no clue. But damn if Winfield didn’t have an excellent return average.
In his three punt returns, Winfield averaged 36.7 yards with one touchdown. Just seeing those numbers alone, Winfield should have automatically been in the mix for punt return duties this summer.
August 21st, 2020 at 11:04 am
Well Franklin was just carted off with knee injury so that doesn’t sound good. He might have been able to help out on returns….
August 21st, 2020 at 11:08 am
Is punt returning really is as important as having your only first round level talent safety with injury issues getting his legs torpedoed by a gunner? He needs to be delivering the hits, not getting them. Unless Winfield is Deion Sanders (he isn’t) then put Scotty Miller back there – or anyone else that is more easily replaceable
August 21st, 2020 at 11:14 am
@Gofortheface30,
You had to be the one to write it out and jinx it? I do agree, but damn. 🤞
August 21st, 2020 at 11:18 am
Holy crap….nooooo! I hope Winfield just concentrates on safety and slot corner. Scotty Miller, Justin Watson etc. The recievers room is a lot deeper than the saftey room just in case of an injury.
August 21st, 2020 at 11:18 am
@gofortheface30 I 100% agree, find someone else to do it
August 21st, 2020 at 11:19 am
Calais.
August 21st, 2020 at 11:20 am
yeah i ain’t liking it to tell ya the truth
August 21st, 2020 at 11:23 am
I hate this idea.
Hopefully BA learned not to have key pieces returning punts/kicks when Patrick Peterson blew Arizona’s SB hopes on a muffed punt.
Starters have more important things to worry about.
August 21st, 2020 at 11:24 am
No way..Scotty Miller, Justin Watson etc. I hope winfield is just allowed to concentrate on saftey and possibly avoid a silly injury returning punts.
August 21st, 2020 at 11:38 am
Until we’ve improved our punt return blocking, there is no way I put a starter out there…
On a broader note, I am becoming concerned about ST…..it wasn’t very good last year & I don’t see how it will improve…..
When you bring in older players that specialize & don’t play ST…..it matters.
August 21st, 2020 at 12:00 pm
Nooooo!!! You told us TJ Logan was on fire two days ago BA.
August 21st, 2020 at 12:22 pm
What happened to Jonathan Franklin today. BA said it doesn’t look good. If I had to pick two guys out having the best camp it would be he a TJ. Who’s going to return kicks. Franklin was the backup guy.
August 21st, 2020 at 12:26 pm
Amen on kick off returns not being as important anymore. Biggest waste of time in a football game. You have to punt, but kick offs should be eliminated. If I was a HC, or ST, I’d never allow my returner to take it out of the end zone, unless I was down by 7 with a second to go.
August 21st, 2020 at 12:36 pm
Defensive players returning punts is not common perhaps due to fatigue. A quick 3 and out, they probably have enough stamina in the tank to take one to the house. More than 5-6 plays in a row, I’d be less enthusiastic those legs are ready to out-sprint gunners for 80 yards.
August 21st, 2020 at 2:41 pm
As for Scotty Miller, another logical choice, don’t want Winfield getting banged up on punt returns and unavailable for defensive duties, where we anticipate he could have a major role. Seems like someone with speed but much deeper on the depth chart at their respective position should get the punt return duties
August 21st, 2020 at 2:50 pm
gofortheface n tbswarm and others right why the hell would we risk an injury prone safety who is first round talent–what about raymond calais?
August 21st, 2020 at 3:17 pm
Here’s some Bucs history for you Joe because I remember it like it was yesterday. In 1986 Nathan Wonsley was a running back phenom for 4 games out of the block for the Bucs. He had 339 yards on 76 carries (4.6 yards per carry avg) and 3 touchdowns. A Bucs Bio on him stated he was an undrafted player leading all NFL rookies at the time he was injured on Special Teams making a tackle never to be heard from again. With Wynfields injury history is there any wonder why he only returned 3 punts???????
August 21st, 2020 at 4:13 pm
If, as Bucs fans, we are scared that a rocked up Winfield would get hurt on punt returns, if that is to be believed, imagine how wrecked Scotty Miller would get on punt returns.
August 21st, 2020 at 6:44 pm
I am sure that there are several guys out there with potential for punt return duties. I have faith that our Bucs staff will sort out whose situation fits the best.
In BA I Trust.
August 22nd, 2020 at 2:00 pm
If this dude sucks as a safety, then I’m cool with him returning punts. Otherwise, I’m not even entertaining the idea. We are way too thin in the secondary with proven players.