The Detroit Lions Have a Kick Return Problem That Needs To Be Fixed

Through three weeks, the Detroit Lions have yet to benefit from taking a kick return out of the end zone, costing themselves field position.

There were plenty of frustrating things about the Detroit Lions‘ week three loss at the Green Bay Packers, but one was watching Andre Roberts run kickoffs out of the end zone only to come up well short of the 25-yard line.

That happened on three occasions when all he had to do was take a knee and the Lions offense would take over on their own 25. Instead, he brought it out but only reached the 21, 13 and 18 in his three kickoff returns.

Last week was the most extreme example but it’s an issue that has been evident in all three games so far. Here is the play-by-play data from ESPN for the five times Lions kick returners have brought the ball out of the end zone.

Week 1 at Colts
(8:41 – 3rd) P.McAfee kicks 68 yards from IND 35 to DET -3. A.Roberts to DET 19 for 22 yards (E.Swoope).

Week 2 vs. Titans
(12:03 – 2nd) R.Succop kicks 68 yards from TEN 35 to DET -3. D.Washington to DET 22 for 25 yards (J.McCourty). PENALTY on TEN-K.Byard, Offside on Free Kick, 5 yards, enforced at DET 22.

Week 3 at Packers
(1:01 – 1st) M.Crosby kicks 69 yards from GB 35 to DET -4. A.Roberts to DET 21 for 25 yards (K.Fackrell; K.Brice).
(14:46 – 2nd) M.Crosby kicks 70 yards from GB 35 to DET -5. A.Roberts to DET 13 for 18 yards (J.Thomas).
(3:14 – 3rd) M.Crosby kicks 72 yards from GB 35 to DET -7. A.Roberts to DET 18 for 25 yards (M.Evans; J.Elliott).

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Add it all up and that’s 32 yards in lost field position just because the kick returner didn’t take a knee. Fortunately those decisions haven’t cost the Lions points yet, but Roberts’ third quarter return to the 18 against the Packers started a drive that ended in a 50-yard field goal. Prater nailed it, but it was a kick that was made more difficult because of poor starting field position.

The subject of kick returns came up in Jim Caldwell’s press conference on Monday.

"There are sometimes in some situations, you’ve seen we have taken a knee. There’s other times where you try and bring it out. I think sometimes it may be that five yards or so, you look at the percentages, you check the percentages in terms of drives that start at a particular position and end in a score. It’s rather slim in terms of the difference between percentage points, between the 19 and the 23 for example. But the opportunity to maybe get it out beyond that, if you think you’ve got a good return that you can get blocked up, sometimes that’s worth the risk, so sometimes we’ll take a shot at it."

Is it just me or does this sound a lot like Jim Leyland’s pinch-hitting strategy, just hoping someone “runs into one”, just a little bit?

Yes, it’s true that by settling for a touchback you sacrifice the opportunity for something greater. But is there reason for confidence a Lions kick returner will “run into one” like Leyland sending Marcus Thames to the plate? So far the answer has to be no.

Dwayne Washington showed promise with his preseason kick return for a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers. If he gets more regular time as the primary kick returner, bringing the ball out of the end zone on occasion may make sense. But Andre Roberts? Sorry, he just doesn’t show that kind of potential.

Next: Teryl Austin will be patient, but not too patient

As long as Roberts is fielding kicks, there should be no reason for him to leave the end zone.

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