Why isn't Thigpen lining up as a punt returner? I'm getting sick of Bess making fair catches inside the 20 with nobody near him. Thigpen has good hands, too, and he's far more likely to return a punt for some yards- he doesn't fair catch every punt as a matter of course.

Rick

They have done it all season on punts deep in our own end. Bess is more sure-handed. And Thigpen has had issues with allowing punts to land in front of him and then get good rolls for the other team. You can't afford that deep in your own end.

dolfanmark Wrote:
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> They have done it all season on punts deep in our
> own end. Bess is more sure-handed. And Thigpen has
> had issues with allowing punts to land in front of
> him and then get good rolls for the other team.
> You can't afford that deep in your own end.


That's really what it boils down to.

The staff trusts Bess to make the right decision and to catch the ball deep in our end of the field.

Without having seen all the punts they have fielded in practice there's no way to know if that preference is justified or not.

Asked this same question after the Arizona game.

How many punts have you seen Thigpen muff this year? None! Yet we continue to see Davone "concrete shoes" Bess return punts inside the 20. Good coaching.

No one else in the league does it. Why?

This is a dead horse already. quit beating it

Actually Bess was on of the best punt returners last year.

When the opponent is punting past their own 40 Bess is the fair catch guy. when opponents punt behind their 40 Thigpen is the guy. There may be times (conditions/punter) where they do something different but this has been the formula all season.

Thigpen hasn't 'muffed ' punts....but he has mis-played sideline punts...which is an ok risk at you 15 or 20...but inside you 10.

I'm ok with it.

dolphin Wrote:
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> This is a dead horse already. quit beating it
>
> Actually Bess was on of the best punt returners
> last year.


Bess the best punt returners?

where were you when thy were playing the games?


And Bess doesnt have nearly the speed thigpen has..

Bess has forced the issues in the past thats why he fumbled so many times.

He has corrected that with all those fair catches.

I rather he just fair catches it and gives us a chance than to force it like before and give away the game.

That's why.

Yup. His once chance and he blows it