Anytime you can add firepower to your offense, you do it. The Detroit Lions have an unlikely player who could contribute.
Most teams wouldn’t look to convert a defensive player and put them on offense. Contrarily, the Detroit Lions have Jamal Agnew. This rookie from the University of San Diego is scary with the football in his hands.
Since becoming a Lion, he has lead the NFL with 19.4 yards per punt return and punt return touchdowns with two. No player in the entire league has more total return touchdowns than Agnew. The fifth round rookie is by far the best punt returner, and it isn’t even close.
Agnew has a reception off a volleyball-like shuffle pass off a jet sweep against the Pittsburgh Steelers and had a four yard end around rush against the Green Bay Packers. Even if he doesn’t touch the ball, defenses have to account for him when he checks in.
As lovely as it sounds to have the Lions’ punt returner/gunner on offense, Agnew himself feels differently. Nate Atkins from olive spoke to the rookie on the thought of converting to offense.
"“I love having the rock in my hands,” Agnew told mlive.com, “but I’ve played defense most of my life. That’s my bread and butter right there.”"
Not the most encouraging words for fans wanting to see their star return man play on offense. It didn’t help his head coach Jim Caldwell tempered any ideas of switching the one time high school running back/wide receiver/fullback from his natural cornerback position.
"” I don’t foresee a transition”, Caldwell told ESPN.com. ” [Agnew] is what he is. I think he’s a very, very good nickel, but he also does obviously some things for us in the return game as well.”"
I would go off the words of Caldwell, but there isn’t a complete ruling out of Agnew being on offense. Because of his size (5-10, 190 lbs) and hands, he makes more sense as a wide receiver but could be sprinkled in as a running back because of his vision. Wide receiver also happens to be the closest position to his current one of cornerback on the flip side of things.
On Friday, the Lions waived wide receiver Jace Billingsley to make room for offensive tackle Corey Robinson, who was activated off the physically unable to perform list. This could mean more opportunities for the stud rookie cornerback to make an impact on offense. I feel waiving rookie running back Tion Green would have made more sense but that’s beside the point.
In 2006, the Chicago Bears found success converting second round cornerback Devin Hester into a wide receiver following an NFL record breaking rookie season. The recently retired all-purpose player made a name for himself for the Atlanta Falcons (2014-15), Baltimore Ravens (2016) and Seattle Seahawks (2016) as well. Hester retired as the best return man all-time.
Whether Agnew ends up as the best returner of all time or not has yet to be seen, but he looks like a good find for the Lions. With nickel corner Quandre Diggs playing lights out and now rookie Teez Tabor (second round) out of Florida getting more opportunities, Agnew’s path to more offensive looks increasingly more enticing.
Offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter has been doing better in recent weeks but could stand to add more wrinkles on offense and add another playmaker. Red zone offense continues to be a point of emphasis and weakness for the Lions on offense.
Don’t expect a full switch this season. There are a few free agents at cornerback and wide receiver in 2018 so he will see an increased role regardless.
Next: Winless Browns look to spoil Motor City momentum
For now, Jamal Agnew is what he is, and that’s an electric playmaker who needs more opportunities to get the ball in his hands. I sure do like my bread and my butter, but I like watching Agnew score much more.