DeathByLinebacker Posted December 17, 2002 Share Posted December 17, 2002 On the radio tonite Spurrier said that they might sign someone off of someone elses practice squad who was a very good punt returner in college. He wouldn't say who it was because it's not a done deal yet. Anyone have any idea who it might be? I don't think it's a Gator since the Eagles have Lito Sheppard and we already have Gillespie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dayumnuttinleft Posted December 17, 2002 Share Posted December 17, 2002 Death The we already have a really good punt returner on our Practice Squad in Bruce Branch, great speed ran a few back for TD's at PSU................ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeathByLinebacker Posted December 17, 2002 Author Share Posted December 17, 2002 Hmmm, I didn't realize he was that good. I do think Spurrier said someone elses practice squad though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skins57 Posted December 17, 2002 Share Posted December 17, 2002 It will be a shame if Skaggs doesn't get a shot at returning kicks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddha Posted December 17, 2002 Share Posted December 17, 2002 The punt returner we will sign is none other than... AARON LOCKETT He's currently on San Francisco's practice squad where we mined Thunderfoot Jarrett, and played for K-State along with Rock Cartwright. He's too small to be a WR but was one of the fastest players in the 2002 draft and is an EXPERIENCED punt returner. Mark my words...this is the guy that will replace Hands Bailey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zen-like Todd Posted December 17, 2002 Share Posted December 17, 2002 Good call Buddha, I bet you're right. That could be fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeathByLinebacker Posted December 17, 2002 Author Share Posted December 17, 2002 Any relation to our departed friend in Jacksonville? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMac Posted December 17, 2002 Share Posted December 17, 2002 Originally posted by DeathByLinebacker Any relation to our departed friend in Jacksonville? Yes, he is Kevin's brother except this guy is shorter but a hell of alot faster! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddha Posted December 17, 2002 Share Posted December 17, 2002 Just dug up some college stats on him... In 2000, Lockett had 22 punt returns for 501 yards and three touchdowns (22.8-yard average) to lead the nation. In 2001, he returned 14 kickoffs for 397 yards (28.4 yard average) and one touchdown and 32 punts for 344 yards (10.8 yard average). Can't think of a better player to fit the role of "punt returner signed from someone else's practice squad." Plus he might be an interesting player to introduce into the receiver mix in camp next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GatorEye Posted December 17, 2002 Share Posted December 17, 2002 We have a return guy on our practice squad - Gillespie. He returned kicks at UF. He has great moves - a breakaway threat. I don't know why SOS hasn't promoted him off the practice squad to fill the open roster spot. I'd much rather have him back there returning kicks than Champ who could end up getting hurt and leaving us thin at CB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsThug Posted December 17, 2002 Share Posted December 17, 2002 Aren't we due to find an all-pro off someone else's practice squad? :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevea Posted December 17, 2002 Share Posted December 17, 2002 I think it would be great to pick up a PR from someone else's Practice Squad. But I wouldn't stop there. If we have a slot or two available on our roster there are several promising players to choose from: - DT Nate Dwyer, Cardinals - DT Mario Monds (remember him?), Bengals - OG Chad Ward, Browns - OG/OT Tarlos Thomas, Houston Nice to hear that we're at least thinking about it ... but I'd rather that SOS and Company kept their big mouths shut and do it quickly and quietly. HTTR! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted December 17, 2002 Share Posted December 17, 2002 Originally posted by GatorEye We have a return guy on our practice squad - Gillespie. He returned kicks at UF. He has great moves - a breakaway threat. I don't know why SOS hasn't promoted him off the practice squad to fill the open roster spot. I'd much rather have him back there returning kicks than Champ who could end up getting hurt and leaving us thin at CB. I agree. Putting Watson and Betts back there right now is stupid. I'm all for Skaggs and Gillespie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeathByLinebacker Posted December 17, 2002 Author Share Posted December 17, 2002 Well, no one was added today. I wonder if it's going to happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeletor The Invincible Posted December 17, 2002 Share Posted December 17, 2002 LOCKETT! I remember him when he was with Tampa Bay in our preseason game. Very very fast. Held my breath when he returned punts. He would be an excellent addition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwankGator Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 I really don't think Gillespie is that great of a player. I used to cringe when Spurrier would sub him in for Graham at UF. He simply could never break a tackle and averaged about a yard less per carry than Graham. He wasn't much of a return man either. The one thing he did excel at was catching passes out of the backfield. (41 receptions for 445 yards in 2001). He only had 62 yards on 2 kickoffs in 2001. In fact, he only returned 17 kicks in his career at UF with 10 during his freshman year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddha Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 Tomorrow's WP says the Skins promoted Bruce Branch and Todd Franz from the practice squad to fill the two open spots. Does anyone have stats on Branch's returns in college? I'm too lazy to look... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GatorEye Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 Originally posted by SwankGator I really don't think Gillespie is that great of a player. I used to cringe when Spurrier would sub him in for Graham at UF. He simply could never break a tackle and averaged about a yard less per carry than Graham. He wasn't much of a return man either. The one thing he did excel at was catching passes out of the backfield. (41 receptions for 445 yards in 2001). He only had 62 yards on 2 kickoffs in 2001. In fact, he only returned 17 kicks in his career at UF with 10 during his freshman year. Simply never break a tackle? Man did you ever WATCH a UF game? He has great moves. First - he ranks 10th on UF's all purpose yardage list. I wouldn't say that's any small feat. Second - you're stating he has a 31 yard average on kickoff returns. Yeah I can see why we wouldn't want that. Third - he averaged less than Graham because he was used more as a third down back catching balls out of the backfield than a between the tackles type guy. Honestly I don't know why SOS didn't give him more of a chance. Here's the reaction after an early preseason game: http://www.extremeskins.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11971 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwankGator Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 Yes, I have watched every UF game since my freshman year in 1990 and some before that. Gillespie has some speed and moves, but he simply never broke many tackles. Graham was a much better runner and it showed in the statistics. Graham: 125 carries, 650 yards, 5.2 avg. Gillespie: 94 carries, 395 yards, 4.2 avg. In games where Gillespie started due to Graham's injury, he managed a whopping: 4 yards on 12 attempts (Auburn) 21 yards on 9 attempts (Tennessee) Gillespie's strong point was catching passes out of the backfield. But since the Skins are searching for a return man, let us focus on return statistics for a moment. Saying that he is a good return man due to a 31 yard average per return is fine until you look at one stat -- 2 attempts. Two attempts is statistically meaningless. Oh, I almost forgot. He never returned a punt in college. I would pick Gillespie in one situation -- if it was either him or Champ. At least Robert would catch the damn ball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwampSkin Posted December 18, 2002 Share Posted December 18, 2002 I may be going out a limb here, but I believe Jon Capel is on KC's practic squad. For those that don't know he was the fastest WR ever to play for SOS and return punts occasionally too. He was in the 2000 olympics where in the trials he ran a sub 20.00 in the 200. He was expected to take home the gold in that event, but he muffed the start. Chicago drafted him, and now, like I said, he's with KC I think. Lightning speed is the only way to describe him. He concentrated on track as much as football so that might've had a lot to do with why he didn't shine under SOS. who knows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeathByLinebacker Posted December 18, 2002 Author Share Posted December 18, 2002 Actually, I looked for Jon Capel on KC's roster (which includes practice squad) the other day and he wasn't there. I thought of the Olympian too. Anyway, the team brought up 2 guys from our practice squad yesterday to fill our 2 empty spots so I don't think this is going to go down. One of the guys we did bring up is Bruce Branch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GatorEye Posted December 19, 2002 Share Posted December 19, 2002 Originally posted by SwankGator I would pick Gillespie in one situation -- if it was either him or Champ. At least Robert would catch the damn ball. Thank you for making my point!!!! Why not have Gillespie on the roster to return punts when you had roster spots open instead of rotting away on the practice squad? He can't do worse than Champ and if he gets injured, we don't lose our best starting CB - it makes no sense! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GatorEye Posted December 19, 2002 Share Posted December 19, 2002 Originally posted by SwampSkin I may be going out a limb here, but I believe Jon Capel is on KC's practic squad. For those that don't know he was the fastest WR ever to play for SOS and return punts occasionally too. He was in the 2000 olympics where in the trials he ran a sub 20.00 in the 200. He was expected to take home the gold in that event, but he muffed the start. Chicago drafted him, and now, like I said, he's with KC I think. Lightning speed is the only way to describe him. He concentrated on track as much as football so that might've had a lot to do with why he didn't shine under SOS. who knows. Excellent point - I remember watching that race. I know he was devastated as he could have easily won. If he isn't on KC's squad now - where is he? Did he give up track and field completely? I though he left UF football to concentrate on track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeathByLinebacker Posted December 19, 2002 Author Share Posted December 19, 2002 Capel must be out of the NFL. Here's the Cheifs roster including IR and practice squad: http://www.kcchiefs.com/player_roster_alphabetical.asp His page at NFL.com still says Cheifs though, which means that no one else has picked him up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dayumnuttinleft Posted December 19, 2002 Share Posted December 19, 2002 Hey Guys Capel is a burner, and a weed burner too, he was busted when he was with the Bears for subsatnce abuse, then went to the Chiefs. I think he's out of the league now. But I told you guys that Branch would be the return man, you guys will be happy with him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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