Andre Roberts is a plus

[Do The Reich Thing]

He looks so much faster and quicker this year. Benjamin Button?

[HOUSE]

He is a fine young lad .

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

1 hour ago, Shaw66 said:

I didn't get all the bashing of Roberts around here this summer.  Whenever I see him return kicks, including last season, it seems pretty clear that he has the knack.

 

Through four games, Bills are seventh in kickoff return average and seventh in punt return average.  Historically, leaders in average do it by having a TD return or too, but the Bills haven't done that.  

 

I'm sure the special teams are creating the opportunities, but it's obvious that Roberts can read the broken field and take advantage.  

 

He's an important piece to the team's success.  

He’s great returner. I like him but I also completely understand the perspective of getting a young dynamic returner that also has a chance to grow into being a frequent contributor in one of the other phases like; Tyreek, Hardman, AB, Deonte Johnson, Leodis, Freddy, Tarik Cohen, Hester, the list goes on. 

At 30+ I suspect he is never going to be much of a WR, for whatever reason 

 

[Seasons1992]

I figured we didn't want two Andre Roberts threads so here you are: 

 

ANDRE ROBERTS ON CBS SPORTS RADIO, SOMETIME BETWEEN 2-3PM.

[freddyjj]

1 hour ago, Mr. WEO said:

He does have a solid kick return average of 34.7 but he has only 3 returns so far.

 

His 8 punt returns have netted 124 yards with 31% of those coming on 1 return.

 

1 hour ago, Shaw66 said:

Through four games, Bills are seventh in kickoff return average and seventh in punt return average.  Historically, leaders in average do it by having a TD return or too, but the Bills haven't done that.  

As mentioned in thread above, KRs and PRs are skewed by large returns, usually for TDs.  In this case, Andre is averaging 15.5 Yds on 8 Punt returns.  His career average is 9.2 for perspective.  All time Career leader average in NFL is 12.8 ypr so 15.5 is pretty good, albeit small sample here.

 

I do see him breaking a KR or PR soon.  Maybe vs Titans if they play, given state of their team now.

[letsgoteam]

43 minutes ago, Do The Reich Thing said:

He looks so much faster and quicker this year. Benjamin Button?

Wasnt he struggling with injuries most of last year? 

[Shaw66]

1 hour ago, hemma said:

When I go to this page:

https://www.espn.com/nfl/stats/player/_/view/special/table/returning/sort/yardsPerPuntReturn/dir/desc

 

If you click the column header (is sortable), I see Roberts as 1st in KR and 2nd in PR average.

 

He is the best and at some point this year, he'll swing the game.

That's interesting.  That's what I did before I posted, and it showed the Bills as seventh, not first, in kickoff returns.   Thanks.  

[billsfan89]

How quickly fans forget how a botched return could easily cost you games. In 2018 the Bills lost a game against the Jets because their return game was horrid and Roberts shifted field position for the Jets, there was also 1-2 other games that had bad return miscues that put games out of reach. I don't even have to go back to 2008 with McKelvin...

 

Simply put Roberts is a key component of the ST unit and someone who while maybe not a dramatically great returner like Devin Hester or Dante Hall is still someone that is reliable (thus avoids costly turnovers) and can subtly shift field position. He is a top 10 returner with top 5 potential. That's easily worth the 2 million he gets paid. And this year unlike last year he is breaking off bigger returns and that's helping to really shift field position in key moments.

 

I have no idea how any fan could have wanted to cut him to roster a JAG receiver like Foster or Duke. No offense to either guy but neither fills a niche and role like Roberts. 

Edited October 8, 2020 by billsfan89

[chris heff]

I guess my issue with Roberts is he’s kind of a luxury. Most kickoffs are touchbacks, he is willing to run it out and on punts he doesn’t fair catch often, so I like that he will take those chances, that’s his job. He is the anti Chris Watson. He doesn’t contribute much as a WR, not that the Bills need him to. 

Edited October 8, 2020 by chris heff

[billsfan89]

51 minutes ago, Do The Reich Thing said:

He looks so much faster and quicker this year. Benjamin Button?

 

I think the blocking has been better on the return unit. Could be what is giving him more space to accelerate? Unless he was battling an injury last year? I think it's most likely a combo. I think the ST additions of guys like Tawain Jones and Matakevich could be leading to better blocking. 

 

1 minute ago, chris heff said:

I guess my issue with Roberts is he’s kind of a luxury. Most kickoffs are touchbacks, he is willing to run it out and on punts he doesn’t fair catch often. He doesn’t contribute much as a WR, not that the Bills need him to. 

 

A muffed punt can cost games, yes what he adds on kickoffs is limited but just being a good punt returner who can reliably field the ball and break off the occasional 10+ yard return is bigger than fans give it credit for. He isn't making 4-5 million to be a returner he is making 2 million. I think a lot of fans are making it seem like Roberts is making a lot more than he is. 

[Mr. WEO]

11 minutes ago, freddyjj said:

 

As mentioned in thread above, KRs and PRs are skewed by large returns, usually for TDs.  In this case, Andre is averaging 15.5 Yds on 8 Punt returns.  His career average is 9.2 for perspective.  All time Career leader average in NFL is 12.8 ypr so 15.5 is pretty good, albeit small sample here.

 

I do see him breaking a KR or PR soon.  Maybe vs Titans if they play, given state of their team now.

 

It's harder to skew a larger sample size with outliers.  Minus the 38 yarder he's at 12 per.  LAst whole season he was 8YPR.

 

By far, his career year was 2018 with the Jets.

[technobot]

I think as Bills fans we know the pain of having a guy who could break off a run back for a TD, but would also kill you with a bonehead decision or the worst hands at the worst time.

 

Roberts is reliable and consistent. You know he'll always make the right decision, personal stats or glory don't factor in.

 

He's due for a big one, especially as the special teams unit around him improves.

[YoloinOhio]

Ugh

 

 

[junior]

I was dead wrong about him. I didn't really see the need for him stick around, but he's been a game changer this year and a huge part of our team.

[Captain_Quint]

Special teams in general has improved this year. Hes always been a solid returner and reliable. But if you dont have the blocking in place, you see what we saw last year. A guy who always could handle the ball well, but didnt break any returns. 

[Gugny]

3 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

I didn't get all the bashing of Roberts around here this summer.  Whenever I see him return kicks, including last season, it seems pretty clear that he has the knack.

 

Through four games, Bills are seventh in kickoff return average and seventh in punt return average.  Historically, leaders in average do it by having a TD return or too, but the Bills haven't done that.  

 

I'm sure the special teams are creating the opportunities, but it's obvious that Roberts can read the broken field and take advantage.  

 

He's an important piece to the team's success.  

 

I, too, was confused at any criticism he received based on last year's performance.  I'm pretty sure he was a top 3 return man in the entire league.  He's already been a difference maker this season.  Love the guy.

[Mark Vader]

3 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

I didn't get all the bashing of Roberts around here this summer.  Whenever I see him return kicks, including last season, it seems pretty clear that he has the knack.

 

Through four games, Bills are seventh in kickoff return average and seventh in punt return average.  Historically, leaders in average do it by having a TD return or too, but the Bills haven't done that.  

 

I'm sure the special teams are creating the opportunities, but it's obvious that Roberts can read the broken field and take advantage.  

 

He's an important piece to the team's success.  

I think the bashing was due to the fact that all he did last year was be a Kick Returner, which in today's NFL, usually means you have a player who is receiving touchbacks.

 

That's not Roberts' fault, it's just how the game is now.

 

Also, as a Wide Receiver, Roberts is clearly a back-up player.

 

What has surprised fans this year, myself included, is that Roberts has shown how good he is as a Punt Returner. I do not recall one game from last season where he returned one punt.

 

That has been a big positive for Roberts. It makes me wonder why he wasn't pulling double duty as a returner last season.

[Buffalo716]

2 hours ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

He’s great returner. I like him but I also completely understand the perspective of getting a young dynamic returner that also has a chance to grow into being a frequent contributor in one of the other phases like; Tyreek, Hardman, AB, Deonte Johnson, Leodis, Freddy, Tarik Cohen, Hester, the list goes on. 

At 30+ I suspect he is never going to be much of a WR, for whatever reason 

 

Andre Roberts almost has as many career receiving yards as Devin Hester...

[Matt_In_NH]

People generally want guys who have fantasy stats at the wr position.  Any wr who is not fantasy worthy should be replaced by a guy who once caught 2 tds in a game.  Special teams specialists?   Figure it out some other way.   Anyone can do that

[John from Riverside]

Just dont let him play offense.....on ST's he is awesome