We know they can return, but will they be back?
It’s a question that’s on the mind of Edmonton Eskimos special team’s co-ordinator Noel Thorpe after watching a pair of kick returners excel this season.
Despite missing three games and dealing with a nagging knee injury, Tristan Jackson finished his sophomore CFL season in second place in both kick and punt returns. He averaged more than 20 yards per kickoff return and over 10 yards on punts to go along with a punt return touchdown in Week 4 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
He was replaced these last two games by rookie Skyler Green, who averaged 35 yards on kick returns in Sunday’s West Division semifinal against the Calgary Stampeders where he returned a 93-yarder for a touchdown to bring his team back to life.
He also returned four punts for an average of 19.3 yards each.
But with the seemingly plug-and-play ease with the Eskimos return game, how much credit goes to the individual athlete and how much is owed to the system?
“I think it’s a combination of both,” Thorpe said. “You’ve got two outstanding returners, guys who have a great ability to read blocks, see the holes and they’re fearless.
“I think both returners will tell you the guys up front blocking for them have done an outstanding job as well.”
It would be a dream scenario to have them both back to camp next year competing for the returning job, or better yet, both back there next year returning.
“It definitely could be,” said Thorpe. “That’s a long time away and we’ll see what happens.”
One thing is certain, the Eskimos have displayed an ability to change a game’s dynamic on special teams.
“I thought we were very consistent,” Thorpe said. “Out of the 19 games we’ve played, you could throw out a couple. But I think in all facets of the kicking game we’ve been solid.
“It’s a testament to the guys that are working.”
