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Devin Hester -vs- Josh Cribbs


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And away they go: Bears' Hester, Browns' Cribbs provide more than a dash of excitement

By Tony Grossi

October 28, 2009, 6:54PM

 

TAKING IT TO THE HOUSE

Since 2005, Devin Hester and Josh Cribbs rank 1-2 in the NFL in combined punt and kickoff returns for touchdowns. They’re moving up on the all-time list, too.

13 TDs — Brian Mitchell (1990-03, 9 punt, 4 kickoff)

12 — Eric Metcalf (1989-02, 10 punt, 2 kickoff), Dante Hall (2000-07, 6 punt, 6 kickoff)

11 — Devin Hester (2006-09, 7 punt, 4 kickoff)

8* — Josh Cribbs (2005-09, 2 punt, 6 kickoff)

* — The NFL Record & Fact Book does not enumerate the players with TDs after 11.

 

 

BEREA, Ohio -- Don't leave the couch when the Browns and Chicago Bears change possessions Sunday on kickoffs and punts. Something exciting is bound to happen.

 

It's the first-ever matchup between Chicago's Devin Hester and Josh Cribbs.

 

"It's like a best-of-the-best," said Cribbs.

 

Indeed, the return specialists rank 1-2 in return touchdowns since 2005. Hester has 11, Cribbs eight. They're both chasing the NFL all-time mark of 13 set by Brian Mitchell.

 

I just know Devin can, at any time he touches the ball in any phase as a punt returner or as a kickoff guy, he can go the distance," said Chicago coach Lovie Smith. "He's a great player with his hands on the ball.

 

Tracy Boulian/The Plain Dealer“Everything about his play is inspirational to me,” Josh Cribbs said of Devin Hester. “He’s knocked down a lot of doors for the return game and special team players and is now becoming an outstanding offensive player."

 

"I'd say the same thing about Joshua Cribbs. He can -- he has -- done both and done it well. You look at the things he does, also as a gunner [defending kicks], playing receiver well, too. I just see two talented athletes. Wherever you put them they're going to excel."

 

Hester's official career count does not include a 108-yard return of a missed field goal in 2006 and a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Super Bowl following that season.

 

That incredible rookie season for Hester -- seven return TDs, counting postseason -- made him a role model for players such as Cribbs.

 

Cribbs was undrafted in 2005 after setting records as a running quarterback at Kent State. He wasn't invited to the NFL combine and posted a 40 time in the 4.6-second range at his pro day.

 

Hester was more ballyhooed when he came out the following year. He ran a 4.41 at the combine and then a 4.35 at his pro day. But he didn't really have a full-time position coming out of the University of Miami. He was taken in the second round and played backup cornerback when not returning kicks his rookie season.

 

His explosiveness in the return game forced the Bears to develop him as a receiver.

 

"Everything about his play is inspirational to me," Cribbs said. "He's knocked down a lot of doors for the return game and special team players and is now becoming an outstanding offensive player. He's ... letting coaches know that special teams players can be core players."

 

In his third season as a receiver, Hester has emerged as Chicago's leading pass catcher with 28 receptions, three for touchdowns.

 

Smith said the switch to receiver was "a natural move" for Hester, who played the position as a freshman at Miami.

 

"[We were] just trying to get him more reps on the field," Smith said. "I mean, it's good to be a great returner, but that limits you, as far as the amount of plays you have."

 

As special teamers, the only thing common between Hester and Cribbs is their affinity for the end zone.

 

Hester, 5-11 and 190 pounds, is slippery and elusive, often breaking his returns without getting a hand laid on him.

 

Cribbs, 6-1 and 215, busts through tacklers like a locomotive through wooden fences. He accelerates with a gear that belies his reputed 40 time. Cribbs displays the same style running down on kicks. He was the Browns' leading tackler on special teams the past three years.

 

Hester concedes Cribbs' role on coverage units is unusual, "but I would say it's tougher to be a full-time receiver and then try kickoff and punt returns. That's why I was taken off kickoff returns."

 

This year, Hester has returned nine punts for 116 yards, an average of 12.9 yards. Cribbs leads the NFL with a 16.4 average on 18 punt returns. He's also fourth with a 28.9 average on 25 kickoff returns. Hester has one kickoff return for 26 yards.

 

Naturally, both are prime candidates to be used in the trendy WildDawg formation. There, Cribbs has the advantage of having played quarterback in college.

 

Cribbs has run 13 times for 102 yards and thrown twice -- an incompletion and an interception. Most of those opportunities came at Pittsburgh. Otherwise, the Browns appear hesitant to expand the package. Hester has run two times for 11 yards.

 

Smith backed off when asked about Hester's role in the Bears' WildDawg.

 

"It's on film," he said. "Every team in the league has a limited package as far as WildDawg is concerned. Of course, Cleveland has a bigger package. Cribbs, being a quarterback, brings more things to that WildDawg package."

 

There's another difference between Hester and Cribbs. The Bears are 9-2 in regular-season games in which Hester scores on a punt or kickoff return. The Browns are 1-7 when Cribbs does the same.

 

"It's a game-changing [play]," Hester said. "Not even a return to the house, but just a big return sparks a team. I don't know the situation over there. He's got a couple big returns and they haven't come up with victories. I don't know what's going on."

 

hestersuperlsjpg-d35344b42808c77e_large.cribbstbjpg-8d3e139f49deb0e8_medium.jpg

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hester hasn't been the same since becoming a receiver. he doesn't attempt to be the same returner he was 3 years ago. he is an average returner now and is nothing special. he is focusing too much on receiving which is the reason i didn't want cribbs to be a receiver in the first place.

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hester hasn't been the same since becoming a receiver. he doesn't attempt to be the same returner he was 3 years ago. he is an average returner now and is nothing special. he is focusing too much on receiving which is the reason i didn't want cribbs to be a receiver in the first place.

 

The Bears have a guy even faster than Hester now too, don't they?

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