Who Will Be The Chargers Return Specialists?

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Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIRE

We just brought in all these guys with the specialty of returning kicks. This offseason we have added Eddie Royal, Roscoe Parrish and Micheal Spurlock onto the roster. We also already had Richard Goodman on the team. Who will be returning punts and who will be returning kickoffs? This should be one of the fun battles to watch in camp.

Let’s start out with the career kickoff return numbers for each player.

Player	Rt	Yds	TD	Lng	Ys/Rt
Eddie Royal	57	1375	1	95	24.1
Micheal Spurlock	73	1830	2	90	25.1
Richard Goodman	34	936	1	105	27.5
Roscoe Parrish	29	685	0	45	23.6

I see the battle for kickoff returns coming down to just Spurlock and Goodman. Parrish does not have a lot of experience in it and I don’t think that the Chargers want to expose Eddie Royal to kickoffs. Spurlock has more experience returning kicks and he was the specialist when Rich Bisaccia was the special teams coach in Tampa. Goodman did well last season and will have to fight to keep his job.

Now let’s check out the career numbers for punt returns:

Player	Ret	Yds	TD	Lng	Y/R
Eddie Royal	81	967	2	85	11.9
Micheal Spurlock	41	334	1	77	8.1
Richard Goodman	0	0	0	0	0
Roscoe Parrish	135	1622	3	82	12.0

Goodman won’t be competing for the punt return job, but the other 3 guys will. The Chargers might not want to limit Royal’s punt returns also to keep him fresh for offense. Parrish is the most experienced at the role and has the best numbers. Spurlock’s ability to contribute in punt returns also could give him an advantage over Goodman.

Four wide receiver spots are locked down and Eddie Royal will be making the team. We probably will go with 5 total, but could push that up to 6.

Who are you rooting for to be the kickoff returner and the punt returner?

Topics: Eddie Royal, Michael Spurlock, Richard Goodman, Roscoe Parrish

sdboltzfan

Kick off Spurlock, PR Roscoe.
http://boltbeat.com/ epadaon

i am really hoping Roscoe makes the roster… he can also help on offense and think he is the better punt returner on the team.
sdboltzfan

I would rather have Roscoe on the team then Goodwin. Roscoe is more versatile imo. If we go with 5 wr I would hope for Floyd, Meachem, Royal, Brown, Roscoe. Our offense looks to be set, minus oline and another good back. I would love LMJ in the draft to fill a sproles type position. He could also jump in the mix for those return duties. I cant wait for the draft to see what our team is really going to look like!

http://boltbeat.com/ epadaon

@sdboltzfan i would much rather have Roscoe also… he can add something on offense, while Goodman has not shown that ability yet. I do like Goodman as a returner though.

will be interesting to see who gets that kick return job. dont think roscoe or royal will do that job

LeonardoVelazquez

Wow, I never thought Goodman was a great returner. I felt like every time I saw him return a kick, he would be stopped behind the 20! I guess I was wrong.

http://boltbeat.com/ epadaon

@LeonardoVelazquez i think at the beginning of the year he was like that… i remember getting mad when he took it out of the end zone every time, but then he started taking it further and further every time.

DarylPeek

I don’t see why all can’t make the team. Goodman and Spurlock could be together on kick returns. Goodman also plays on Kick and punt coverage, if I’m correct? Royal is our slot WR and can sub for Parrish on punt returns, keep in mind Parrish is injury prone. Parrish could also be our 5th WR. Spurlock could be used like Percy Harvin in the backfield, he has Sproles like ability and at 5’9″ he’s stocky and quick like Darren.

Goodman would be strictly ST on kick returns and coverage, Kasim Osgood 2.0. The rest would fill out a 6 man WR core with Spurlock playing a Sproles like RB at times.

http://boltbeat.com/ epadaon

@DarylPeek goodman did play on both coverage units and did well on both of them… there just are not enough roster spots for 7 receivers. i think they all would be able to contribute though.

DarylPeek

Yeah, 7 is a lot of WR to carry. Maybe Rich will influence Norv to commit to WEFENSE, keeping Goodman on as Osgood… I know wishful thinking. Its not too far fetched given we carried 6 last year and this group would be much more diverse. I’d hate too see another (low cost) Laurent Robinson get away from us. All that speed is already going to my head. *looking*

http://boltbeat.com/ epadaon

@DarylPeek i love all the speed on the roster… if only Bryan Walters didn’t kill it last season, Robinson would have stayed on as a Bolt!!!

love that we have players on the roster now that can make people miss the first tackle and can take it to the house when they get the ball in their hands. It was never like that with VJ and M80 catching the balls