Coaches evaluate players
for position of punt returner
By Anne McLaren
Assistant
Sports Editor
When you have someone at the same position for
three years, he is usually hard to replace.
No, this isn't a story about replacing Drew Brees,
although he could qualify as well. But Vinny Sutherland was Purdue's
primary punt returner for the last three seasons and accumulated 684
yards on 59 returns in his career. Sutherland is first on career yardage,
single-season return yards (296) and single-season return yards per
attempt (16.4). He ranks second in career yardage per attempt (11.6).
"We're in constant evaluation in practice for (replacements),"
said assistant coach Scott Downing, who coaches special teams. "Have
we found anybody for that yet? No. We're still looking. We've got to
get those kinds of things live."
So coach Joe Tiller and the rest of the coaching
staff are incorporating something this season they've yet to do in spring
practice.
"We're going to practice punt return in the spring,"
said Downing. "Not so much for the team but for the guys who are returning
the ball, because we've got to get a chance to see them running the
ball live."
"The guys that we're looking at as returners are
young guys."
Stu Schweigert, Taylor Stubblefield, Deaunte Ferrell,
Gary Heaggans — all underclassmen — are the top candidates.
Downing said in all, nine or 10 people have been catching the ball;
others include Chuck McQuaid, Seth Morales and Andre Henderson.
"We're just trying to get a feel for those guys,"
said Downing. "And we have time, but yet there is a sense of urgency
because it would be nice to go into the fall with a guy you think would
be the returner and you can hone everything up with him."
In Saturday's scrimmage, the Boilers practiced
punting, returning and tackling live.
"We had Morales, McQuaid and Stubblefield," said
Tiller. "I thought that McQuaid did the best job of the guys. McQuaid
fielded the ball cleanly and did a nice job."
Morales, a wide receiver preparing for his second
season in West Lafayette after transferring from Butler, fielded punts
with the Bulldogs.
"So I've got a little experience," he said. "It's
a little nerve-racking back there but I can handle the situation if
I get put into it."
Morales said he averaged approximately 10 yards
per return with Butler.
There is also the question of who will return kickoffs.
The Boilers must replace Chris Clopton and Sutherland. Clopton is Purdue's
all-time leader in kickoff returns with 1,553 yards on 73 returns.
"We'll probably end up, like Coach Tiller usually
does, taking a good look at all of the incoming freshmen to see what
they can contribute to us," said Downing. "And if they're going to figure
in the mix at their positions, then what can they do for us on special
teams? With the athleticism of the incoming class I think we'll have
some guys we can plug in and help us.
"But as long as we've been here, we get better
and better athletes on the team. That always helps us on special teams.
But everybody else has upped the ante too. So you've got to get good
every year."
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