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Baltimore Ravens Need A Kick Returner To Stand Out

By Tj Ray

Jun 14, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Kaelin Clay (16) fields a punt in front of cornerback Tavon Young (43) during the first day of minicamp sessions at Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 14, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Kaelin Clay (16) fields a punt in front of cornerback Tavon Young (43) during the first day of minicamp sessions at Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Baltimore Ravens Need A Kick Returner To Step Up And Take The Job:

Head Coach John Harbaugh recently announced that the Baltimore Ravens still haven’t found their punt returner or kick returner. So far this preseason, Michael Campanaro, Kenneth Dixon, Tavon Young, Stephen Houston, Terrance West, and Kaelin Clay have all returned punts or kicks.

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Many expected rookie Keenan Reynolds to have a shot, but he has yet to return a punt or a kick after struggling during training camp. Reynolds clearly has talent. He scored more touchdowns at Navy than any other College Football Player. The Navy quarterback has not seen this talent translate into the NFL so far.

It seems the job is Campanaro’s to lose. His biggest issue is his ability to stay on the field. With Campanaro however, it’s always been two steps forward and three steps back. His injuries have always kept him from making any real progress.

There’s always the possibility of a veteran such as Steve Smith Sr. or Lardarius Webb taking over. The fact is that the Raven’s can’t risk either of them getting injured on special teams. In his younger days, Smith was a great return specialist. Now that he’s 37 and coming off of a season ending Achilles injury, it’s too risky.

Webb has the skill-set to be a great returner, but with the weakness of the Ravens secondary, the risk of injury is simply to great. With all of that in mind, Campanaro seems like the obvious choice.

However, there is an unlikely hero that might step forward in the next two preseason games if given the chance. Breshad Perriman is finally off the PUP and practicing. If the stories about his catching ability improving are true, he’d be a great option at return specialist.

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This of course depends on his ability to stay healthy. At the very least, it could be a way for the sophomore receiver who’s never seen the field to win the hearts of rightfully suspicious Ravens fans.

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