Atlanta Falcons: Who should be the team’s kick returner in 2017?
By Derek Snyder
We take a look at who should be returning kicks for the Atlanta Falcons now that veteran Eric Weems is no longer with the team.
If there’s one place where the Atlanta Falcons can improve this season, it’s in the return game. Dan Quinn has had Eric Weems in that spot over the past few seasons, but he didn’t have the breakaway speed that he used to possess. That being said, who is the best player to be returning kicks for the Falcons?
There are two guys that immediately come to mind when thinking about such a question: Tevin Coleman and Robert Alford.
These two players possess breakaway speed that is second-to-none and would give special teams coaches nightmares each week leading up to the game. Alford and Coleman are highlight-reels waiting to happen, as they have both torched the NFL with their open-field quickness.
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However, if Dan Quinn asked me who to put back there, which he wouldn’t, I would definitely call Coleman’s number. With Devonta Freeman already getting most of the carries, the team could afford to use Coleman’s talent elsewhere during games. This doesn’t mean he would never be featured in the offense, it would just mean he would assume his regular duties and return kicks.
There are very few defenders that have been able to take Coleman down in open field and not too many special teams guys will be able to either. Putting him in the kick returner role would not only help the team, but it would help the reigning MVP Matt Ryan.
Just think what this offense could do if they had a guy like Coleman getting them to the 35- or 40-yard line a few times a game. It would completely change the momentum and, more importantly, would give Ryan and the Falcons offense more room to do what they do best.
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Quinn should give Coleman a chance to prove himself in the preseason returning the football. He knows better than I do who the right person for the job is, but I think we would all like to see Coleman get an opportunity.