One thing that the Oregon Ducks aren’t lacking going into the 2024 season is playmakers.
No matter where you look on the offense, you will find guys who can dazzle with the ball in their hands. From Jordan James and Noah Whittington to Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart, there are endless options when it comes to players who could potentially act as a kick returner for the Ducks. But finding the right guy to send back there in special teams is a process that’s more difficult than it looks.
Ask special teams coordinator Joe Lorig. He’s ultimately responsible for tabbing the guy to receive kicks, and it’s on him to choose from a list of players who are currently littering preseason award watch lists.
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“I think we have a lot of good options,” Lorig said on Friday. “(It’s about) getting a bunch of guys reps early and then kind of paring it down as you go through the next couple weeks of simulated games. We have enough bodies and enough talent back there that I think we can be explosive in the return game.”
But when it comes to special teams, and kick or punt returners in particular, one thing that you need to focus on is health. It’s no wonder that you don’t see guys like Christian McCaffrey or Tyreek Hill returning kicks in the NFL; it’s not that they wouldn’t be elite in the position, but they’re too valuable to the team’s overall success to put them at extended risk.
So for Lorig, how much does that come into play when considering guys like James, Whittington, or Johnson as a returner?
“There’s nobody off limits,” Lorig said. “Bucky (Irving) not being on last year was my decision initially and then obviously coach (Lanning) supported it. Because once Noah (Whittington) went down, you’re just sort of more limited at running back, so we want to always try to look at the big picture.”
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At the moment, personnel limitations are not an issue in Eugene.
Both the running back and wide receiver rooms are loaded with talent and depth. Beyond the aforementioned players, you also have the likes of Jayden Limar, Gary Bryant Jr., Jeremiah McClellan, Jay Harris, and Justius Lowe taking reps at returner. On the defensive side of the ball, guys like Rodrick Pleasant and Nikko Reed are getting in the mix as well.
More than explosive returns, though, Lorig says that the real goal of his special teams unit is to be as vanilla as possible, and get the ball back to the offense.
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“We only have two goals in special teams: own the ball and no penalties,” Lorig said. “I don’t care if we’re first in the country in kickoff return as long as we own the football because we have a dynamic offense. If you give our offense the ball between the 20 and 30-yard line, we’re gonna score a lot of points.”
In 2023, the Ducks struggled to find much success in this area. Oregon ranked 124th in the nation (out of 130 teams) in overall kick return success, averaging just 15 yards per return. They’re looking to change that in 2024.
“What really comes first and foremost in our process is who’s gonna give us the best chance to make sure that we’re going to get the ball minimum at the 25 and then if that guy also was one of the most explosive returners, that’s a great thing.”
When you consider all that goes into it beyond just explosive talent with the ball in your hands, the decision becomes a lot more complicated. Fortunately for the Ducks, they have a lot of players to choose from going into the season.
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