Anthony Swartz could win the kick returner job

[calfoxwc]

Exciting player, probably wouldn't see that much of him this season, except.... how amazing would it be to see him

return kicks? With THAT speed? He's also a rb. Might see more of him that I thought.

https://www.brownsnation.com/could-rookie-anthony-schwartz-win-the-kick-returning-job/

[Tour2ma]

Could he? Sure... and so could Baker, but I'm not feeling either returning kicks.

Punts? Hell-to-the-yes (for Anthony, not Baker)... but not kicks. Returning kicks is for real RBs IMO.

I'd look at Hunt back there... or the new kid... or D'Ernest...

 

Here's Schwartz's Auburn stats...

Note the receiving uptrend and the rushing downtrend. They tell you that by 2020 he was not an RB, but rather a WR who either took the occasional handoff on a reverse or caught the occasional lateral on a bubble screen. Also show you that by 2020 defenses were ready for his non-receiving touches.

Auburn's site has no return stats for Anthony....

 

Auburn's top Punt returner? A WR...

Top Kickoff returner? A RB...

 

Gus knows his shit...

 

 

One last comment... that BrownsNation article reads like it was written by a 4th grader.

 

 

[Orion]

Felton is a slight guy also.  If we keep D'Ernest (which I doubt) then just keep him doing the KO return duties.  The last resort is to catch it and attempt a return.  They'll be an illegal block and you'll start from inside the 10.  Play for the touchback. 

The little guys can do the punt returns.....so that we don't have to put Landry back there.  (Peoples-Jones scares me when he's getting under a kicked ball)

[SdBacker80]

15 minutes ago, Orion said:

Felton is a slight guy also.  If we keep D'Ernest (which I doubt) then just keep him doing the KO return duties.  The last resort is to catch it and attempt a return.  They'll be an illegal block and you'll start from inside the 10.  Play for the touchback. 

The little guys can do the punt returns.....so that we don't have to put Landry back there.  (Peoples-Jones scares me when he's getting under a kicked ball)

DPJ I don’t believe muffed a punt all year.  I had my doubts with him too.

Rule Number 1 with Punt Return secure the ball, #2 secure field position and #3 everything else is gravvy.

And Kickoff returns are a darn near extinct practice. 

[D Bone]

If I see Hunt returning kicks in anything other than a postseason game, I'm gonna lose my shit.  

[Tour2ma]

2 hours ago, Orion said:

Felton is a slight guy also.  If we keep D'Ernest (which I doubt) then just keep him doing the KO return duties.  The last resort is to catch it and attempt a return.  They'll be an illegal block and you'll start from inside the 10.  Play for the touchback. 

The little guys can do the punt returns.....so that we don't have to put Landry back there.  (Peoples-Jones scares me when he's getting under a kicked ball)

5'9, 189 is "slight"? Certainly not compared to 6'0, 185.

And he returned kicks for UCLA... https://uclabruins.com/sports/football/roster/demetric-felton/9945

Pretty good at it to boot...

2 hours ago, SdBacker80 said:

DPJ I don’t believe muffed a punt all year.  I had my doubts with him too.

He's OK-ish... just lacks the quicks to be a threat. That is what Schwartz would bring to the field.

21 minutes ago, D Bone said:

If I see Hunt returning kicks in anything other than a postseason game, I'm gonna lose my shit.  

Well... we simply can't have that...

[Orion]

9 hours ago, Tour2ma said:

5'9, 189 is "slight"?

Go stand next to him. 

 

[calfoxwc]

While I'm wondering - I wonder if Scwartz will eventually play a role in the additions/tweak to the offense that

Hooper is excited about. At least once in a while a game.

https://www.brownsnation.com/browns-austin-hooper-excited-to-add-wrinkles-to-offense/

[Unsympathetic]

Troy Smith, future heisman trophy winner, returned kicks for OSU his freshman year.

In honor of that, I say it's time to show off Case Keenum's agility in space.

 

Release the Keenum!

[ballpeen]

How many kicks do kick returners return.  Sounds like a woodchuck deal.

 

As for Schwartz play time, I see a fairly good amount.  I think we will try to establish him as a deep threat early in the season.  If we do that, teams will have to roll a safety over to his side or play corners off the LOS far enough that we could pitch and catch with him 6-7 yards at a time right down the field.

[Tour2ma]

1 hour ago, ballpeen said:

1. How many kicks do kick returners return.  Sounds like a woodchuck deal.
2. As for Schwartz play time, I see a fairly good amount.  I think we will try to establish him as a deep threat early in the season.  If we do that, teams will have to roll a safety over to his side or play corners off the LOS far enough that we could pitch and catch with him 6-7 yards at a time right down the field.

1. So.... Baker it is then... ... 12.4 to 50% of the time ( https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/kickoff-touchback-pct ) Really depends on to the degree your return-man chuck is a weapon. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2020/returns.htm#returns::kick_ret_yds I would bet CHI's Patterson's leash was a lot longer than DPJ's.
2. Anthony's camp/preseason showing (plus health of the WR room) will dictate his use early in the season. But late? I can see him getting his fair share of work.

[tiamat63]

2 hours ago, ballpeen said:

How many kicks do kick returners return.  Sounds like a woodchuck deal.

 

As for Schwartz play time, I see a fairly good amount.  I think we will try to establish him as a deep threat early in the season.  If we do that, teams will have to roll a safety over to his side or play corners off the LOS far enough that we could pitch and catch with him 6-7 yards at a time right down the field.

DB's have to respect your route tree for you to be an honest deep threat.  Otherwise you're just...  Mike Wallace, maybe Corey Coleman.    It isn't as simple as "he fast, he deep".  Otherwise John Ross would be one of the most feared weapons in the NFL.

 

On 6/22/2021 at 3:36 PM, Unsympathetic said:

Troy Smith, future heisman trophy winner, returned kicks for OSU his freshman year.

In honor of that, I say it's time to show off Case Keenum's agility in space.

 

Release the Keenum!

Funny enough, I remember him fielding a kick against Wisconsin and thinking to myself "who?!?"

[Dutch Oven]

5 hours ago, ballpeen said:

As for Schwartz play time, I see a fairly good amount.  I think we will try to establish him as a deep threat early in the season.  If we do that, teams will have to roll a safety over to his side or play corners off the LOS far enough that we could pitch and catch with him 6-7 yards at a time right down the field.

With OBJ, Landry, Higgins and DPJ on the roster, along with three TEs who all can contribute in the passing game? 

[gumby73]

Welcome to your Browns Jet motion position... Could be Schwartz? Could be JoJo? Could be Felton? Could be Switzer? Stef has toys...and two Rams in the backfield

click.... watch on Youtube

 

[tiamat63]

So in other words, what damn near everyone has been saying since we watched Jarvis' slow ass take that tap pass against KC.

[ballpeen]

18 hours ago, Dutch Oven said:

With OBJ, Landry, Higgins and DPJ on the roster, along with three TEs who all can contribute in the passing game? 

Why not?  And when I say play, I know he won't start, but I could see him on the field 10-15 plays a game.

[ballpeen]

21 hours ago, tiamat63 said:

DB's have to respect your route tree for you to be an honest deep threat.  Otherwise you're just...  Mike Wallace, maybe Corey Coleman.    It isn't as simple as "he fast, he deep".  Otherwise John Ross would be one of the most feared weapons in the NFL.

 

Funny enough, I remember him fielding a kick against Wisconsin and thinking to myself "who?!?"

I know it is more than simply streaking straight down the sideline.  I have read he has a good understand of such.  Is there evidence he can't run good routes?

[ballpeen]

23 hours ago, Tour2ma said:

1. So.... Baker it is then... ... 12.4 to 50% of the time ( https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/kickoff-touchback-pct ) Really depends on to the degree your return-man chuck is a weapon. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2020/returns.htm#returns::kick_ret_yds I would bet CHI's Patterson's leash was a lot longer than DPJ's.
2. Anthony's camp/preseason showing (plus health of the WR room) will dictate his use early in the season. But late? I can see him getting his fair share of work.

True.  But if the returner is good, most kickers try to kick it out of the endzone, and most can a high percentage of the time.

[tiamat63]

1 hour ago, ballpeen said:

I know it is more than simply streaking straight down the sideline.  I have read he has a good understand of such.  Is there evidence he can't run good routes?

Yes - basically every game of his this past season. Why do you think Landry was so intent on working with him early? 

Trust me, his footwork is...very raw.

[Canton Mike]

The fact Landry was working with the kid tells me he (Landry) likes the kid's attitude/potential & I don't see Landry endorsing him for nothing.We, as Fans, need patience.

Mike

[Tour2ma]

7 hours ago, ballpeen said:

True.  But if the returner is good, most kickers try to kick it out of the endzone, and most can a high percentage of the time.

Except the stats I posted, which were percentage of kickoffs returned, say that is simply not the case.

6 hours ago, tiamat63 said:

Yes - basically every game of his this past season. Why do you think Landry was so intent on working with him early? 

Trust me, his footwork is...very raw.

And I believe the earliest lesson was that you cannot/ must not run every route at top speed.

[tiamat63]

17 minutes ago, Tour2ma said:

 

And I believe the earliest lesson was that you cannot/ must not run every route at top speed.

In terms of just attempting to win at the line or setup your routes by just hauling ass?  Sure, absolutely.   But regardless off the route, you want to get in and out of your breaks at speed.   Nobody wants a receiver to break a route off slowly. 

[SdBacker80]

Well I don’t know how much of the route tree we will need from him this isn’t the old Browns where draft picks 1-5 are expected to contribute right away. I expect him to learn not just in training camp but throughout the course of the year. 

21-22 Schwartz should be:   

10-12 plays (there are some dudes in front of him): Bubble routes, Go Deep off play action (maybe sell the run and go) maybe a dig route.  He will need to block too that’s a role WRs have in this offense.

If he wins a special teams spot throw in another small handful of plays. 

[calfoxwc]

Actually, Scwartz addressed that issue in an interview - of knowing he just doesn't want to be a straight line post runner - he's a GREAT kid - a great pick.

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2021/05/browns-wr-anthony-schwartz-says-training-with-jarvis-landry-will-give-me-a-jumpstart-on-probably-the-rest-of-the-rookies-out-there.html

"“They just want to see more from me and not just being a speed guy or a guy who is just going to run verticals or run screens,’' he said. “I want to become a guy who can run every route in the route tree and that can develop into a top guy and not just a gadget player.”

Schwartz will also learn the fine art of blocking from Landry, who never hesitates get physical with a defender.

“We have not talked in depth about that part of the game, but that’s one of our three keys playing receiver for us,’' Schwartz said. “I know it’s something I have to improve on. It is something I want to improve on. It will help me to get on the field more. It will help me stay on the field more. I can’t wait to start that part and can’t wait to just see improvement from my college career to now in terms of from a blocking standpoint.’'

"

[ballpeen]

16 hours ago, tiamat63 said:

Yes - basically every game of his this past season. Why do you think Landry was so intent on working with him early? 

Trust me, his footwork is...very raw.

You reviewed every game from last season? I am sure there are raw aspects.  What rookie couldn't be described as raw, so I trust you. I am not sure what we are arguing about here?  Arguing is a term that doesn't have to mean combative if any are confused.  In one case I am being told he will return kicks because he is fast but needs to run slower.  In the other I say he will be used to establish a over the top threat and am being told his feet are raw.

 

Here is my position.

 

1.  Screw kick returning.  It doesn't matter all that much.  Felton or some other RB will end up doing that, but it is a good sign we we have nothing better to ponder than a kick returner.  These days kicks go out of the end zone, or to Tours point that kicks are returned, that is because the kicker kicks it high allowing coverage to converge.  In that case, you need more of a punt return guy, a guy who can make a player or two miss early.  Straight line speed isn't a real advantage in that situation. Schwartz isn't the jitterbug type receiver.

2.  Schwartz is going to get a fair amount of play time with the hope he can establish himself as a over the top threat that keeps a safety honest to his side, thus opening other options for other players if in fact Baker doesn't chuck it deep.  When you start talking route trees, the deep route is the first look.  If later, the player outruns the QB's ability to throw him the ball in stride.  If the goal of the play is to gain 5 yards, there isn't a deep route.  Schwartz or whoever runs something short and blocks to possibly help gain and extra yard or two.   

Again, to be clear, I am not saying Schwartz is going to be out there 30 plays a game with 12 targets.  Maybe 12-15 plays a game with 3-5 targets.

[gumby73]

My first draft thoughts were? Berry might have reached a round early on the Schwartz? The committed gm's, take some a round early.. Instead of taking Hudson early in the 4th? Schwartz might* of still been there, in Hudson's drafted spot early 4th? Look what we passed on, (in securing OL depth👀...and a few other positions)...    https://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker/picks?round=3&year=2021       But Yes! I/we, can't speculate Schwartz still being there either... 

I don't like Auburn..I don't like Gus Malzahn'... nor his offensive coaching staff history of Auburn NFL WR's 🤓... Yet with Landry & the Browns coaching staff... I have some high hopes... ya can't coach college kids to have 4.3 hot wheels speed..

I don't see a punt return specialist reading things like these...https://primetimesportstalk.com/2021/03/09/2021-nfl-draft-scouting-report-anthony-schwartz/     https://www.fantasypros.com/2021/04/2021-nfl-draft-profile-wr-anthony-schwartz/    his hand security & *deep ball tracking* leads to my major punt returning concerns... raw vs. never done vs. nor asked to do so?

I'm in the boat of......"May the forced Schwartz be with us ⚔️... in all 3 preseason games" 🤞  I need a peek of this 'speed devil' 😈 Schwartz... Landry trained by the 2022 season...

So I'm all set to gladly eat my plate of crow in the 2021 season on tSchwartz 🍽️     Good Luck Anthony!

[SdBacker80]

2 hours ago, gumby73 said:

My first draft thoughts were? Berry might have reached a round early on the Schwartz? The committed gm's, take some a round early.. Instead of taking Hudson early in the 4th? Schwartz might* of still been there, in Hudson's drafted spot early 4th? Look what we passed on, (in securing OL depth👀...and a few other positions)...    https://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker/picks?round=3&year=2021       But Yes! I/we, can't speculate Schwartz still being there either... 

I don't like Auburn..I don't like Gus Malzahn'... nor his offensive coaching staff history of Auburn NFL WR's 🤓... Yet with Landry & the Browns coaching staff... I have some high hopes...

I don't see a punt return specialist reading things like these...https://primetimesportstalk.com/2021/03/09/2021-nfl-draft-scouting-report-anthony-schwartz/     https://www.fantasypros.com/2021/04/2021-nfl-draft-profile-wr-anthony-schwartz/    his hand security & *deep ball tracking* leads to my major punt returning concerns... raw vs. never done vs. nor asked to do so?

I'm in the boat of......"May the forced Schwartz be with us ⚔️... in all 3 preseason games" 🤞  I need a peek of this 'speed devil' 😈 Schwartz... Landry trained by the 2022 season...

So I'm all set to gladly eat my plate of crow in the 2021 season on tSchwartz 🍽️     Good Luck Anthony!

Good points.  Auburns offensive scheme and QB play have been dumpster fires.   I remember that being brought when drafted him.  Auburn QB Bo Nix has potiential but he’s a running QB doesn’t always hit his spots and when forced to throw 40 plus times he can’t do it efficiently.  We’ve seen WRs with potential that don’t work out that well given those conditions. 
 

This coming year Just get him on track to add the wrinkle to our offense on a handful of plays each game.  He will have to develop further in 2022 given our contract situations at that position.  I’d love to see him lined up next to OBJ and OBJ clears out the secondary going deep and Schwartz is doing a drag/dig route underneath.  Good luck to other team if we get man coverage. 

[tiamat63]

39 minutes ago, SdBacker80 said:

 I’d love to see him lined up next to OBJ and OBJ clears out the secondary going deep and Schwartz is doing a drag/dig route underneath. 

Dagger concept.

[SdBacker80]

27 minutes ago, tiamat63 said:

Dagger concept.

Yes. OBJ long, Jarvis on the weak side drag across the field and Schwartz dig route at the top.  Offensive line capable of giving Baker time
 

im actually more excited about OBJ the decoy WR than the actual WR although I respect the big play big catch capability. 

[tiamat63]

2 hours ago, SdBacker80 said:

Yes. OBJ long, Jarvis on the weak side drag across the field and Schwartz dig route at the top.  Offensive line capable of giving Baker time
 

im actually more excited about OBJ the decoy WR than the actual WR although I respect the big play big catch capability. 

There are so many variants and add-ons from a "classic" 2 man dagger that it isn't even funny anymore, especially if you're a DB.    The philly offense (pretty sure this would be from under Frank Reich) and this version incorporates a couple different concepts along with accomplishing a few things aside from being in trips. 

- The #3 running the over almost makes this a divide concept from the standpoint of the 2 & 3.     The beauty of how complex offenses can be structured post snap and how well they can be executed is really something.   So I presume if your QB and receiver have enough chemistry, that #3 can bend the route as sharp or wide as they both read.   Could turn it into a skinny Po and split DB's, could bend it all the way to the farside numbers depending on coverage.    Honestly even something similar from the #2.  In a 2 man look he runs the influence post with coverage read  (V 2 high V single high, shit like that)

- The drag is just a nice little addition as well from the backside.  Because if that linebacker over there gets depth without width or walls off that #3 and helps vertical (provided the corner is cleared) then it's practically stealing.    Not to disagree with you on assignment but that's where Schwartz comes into play early in his career.   I'll have juice run that deep dig because he has the chemistry with Baker, the footwork and the experience to vary his route depth as needed.  Most of the time he's the primary in this type of look anyway.    Anthony just gets to be an athlete here, especially going from boundary to field.  You're leading him into space where he can use his god-given speed to get upfield for cheap yardage. 

 

edit: Obviously not including something more complex like a combo coverage.  The slot could be man locked,  everyone else playing a 3 deep, 3 underneath.   I'm just spitballing generalities here mostly.

 

double edit:  Now I miss NCAA 11 or 2k5 =(