Newman On All Punt Returns?

Jean-Jacques Taylor over at the Dallas Morning News has this article up in the pay section of their football coverage. His basic premise is that Dallas needs to do something to spark the offense and suggests Terence Newman's speed on punt returns could be a key factor in getting field position or even scoring TD's himself. This is an interesting debate.

While everything was going good on offense, there's no way I wanted one of our star cornerbacks taking a chance of getting injured on punt returns. But now, it may be time to pull out all the stops and take advantage of every weapon we have at our disposal. On the flip side, all could be doomed if Newman goes down and Anthony Henry remains gimpy. Here's how Jean-Jacques leads off his article.

The time has come to let cornerback Terence Newman become a full-time punt returner.

The offense is stagnant and Tyson Thompson hasn’t been a factor on kickoff returns in more than a month. The way to improve field position and help the offense is to let Newman be a punt returner. After all, he was one of the best in the nation as a senior at Kansas State, and he has shown the ability to do it well on this level in limited opportunities.

Newman has definitely been taking more of the punt returns recently, is it time for him to do it full-time, at least for a few games in hopes we get things turned around?

Opinions please in the comments section.

Comments

[Monkey McGee]

Man, that's a risky proposition. All we have working for us right now is the defense--I'd hate to lose #41 on a punt return.

Since Crayton is back, why shouldn't he resume duties returning kicks? He seemed to be doing pretty well and, as valuable as he is, replacing a third receiver isn't as devastating as losing a corner like Newman.

[Grizz]

It is a risky proposition. Crayton is solid on catching punts and getting a short return. But he doesn't have the speed to break it open.

Imagine over the past few games if we could've gotten great field position on 1 or 2 big returns. Or, heaven forbid, we actually score a TD on special teams. Those losses could've easily turned into wins.

It's a tough call, risk injury or get a playmaker on the field with the ball in his hands.

[Terry]

I'm all for Newman returning punts. He gives something in the return game that we haven't had since Deion. The guy can fly and has great moves. Sure its risky as he's our only healthy CB right now, but the offense needs help and the Cowboys have to start winning games. A healthy Newman playing D isn't going to help us if we only score 13 points against KC and lose. Plus he could break one for the distance something Crayton probably can't do.
As Jimmy Johnson used to say, you have to win two out of three from the offense, defense and special team phases of the game. Right now we're losing the offense phase and just playing even on special teams. We need to start winning the special team phase and I can't see a better way of doing that than having Newman return punts. It definitely could give us that spark we need and maybe even energize the offense.

[Tom]

I like the way Parcells has Newman returning punts when the opposing team is punting from inside their own 35 or wherever the cut off line is, and let Crayton take the rest. Its protecting Newman from injury, saving his legs for 4thQ, and Crayton is no slouch as a punt returner. He will be better than Price was. I don't think Newman should return punts full time. If he goes down with the current situation at CB, Dallas will be done for sure.