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Akwasi Faces Real Punt Returning Test
Posted by jellis at 8/17/2010 8:03 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com
As documented, fourth-round rookie safety Akwasi Owusu-Ansah will be making his Cowboys preseason debut on Saturday at San Diego, with the chance to show what he can do on kickoff and punt returns.
It's the punt returns special teams coach Joe DeCamillis is most interested in seeing, because Owusu-Ansah and Kevin Ogletree, who will also return in the game, are facing one of the game's tougher punters to play against, Mike Scifres. Enterting his eighth season, Scifres career net average is a solid 39.1 yards.
"One of the top three punters in the league," DeCamillis said. "He makes it rain. He puts the ball up in the air. It's going to be a real challenge for him to catch the punt first of all, and then to get some returns, hopefully with our return group blocking for him. That's really what we're looking for. But he's athletic, he's strong, he looks like a good competitor so far in practice."
DeCamillis said Owusu-Ansah's best path to dressing on game day is to excel on special teams, both as a returner and covering kicks.
"It's hard to just keep a returner if he's not doing other spots," DeCamillis said. "That'll be his ticket, so he needs to play well on cover teams as well as when he gets to return."
Posted by jellis at 8/17/2010 8:03 PM CDT on truebluefanclub.com
As documented, fourth-round rookie safety Akwasi Owusu-Ansah will be making his Cowboys preseason debut on Saturday at San Diego, with the chance to show what he can do on kickoff and punt returns.
It's the punt returns special teams coach Joe DeCamillis is most interested in seeing, because Owusu-Ansah and Kevin Ogletree, who will also return in the game, are facing one of the game's tougher punters to play against, Mike Scifres. Enterting his eighth season, Scifres career net average is a solid 39.1 yards.
"One of the top three punters in the league," DeCamillis said. "He makes it rain. He puts the ball up in the air. It's going to be a real challenge for him to catch the punt first of all, and then to get some returns, hopefully with our return group blocking for him. That's really what we're looking for. But he's athletic, he's strong, he looks like a good competitor so far in practice."
DeCamillis said Owusu-Ansah's best path to dressing on game day is to excel on special teams, both as a returner and covering kicks.
"It's hard to just keep a returner if he's not doing other spots," DeCamillis said. "That'll be his ticket, so he needs to play well on cover teams as well as when he gets to return."