Shama: Antoine Winfield May Return Punts for Gophers

BleedGopher

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Safety and post-season Big Ten awards candidate Antoine Winfield Jr. was fielding punts at a recent Gophers football scrimmage open to the public and media. Winfield, who missed eight games last season because of injury, is part of an “experiment” by head coach P.J. Fleck to determine who will have the punt return job when the season opens August 30 at home against New Mexico State.

Fleck is also considering redshirt senior cornerback Antonio Shenault and true freshman wide receiver Rashod Bateman. Winfield is a redshirt sophomore who probably is Minnesota’s best player regardless of position.

No doubt Fleck wants an athlete with sure hands to become his No. 1 punt returner. He will welcome a playmaker at the position who can advance the ball up field when few could. The Gophers, who struggled to score points last season and could again in 2018, didn’t return a punt for a touchdown last season, or the year before.

Shenault shared punt returning last season with the departed Drew Hmielewski. Shenault had four returns for 11 yards. Winfield hasn’t returned punts in college, while Bateman has yet to step on the field for a college game.

Bateman made some difficult catches at last week’s scrimmage open to the public and media. “He’s like that everyday,” Fleck said.

http://shamasportsheadliners.com/

Go Gophers!!
 


Winfield and Bateman love it

I'm not sure if I like this. Wished that there was someone else who athletic enough to play the position that isn't already playing offense or defense. However you're not throwing a "cold" guy out on the field in this situation and recognize that this is a critical position let alone can be a tough one to play at times. However Marcus does well with the Vikings in this situation.
 


I say no to Winfield due to injury risk. We need him on defense

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Yeah, I was surprised to see him back there...looked a little lost. Not thrilled with either as a choice. I would suggest maybe Phil Howard?
 

If Bateman or Winfield are fielding punts, I suggest they employ the Leo Lewis strategy and fair catch every single one.
 





Winfield is a key to the defense and think it would be a big risk to injury to have him back there. Isn't there anyone else out there who could field them?
 

Winfield returned punts and kicks at The Woodlands High School and was lightening in a bottle. I was hoping that Winfield was going to make his way to returning punts, he is a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the ball. Kudos to the staff for giving this a try! Put your best players in position to help the team win and this is a great way to help win the special teams battle.
 

Winfield returned punts and kicks at The Woodlands High School and was lightening in a bottle. I was hoping that Winfield was going to make his way to returning punts, he is a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the ball. Kudos to the staff for giving this a try! Put your best players in position to help the team win and this is a great way to help win the special teams battle.

Thats how I feel too.
 



After thinking about it, mix it up a bit. If down or even and need a spark, Winfield would be good. Otherwise I would go with Howard or someone to avoid Winfield from getting injured. We need him on defense.
 

There is always a risk of injury in the return game. Putting injury-prone Howard out there would be fine until he gets injured. Can't put Winfield or Smith out there since they are too important. Bateman is too good to throw out there. There's always Tyrell Smith, but if you lose him, you lose depth in the defensive backfield.

So I guess Shenault for another 11 return yards this season?
 

After thinking about it, mix it up a bit. If down or even and need a spark, Winfield would be good. Otherwise I would go with Howard or someone to avoid Winfield from getting injured. We need him on defense.

I'll pass on Howard. Way too many drops at the end of last season. You need someone who's reliable with good hands.
 

Why not one of the FR RBs / WRs.. they could rotate even if Fleck is trying to preserve RedShirts to the point where they could get 4 Games in. You could rotate Williams, Edmonds & Manns which would allow them to get more on field experience.
 

nice. Good idea.

From his Bio...

Attended Robbinsdale Cooper High School • played in nine games at quarterback, defensive back and return specialist and led the Hawks to a 6-3 record • completed 45 passes for 802 yards and 11 touchdowns • rushed 66 times for 426 yards and six scores, while adding a catch for 43 yards • guided an offense that racked up 345 points (38.3 points per game) on the year • tallied six tackles on defense • named Associated Press Second Team All-State as an all-purpose contributor
 

I'm not sure if I like this. Wished that there was someone else who athletic enough to play the position that isn't already playing offense or defense. However you're not throwing a "cold" guy out on the field in this situation and recognize that this is a critical position let alone can be a tough one to play at times. However Marcus does well with the Vikings in this situation.

True. We should leave him on the bench to not risk injury. Wouldn’t want your best players on the field. That’s probably why Charles Woodson and D Sanders never returned punts in college.
 

Winfield at PR - Bleep, NO! How many times has someone on this board referred to Winfield as the most important player on the defense. So, let's put him in a situation where he has a higher risk of being injured.

I would put Winfield at PR only if no one else on the roster is capable of fielding a punt. I keep hearing about all these great athletes the Gophers are recruiting. One of them has to be able to catch a bleepin' punt, and maybe even run it back up field a few yards.

The first duty on PR is catch the ball. After that, any yards gained is a bonus.
 

Hell no. He's way too important. I find it hard to believe that we don't have some depth player athletes that returned punts in high school as well.

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True. We should leave him on the bench to not risk injury. Wouldn’t want your best players on the field. That’s probably why Charles Woodson and D Sanders never returned punts in college.
When you are as thin as we are for the secondary it's not worth the risk. Anthony Carter only did returns in the playoffs. I find it hard to believe that Winfield would be that big of an upgrade to justify the risk to our defense.

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True. We should leave him on the bench to not risk injury. Wouldn’t want your best players on the field. That’s probably why Charles Woodson and D Sanders never returned punts in college.

This is spot on! Anyone that thinks different is being very short sided. Put your best players on the field and let them make plays. Deion Sanders was the best player on FSU's defense and Charles Woodson (Heisman Trophy Winner) was certainly the best player on the Michigan defense and they both returned punts. Let's think outside the box and let our elite players get on the field as often as possible.
 

You should never play your best players in any play they might be injured on. In fact, don’t play them at all. There is absolutely no scientific evidence that kicking plays are any more dangerous than any other play. How many Minnesota kick returners have been injured in the last 20 years?
 


When you are as thin as we are for the secondary it's not worth the risk. Anthony Carter only did returns in the playoffs. I find it hard to believe that Winfield would be that big of an upgrade to justify the risk to our defense.

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Would somebody tell PJ this on Thursday at practice?
 

I'm in the "he is too valuable" camp.

Young team... don't know who we got... I don't like rolling the dice on a known great quantity like Winfield who will probabbly need to bail our asses out in the secondary as it is.
 

You should never play your best players in any play they might be injured on. In fact, don’t play them at all. There is absolutely no scientific evidence that kicking plays are any more dangerous than any other play. How many Minnesota kick returners have been injured in the last 20 years?

And as is often true you are absolutely wrong


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If he’s the best then he should do it. Field position is obviously sort of important.
 




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