Ray Davis is suddenly a really good kick returner

[Roundybout]

 

 

I felt Davis had a poor start to the season at running back, but he’s really shined at returner! He made the offense’s life way easier yesterday with his long returns. 

[mushypeaches]

Great to see him embracing and succeeding in this role after a rough start to the season

 

Not every RB has the maturity to realize that when they're not getting carries, that they need to be major ST contributors

[Simon]

 

I want to see McDermott throw him a bone and let him become the first player in NFL history to play snaps at both K and KR in the same game.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

Heard an interesting take that with the new kickoff rules, the kick offs are actually more like wide zone running plays. So it makes sense that a pure RB is doing well in that role.

 

beyond this, why isn’t Ray on the field more? He has been explosive in KRs, and even on his one little catch yesterday, he showed a lot of juice. 

[Simon]

Just now, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

beyond this, why isn’t Ray on the field more? He has been explosive in KRs, and even on his one little catch yesterday, he showed a lot of juice. 

 

Cook and Ty Johnson are both clutch guys that are simply hard to take off the field.

When Davis has had any room whatsoever to work with at RB, he's been effective; he just wasn't getting that space earlier in the year through no fault of his own.

[SageAgainstTheMachine]

1 minute ago, Simon said:

 

I want to see McDermott throw him a bone and let him become the first player in NFL history to play snaps at both K and KR in the same game.

 

There are definitely certain coaches who would do that if the Jets game is meaningless and a blowout.  For better or worse, I don't think McD would.  I can't remember anything similar aside from Kyle Williams getting the TD and that was a rookie HC throwing a bone to the franchise's most venerated player.

[Simon]

Just now, SageAgainstTheMachine said:

There are definitely certain coaches who would do that if the Jets game is meaningless and a blowout.  For better or worse, I don't think McD would. 

 

It could be considered right on the edge of being disrespectful, which is likely enough for McDermott to not even consider it.

[BuffaloRebound]

Gotta find him some carries.  Ride the hot hand which he has right now.  

[st pete gogolak]

I was going to post about how bizarre all this is.  Last year he was really good. Promising backup to Cook. Early this year he was horrible.  Now, he’s the best KR in the league and you’d hope he gets some snaps in the last three years.  It would be like Karlos Williams eating his way out of the league and then coming back and making the Pro Bowl.

[Roundybout]

4 minutes ago, st pete gogolak said:

I was going to post about how bizarre all this is.  Last year he was really good. Promising backup to Cook. Early this year he was horrible.  Now, he’s the best KR in the league and you’d hope he gets some snaps in the last three years.  It would be like Karlos Williams eating his way out of the league and then coming back and making the Pro Bowl.

I don’t know if this makes sense, but I wonder if he has poor field vision when everything’s cramped at the line of scrimmage, but when everything is spread out on returns he sees the holes and lanes better. 

[MikePJ76]

He has been outstanding at this since october.  Where have you been?

[SoonerBillsFan]

22 minutes ago, Roundybout said:

 

 

I felt Davis had a poor start to the season at running back, but he’s really shined at returner! He made the offense’s life way easier yesterday with his long returns. 

Hey top KR and backup QB is an important role. And one that can keep him in the league, and in this team, for a long time.

 

Dare I say Pro bowl appearance as the AFC desagnee for returns?

[mannc]

Davis has looked good on returns, but I think what’s happened is that Tabor has unlocked something scheme-wise…those returns are wide open…Hardman had a couple big returns too, before he got hurt.

[TheWei44]

He seems to have the ideal combination of power, size and spins/elusiveness to be tough to bring down once he gets going on returns.

[transient]

10 minutes ago, Roundybout said:

I don’t know if this makes sense, but I wonder if he has poor field vision when everything’s cramped at the line of scrimmage, but when everything is spread out on returns he sees the holes and lanes better. 

I think, as a RB, getting a head of steam and taking these right up the gut has been a huge reason that he's successful. He's not looking for a lane to the outside, he's hitting people head on and popping out the other side. I also think the confidence that he's gotten from this role has helped him when he does get carries. He looks more decisive and quicker... unless he was nursing an injury to start the season.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

27 minutes ago, Simon said:

 

Cook and Ty Johnson are both clutch guys that are simply hard to take off the field.

When Davis has had any room whatsoever to work with at RB, he's been effective; he just wasn't getting that space earlier in the year through no fault of his own.

IMO, Davis has earned more touches. He has looked explosive. 
 

I am guessing Brady reads this board and has stolen my ideas, because I was calling for using Ty and Cook in the backfield together for many weeks (after seeing what Atlanta did). So, maybe he will steal this idea too, and figure out a way to get all three RBs out there at the same time!! 

[Juice_32]

Ray has done a great job. Offensive touches are going to continue to be tough to come by though. Ty is a better receiver and Cook is a top 5 RB. Ray is a lesser version of both of them but a solid 3, especially if he can keep it up on the returns.

[gonzo1105]

45 minutes ago, mannc said:

Davis has looked good on returns, but I think what’s happened is that Tabor has unlocked something scheme-wise…those returns are wide open…Hardman had a couple big returns too, before he got hurt.

I agree here. I’d have to look at it specifically but I’m sure it has something to do schematically that they are doing differently 

[Prospector]

1 hour ago, SageAgainstTheMachine said:

 

There are definitely certain coaches who would do that if the Jets game is meaningless and a blowout.  For better or worse, I don't think McD would.  I can't remember anything similar aside from Kyle Williams getting the TD and that was a rookie HC throwing a bone to the franchise's most venerated player.

I thought it was a 2pt conversion

45 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

IMO, Davis has earned more touches. He has looked explosive. 
 

I am guessing Brady reads this board and has stolen my ideas, because I was calling for using Ty and Cook in the backfield together for many weeks (after seeing what Atlanta did). So, maybe he will steal this idea too, and figure out a way to get all three RBs out there at the same time!! 

Wishbone!

[hondo in seattle]

1 hour ago, Roundybout said:

 

 

I felt Davis had a poor start to the season at running back, but he’s really shined at returner! He made the offense’s life way easier yesterday with his long returns. 

 

This has been a revelation to me...  I didn't think Davis had the speed, decisiveness, or explosiveness to be a good returner.  I'm glad to have been very, very wrong.