I've noticed that you are able to recruit 'returners' as well as obviously select who you want as your returner on your team. My question is...do you guys tend to do anything particular to target these guys in recruiting or 'optimize' anyone on your team to fit this role in any form of 'specialist' manner? I'm familiar with players at the NFL as well as the collegiate level that are definitely known more as punt/kick return specialists rather than position players, but my observations are that since a lot of the raw statistics that go into 'return rating' overlap with the common positional ratings, there really isn't much of a specialist or special teams aspect to GD since, say, targeting recruiting a stud returner can overlap heavily with just recruiting a star RB/WR/DB/etc. I'm looking at the default role ratings (I've heard from a few experienced coaches that these aren't great, so I'm keeping that in mind) and it looks like there is a ton of similarity between returners and DBs.

Since we can't just tell one specific player to have, say, only Special Teams formation training while the players in his position have their normal positional formations, is it really possible to create a so called return guy? How significant is this returner position to you guys and how much thought do you guys put into it?

I have toyed with the idea of recruiting a returner specialist but have yet to do so. I have always done ok with just the guys I have on my roster. Not sure there is benefit in having a roster spot specifically for a returner if his regular position role rating is far below what you would normally recruit.

I don't think there is any value in a return specialist because I value Special Teams formation IQ when I'm choosing my returner. If you did the same, your return specialist would just be soaking up a roster spot until he was a senior.

I have found that usually a stud WR or HB is your best returner anyways.

Posted by jhunterz on 11/15/2017 1:46:00 PM (view original):
I have found that usually a stud WR or HB is your best returner anyways.

Or "DB"

Posted by jhunterz on 11/15/2017 1:46:00 PM (view original):
I have found that usually a stud WR or HB is your best returner anyways.

Agreed. I never even consider a return specialist when recruiting. Just recruit the best guys for your system, then select the best option as your returner. When choosing my returner I tend to focus on elusiveness first (with a minimum level of speed), then speed. Strength only as a third consideration, but not that important as a returner to me. I also seem to get better return results when I increase special teams practice.