DIESELMAN
06-05-2007, 03:52 AM
Willie Reid is out again with an injury, so the Steelers turned to an old face as a return man yesterday. They've also taken a liking to an undrafted rookie from a Division III school.
http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/43/436135.jpg
PITTSBURGH – The new punt returner – or at least he’s new to the position this year – drifted back to field the booming punt off the leg of rookie Dan Sepulveda.
He drifted, and he drifted, and he drifted, and then he put one hand back behind his head in a crude attempt to catch it. Of course, the ball banged off Ricardo Colclough’s hand for what would’ve been a fumble inside the 10-yard line.
It was Colclough’s first attempt at a punt return since his disastrous fumble cost the Steelers a game against the Cincinnati Bengalsmlast Sept. 24. Colclough rebounded yesterday at the Steelers’ OTA to catch the second punt. The third punt – he was among a group of four players – bounced off his chest before he corralled it.
The punt team then threw the next punt and Colclough caught it with ease. His chance at a kickoff was made easier by a simple lateral from an assistant coach. Colclough handled that one easily, too. He then went to the far field to work on returns after practice with special teams coach Bob Ligashesky.
Is this a major rehabilitation process? Shouldn’t Ligashesky first put Colclough on the couch and work his mind?
“He has a clean slate with us,” said Ligashesky, who used Colclough yesterday because “when someone goes down, you look for people.”
The “someone” down is punt returner Willie Reid, who’s entering his second week of inactivity because of another foot injury.
Last week, offensive coordinator Bruce Arians reported that Reid injured the same foot he injured last season, “but not in the same spot,” said Arians, who didn’t believe the injury to be serious.
Ligashesky wouldn’t comment on Reid’s injury, referring the questioner to trainer John Norwig. But since Norwig doesn’t discuss injuries with anyone but the head coach, and since Coach Mike Tomlin won’t discuss anything with reporters until the final day of spring workouts (June 14), the details of Reid’s injury are on hold.
So, Ligashesky is looking at returners such as Colclough, Santonio Holmes, Cedrick Wilson and a No. 14, a rookie who’s a core member of the ever-changing group of return men this spring.
Who’s number 14 anyway?
Chris Jackson from Millsaps College,” he said when asked to talk about himself. “I’ve taken maybe five back in my college career. They kind of like me. I’ve been catching a lot of punts, kickoffs; haven’t dropped any. They’re kind of giving me a shot back there.”
Millhaps?
“Millsaps,” Jackson said. “It’s a D-3 school in Jackson, Mississippi. Mike Dubose is the head coach there.”
Last year, Jackson (6-2, 205) led the Millsaps Majors with 65 receptions and 12 touchdowns. Three of those touchdowns came on returns. He averaged 15.5 per punt return (two TDs in same game) and 22.7 per kickoff return.
Jackson said “probably nine or 10 teams” wooed him after the draft, but he signed with the Steelers “because I like the Steelers, as far as their history goes. I want to become a part of the Steeler family.”
He has to like his place in the pecking order. He’s behind a player with a history of injuries and running even with a notorious fumbler. It’s an opportunity for Jackson.
“Yep, it is,” he said. “Take it to its best and go from there.”
By JimWexell
SteelCityInsider.com
Posted 4 June 2007
With Reid out, for who knows how long, this will be interesting who will be our returner. If it is Colclough, I hope its a different 2007 version of him. Don't know much about Jackson but it sounds like he's got a helluva lot better hands the Colclough.
http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/43/436135.jpg
PITTSBURGH – The new punt returner – or at least he’s new to the position this year – drifted back to field the booming punt off the leg of rookie Dan Sepulveda.
He drifted, and he drifted, and he drifted, and then he put one hand back behind his head in a crude attempt to catch it. Of course, the ball banged off Ricardo Colclough’s hand for what would’ve been a fumble inside the 10-yard line.
It was Colclough’s first attempt at a punt return since his disastrous fumble cost the Steelers a game against the Cincinnati Bengalsmlast Sept. 24. Colclough rebounded yesterday at the Steelers’ OTA to catch the second punt. The third punt – he was among a group of four players – bounced off his chest before he corralled it.
The punt team then threw the next punt and Colclough caught it with ease. His chance at a kickoff was made easier by a simple lateral from an assistant coach. Colclough handled that one easily, too. He then went to the far field to work on returns after practice with special teams coach Bob Ligashesky.
Is this a major rehabilitation process? Shouldn’t Ligashesky first put Colclough on the couch and work his mind?
“He has a clean slate with us,” said Ligashesky, who used Colclough yesterday because “when someone goes down, you look for people.”
The “someone” down is punt returner Willie Reid, who’s entering his second week of inactivity because of another foot injury.
Last week, offensive coordinator Bruce Arians reported that Reid injured the same foot he injured last season, “but not in the same spot,” said Arians, who didn’t believe the injury to be serious.
Ligashesky wouldn’t comment on Reid’s injury, referring the questioner to trainer John Norwig. But since Norwig doesn’t discuss injuries with anyone but the head coach, and since Coach Mike Tomlin won’t discuss anything with reporters until the final day of spring workouts (June 14), the details of Reid’s injury are on hold.
So, Ligashesky is looking at returners such as Colclough, Santonio Holmes, Cedrick Wilson and a No. 14, a rookie who’s a core member of the ever-changing group of return men this spring.
Who’s number 14 anyway?
Chris Jackson from Millsaps College,” he said when asked to talk about himself. “I’ve taken maybe five back in my college career. They kind of like me. I’ve been catching a lot of punts, kickoffs; haven’t dropped any. They’re kind of giving me a shot back there.”
Millhaps?
“Millsaps,” Jackson said. “It’s a D-3 school in Jackson, Mississippi. Mike Dubose is the head coach there.”
Last year, Jackson (6-2, 205) led the Millsaps Majors with 65 receptions and 12 touchdowns. Three of those touchdowns came on returns. He averaged 15.5 per punt return (two TDs in same game) and 22.7 per kickoff return.
Jackson said “probably nine or 10 teams” wooed him after the draft, but he signed with the Steelers “because I like the Steelers, as far as their history goes. I want to become a part of the Steeler family.”
He has to like his place in the pecking order. He’s behind a player with a history of injuries and running even with a notorious fumbler. It’s an opportunity for Jackson.
“Yep, it is,” he said. “Take it to its best and go from there.”
By JimWexell
SteelCityInsider.com
Posted 4 June 2007
With Reid out, for who knows how long, this will be interesting who will be our returner. If it is Colclough, I hope its a different 2007 version of him. Don't know much about Jackson but it sounds like he's got a helluva lot better hands the Colclough.