Rams looking for more from punt returns

Rams looking for more from punt returns

By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/13879/rams-looking-for-more-from-punt-returns

EARTH CITY, Mo. — Considering that the most exciting play from the St. Louis Rams this season came on a punt return featuring the height of creativity, it might sound strange but after 11 weeks, the Rams are still searching for the type of punt return game they’d hoped could regularly threaten opponents.

Stedman Bailey’s 90-yard punt return will surely spin on replays of the best plays of the 2014 season for many years to come. But aside from that entertaining highlight, the Rams and punt returner Tavon Austin have been largely unable to make a dent.

Factoring in Bailey’s return, the Rams rank a more than respectable 10th in the league in yards per punt return at 9.86. That average comes from a total of 217 yards on 22 returns. But Austin, who offered plenty of excitement in the role as a rookie, has mostly been stuck running in place when he does attempt a return.

For the season, Austin has 20 returns for 126 yards, an average of 6.3 yards per attempt, with no touchdowns. That represents a decline from 2013 when Austin averaged 8.48 yards per return and had a touchdown against Indianapolis.

Special teams coach John Fassel said the Rams haven’t done much different but did note that teams are kicking to Austin a little different from week to week.

“Really we haven’t changed anything as far as really our drills in practice,” Fassel said. “We’ve tweaked the scheme just a little bit, just like we normally would. Denver’s punter didn’t give us a chance because he hit the high short kicks, the rugby type kicks. So, it’s a combination of blocking and then getting the right ball. We’ve got a few of them, but we didn’t capitalize. Hopefully, in these next six games we’ll get a few chances.”

Austin hasn’t exactly been flush with opportunities but when he does get them, he has seemed indecisive at times. At others, he seems to get caught running east and west rather than north and south. But Fassel said he has had no problems with how Austin has approached his return chances.

“There’s a little bit of strategy based on the type of punter that we’re facing, whether he’s going to catch-and-go or catch-and-set,” Fassel said. “Different things we work on based on the return call and the type of punter we’re getting. Yeah, and I’d like to get more out of it, but I’m very optimistic that we’re going to get better these next couple weeks.”

This week, the Rams face the San Diego Chargers and punter Mike Scifres. Scifres has been one of the most consistent punters in the league for years but has been middle of the pack for most of this season. The Chargers have allowed 18 returns for 162 yards, an average of 9 yards per attempt. But Scifres has 21 punts that haven’t been returned this season.

That puts the onus on Austin toe make the right decision, an area Fassel believes is a strength.

“There’s certain calls and alignments we’ll be in where he knows he’s probably going to fair catch it, unless the punter just screams one at him,” Fassel said. “We’re never telling him, ‘Fair catch it or don’t fair catch it.’ It’s really a judgment call that in my opinion he’s been very good at making the right decisions.”