Hall is dangerous with the ball in his hands
The Washington Redskins apparently are going to address an area that has been broken all season long.
DeAngelo Hall will be working closely with Danny Smith this week to get ready to handle the majority of the punts this week in Atlanta. The punt return duties will be taken away from Antwaan Randle El, he of the 5.2-yard average and two fumbles in 2009.
In 2006, his first year with the Redskins, Randle El averaged 8.8 yards per return with one touchdown and four returns of over 20 yards. His long return this year is 15 yards and, as I mentioned a couple of days ago, he has failed to give the struggling offense more favorable field position.
Hall served as an occasional punt returner during his four years with the Falcons. He ran back 13 punts for an average of 9.5 yards.
Zorn did not characterize the decision to go with Hall as a final decision but he did say that “one of the things that’s going to happen is we’re going to get another guy involved in punt returning and that’s going to be DeAngelo.”
Santana Moss will remain in the picture as well. Zorn said that he would try to get him a couple of returns a game. Moss has get to get untracked as a returner this year, with four returns for a 3.8-yard average. Last year Moss was spectacular in the role, running back six punts for a 20.7-yard average including an 80-yard touchdown return in Detroit.
Zorn also warned us that we’re “still going to see Antwaan out there” but it’s hard to imagine a situation where his particular style of punt returning, which generally entails dancing around and then diving for a couple of yards (when he’s not needlessly calling for a fair catch), would be needed.
Not sure if “better late than never” applies more here or if “it’s too little, too late”. Probably both, but it’s still a positive development.
