Lito tagged as it....punt returner, that is....

PhillyGirl · October 21, 2005, 07:23:54 AM

QuoteEagles Notes Sheppard will add punt return duties

Eagles Notes

Lito Sheppard's role will expand Sunday when the Eagles play the San Diego Chargers at Lincoln Financial Field.

In addition to his duties as the starting left cornerback, he will be returning punts.

"Yeah, I'm going to do some," Sheppard said after practice yesterday. "Not every one, but you'll see me back there a couple of times."

When Sheppard isn't returning punts, Reno Mahe will handle the job instead of Dexter Wynn, who had been the Eagles' primary punt returner in the first five games.

Brian Westbrook will not be returning punts.

Sheppard was one of the most exciting punt returners in the country during his three seasons at the University of Florida, averaging 11.4 yards on 49 career returns. He also returned two punts for touchdowns.

"Look for me, especially early in the game," he said.

Sheppard handled seven punts a year ago, returning two of them for a total of 42 yards while calling for fair catches on five others. He also returned four punts for 15 yards with one fair catch in 2003 after Westbrook went down with a triceps injury.

Given his druthers, Sheppard said he would expand his duties beyond playing cornerback and returning punts.

"To tell you the truth, I've been begging for them to give me a chance on offense," he said. "I feel I can do that. The more they can get the ball in my hands, I'm all for it."

Sheppard will not return every punt because there may be times when he has to run with a receiver on third down before the Chargers line up to punt.

That's when Mahe will get a chance to return punts. Mahe was the Eagles' primary punt returner for the first nine games last season, then lost that role to Wynn after suffering an ankle injury.

Wynn initially did well as the Eagles' punt returner, breaking off runs of 40 and 30 yards in his first two games last season, but he has struggled on returns and with fielding the ball this season.

Special-teams coach John Harbaugh said he still has confidence in the second-year pro.

"I think Dexter Wynn is a great punt returner and a developing punt returner," Harbaugh said. "We saw him in the preseason make a heck of a play, so those plays are in him. He is capable of being a really productive punt returner."

Wynn returned one for a touchdown in the preseason against Baltimore. But for now, at least, he has lost that job.

Lito...just stop getting burned by he-shes in Dallas, k?

PoopyfaceMcGee · October 21, 2005, 07:38:38 AM

Wynn came back quickly from an injury and hasn't been the same. I like the move of putting Lito back there. He loves touching the ball and it will give him extra motivation to GET to 4th down.

PhillyGirl · October 21, 2005, 07:43:46 AM

I agree that I like Lito on PRs....I don't, however, want him talking about going on offense until he can slow down Terry Glenn....

Sgt PSN · October 21, 2005, 07:48:25 AM

Team Twenty-Suck approves of this move.

Quote from: PhillyGirl on October 21, 2005, 07:43:46 AM
I agree that I like Lito on PRs....I don't, however, want him talking about going on offense until he can slow down Terry Glenn....

Why not? If he's going to give up touchdowns the least he could do is score a couple to make up for it.

PoopyfaceMcGee · October 21, 2005, 07:49:00 AM

Maybe if he plays some offense once in a while, he'll have some insight into how defenses, like, stop offenses and stuff.

T_Section224 · October 21, 2005, 07:56:29 AM

like, that's crazy talk man...

ice grillin you · October 21, 2005, 07:58:05 AM

lets hope we dont have a sehorn scenario in our near future

PhillyGirl · October 21, 2005, 08:01:26 AM

We dont' need more options to THROW the ball.

PoopyfaceMcGee · October 21, 2005, 08:18:58 AM

Quote from: PhillyGirl on October 21, 2005, 08:01:26 AM
We dont' need more options to THROW the ball.

Not if Donovan's not healthy enough to find/hit the receivers we have. Correct.

PhillyPhreak54 · October 21, 2005, 08:22:08 AM

I don't mind this too much...better than #36 back there.

However...

1. Lito MUST hold the ball. He likes the fumbles.
2. Lito must go North-South. He likes to dance.

Reno is active again. So is Moats.

Will he have 4 RBs?

Diomedes · October 21, 2005, 08:23:40 AM

Quote from: ice grillin you on October 21, 2005, 07:58:05 AM
lets hope we dont have a sehorn scenario in our near future

That's exactly what I thought: Sehorn.

ice grillin you · October 21, 2005, 08:27:15 AM

what scares me even more than a freak injury is the other team knowing that if they can take out the punt returner they also eliminate a starting corner...

that being said i support the move

Larry · October 21, 2005, 08:55:00 AM

Of course Lito wants to play offense, he's was Spurrier's "Champ Bailey" at UF.

As long as he doesn't fumble, I'm fine with him being the punt returner.

rjs246 · October 21, 2005, 09:01:43 AM

Lito has the worst hands I've ever seen. That's why his highschool coaches made him a CB and that's why I'll stab my dog if he ever plays on the offensive side of the ball.

SunMo · October 21, 2005, 09:04:21 AM

Quote from: rjs246 on October 21, 2005, 09:01:43 AM
Lito has the worst hands I've ever seen. That's why his highschool coaches made him a CB and that's why I'll stab my dog if he ever plays on the offensive side of the ball.

c'mon, the worst hands you've EVER seen? i find that highly improbable. i can't believe that you haven't seen a parapeleic at some time in your life that has worse hands than Lito.