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No returns, but gains for Williams

Bucs incumbent Karl Williams waits while other punt and kickoff returners get chances. His patience apparently will pay off.

[Times photo: Jim Damaske]

Karl Williams returns a punt for a touchdown against the Bills last season, but he emphasizes solid returns that get the best possible field position rather than trying for a big return every time. "It's hard to beat Karl Williams out," special-teams coach Joe Marciano says.

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 23, 2001

TAMPA -- This is how much confidence the Bucs have in Karl Williams' return capabilities. He has zero returns for 0 yards this preseason, yet he is unofficially the top candidate.

The Bucs have been taking long looks at a host of young punt and kickoff returners, but so far all they've seen is this: Williams is their best option.

"It's hard to beat Karl Williams out," special-teams coach Joe Marciano said.

The Bucs are giving all returners a shot, but no one has stood out. Rookie cornerback Dwight Smith has returned three kickoffs for 67 yards, including one for 32 yards. He also returned a punt for 12 yards.

Free-agent rookie Robert Kilow has fielded four punts for 53 yards, including one for 41 yards.

Second-year pro Frank Murphy has one kickoff return for 30 yards. And running back Aaron Stecker has one punt return for 10 yards.

As a team, the Bucs are averaging 19.4 yards on kickoff returns and 12.5 on punt returns.

Williams, meanwhile, has sat back and watched, content to play only as a receiver until needed on special teams. That may be soon. Coach Tony Dungy said Tuesday that Williams and other veterans may field some balls Saturday against New England.

"We have so many return guys now that it's kind of hard to get a return in the preseason," Williams said. "Hopefully, I'll be able to get back in the mix and get a few returns before the season starts."

As with most positions, experience counts a lot when returning kicks, which is partly why Williams holds an edge. This is the 30-year-old Williams' sixth season sharing time at receiver and on special teams. He has 23 yards per kick return and 11.6 on punt returns, including three for touchdowns.

"Punt returning is a lot harder than you think. Some of the young guys have told me it's harder than they expected because it's not just on ability," Williams said. "You have to play smart back there. You know the rules. You have to have good judgment. You have to know your teammates.

"It's really different from college where most of the time the punter hits you a long ball and you've got time to catch it and the coverage team is still 15 yards away. Those days are gone now. It's all different for the young guys."

While inexperienced returners, eager to impress coaches and earn a spot on the team, often go for the home run return, Williams puts more emphasis on consistently making solid returns. Taking a return all the way back is great, but a returner also has to think about getting the best field position possible.

"You have to realize that every punt is not a returnable punt," Williams said. "I know the young guys are trying to impress the coaches, which is great. But you have to play smart while you're back there, too."

The Bucs also are using the preseason to figure out if they want Williams to handle punts and kickoffs or just punts. Last season, he fielded the majority of punts and split many of the kick returns with Stecker.

Stecker has gotten just one chance to return a punt in the preseason, but feels better equipped to handle the job after not playing in NFL Europe this offseason, giving him fresher legs.

"I think I have a little more quickness than I had back there last year," he said. "I know once I get an opportunity back there, I know I'm going to make the best of it."

The job is certainly up for grabs, but clearly the punt and kick returns duties are Williams' to lose. Murphy averaged 27.3 yards on kick returns at Kansas State, but has just two returns for 24 yards in an NFL regular-season game.

Smith and Kilow have been solid, but both have to do more to push out Williams.

"We've got two more games for these young guys to do something," Marciano said. "I know what Karl can do."

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