Benny Cunningham quietly emerged as kick return whiz/Wagoner

[RamBill]

Benny Cunningham quietly emerged as kick return whiz
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...y-cunningham-quietly-emerged-as-kick-returner

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- During the final meeting of the 2014 St. Louis Rams on Monday, Rams coach Jeff Fisher went through the usual checklist of things to tell his team before sending it on its way.

That checklist included the usual warnings about making wise decisions, how to stay in shape and other basic instructions. Fisher also took a moment to recognize a player that hadn't gotten much recognition for the job he did during the season: running back/kick returner Benny Cunningham.

Fisher made it a point to present Cunningham and the entire kickoff return team with a game ball after putting the finishing touches on a season in which Cunningham led the NFC in kickoff return average at 27.5 yards per attempt. That total was fifth in the NFL.

“As far as our special teams are concerned, we gave the game balls Monday morning to the entire kickoff return team and Benny for leading the NFC in kickoff returns," Fisher said. "I thought it was an outstanding effort."

For the season, Cunningham finished with 35 returns for 963 yards with a long of 75 yards. Although he's not the fastest or shiftiest returner you'll find, Cunningham proved successful by being decisive and capable of shedding tackles when defenders didn't wrap him up.

That Cunningham managed to post such solid return numbers was a welcome surprise for the Rams considering kick returner had been a position without a definitive solution entering the season. Chris Givens, Tavon Austin and Isaiah Pead were among the many who were getting opportunities in the offseason.

Given Cunningham's performance this year, that's a problem the Rams don't figure to have moving forward.

 

[DaveFan'51]

" Excellent Work Benny!!!"

 

[HE WITH HORNS]

I'm very surprised he had such good numbers. It didn't really look like he was doing anything special out there, but I guess its consistency that matters.

 

[Billy Baroo]

Hold onto the damn ball Benny!

 

[Athos]

I'm very surprised he had such good numbers. It didn't really look like he was doing anything special out there, but I guess its consistency that matters.

You don't really need to. You just need someone who is decisive, sees the creases, and follows his blockers.

BamBam has proven to be far better at that than anyone else on roster......

Remember Pead and Givens back there?

 

[Big Willie]

I too was shocked by his performance and definitely pleased.

 

[LesBaker]

I'm very surprised he had such good numbers. It didn't really look like he was doing anything special out there, but I guess its consistency that matters.

That's exactly right and that is exactly what he was. A few big returns yeah, but mostly he was always getting very good returns time and time again. He's found his niche and I hope he gets even better next year.

 

[moklerman]

Boy, is my impression of him the exact opposite. I'm sick of seeing him returning kicks. Maybe I just want too much and my memory of more explosive guys like Ron Brown and Tony Horne are clouding my judgement. I'll give Cunningham credit for not fumbling but that's about it. Seems like the Rams are never getting big returns.

 

[Ram Quixote]

Boy, is my impression of him the exact opposite. I'm sick of seeing him returning kicks. Maybe I just want too much and my memory of more explosive guys like Ron Brown and Tony Horne are clouding my judgement. I'll give Cunningham credit for not fumbling but that's about it. Seems like the Rams are never getting big returns.

Benny had a 75 yard return at some point this season.

 

[jap]

Benny had a 75 yard return at some point this season.

He often brought ball out from way deep in the end zone. That's why his runs did not always look impressive. However, consistently getting 25-30 yard returns to the 20- or 25-yardlines pads the stats sheets pretty nicely.

 

[moklerman]

Benny had a 75 yard return at some point this season.

Okay, but did he seem like a threat to bust one to the house very often?

 

[-X-]

Benny ranked 5th in the league, out of kick returners who had at least 20 kick returns on the year, with a 27.5 average. Return touchdowns aren't all that common, as there were only 6 on the year in total. I like him back there because he's got a low center of gravity, is pretty quick, and you can't arm tackle him. I wouldn't make a change there.

 

[Ram Quixote]

Okay, but did he seem like a threat to bust one to the house very often?

His job as kick returner is to get the ball past the 20, which he regularly did. In this era of constant touchbacks, that's rarer than you think.

And yes, I think you're expecting too much.

 

[PowayRamFan]

His job as kick returner is to get the ball past the 20, which he regularly did. In this era of constant touchbacks, that's rarer than you think.

And yes, I think you're expecting too much.

He always seems to get it past the 20, which is something we haven't had in a long time. Factor in the deeper kickoffs nowadays and I'd say we we have our guy. It's not just about taking it to the house...

 

[Boffo97]

He often brought ball out from way deep in the end zone. That's why his runs did not always look impressive. However, consistently getting 25-30 yard returns to the 20- or 25-yardlines pads the stats sheets pretty nicely.

In my book, if he gets it to the 20 yard, 1 inch line, that makes it the right decision to run it out. I don't care how much it "pads" his stats.

 

[jap]

In my book, if he gets it to the 20 yard, 1 inch line, that makes it the right decision to run it out. I don't care how much it "pads" his stats.

My expression "pads the stats sheets quickly" was not! meant as a derogatory statement. It was a reaction to earlier sentiments that he didn't seem to be doing much. I was essentially pointing out that benny often takes the ball from deep in the end zone and still advances it 25--30 yards fairly consistently.

When Benny won the #1 KR duties I was excited because his combination of decent speed & quickness, combined with brute strength was bound to make him a handful for any coverage team, especially once he got rolling with momentum. He is more than capable of taking it to the house, even without true breakaway speed, if he can get a party of blockers escorting him and warding off all defenders. In the NFL, they traditionally like to use speed burners for KR duty. However, Benny's athletic combo is a dynamite elixir for production.

 

[Blue and Gold]

Cunningham led the NFC in kickoff return average at 27.5 yards per attempt.

Last time a Ram led NFC in that category was Tony Horne in 1999

 

[Teran]

He is good at taking the ball to the ground when a hit is coming.
I remember a couple (?) of years ago when Pead was taking a return out against the 49ers and my stomach sank when I saw it was him. He tried to get high and skinny which is exactly what you DON'T want to do on a return and he fumbled.
I get a little concerned when Cunningham is playing running back inside the opponents 10 yard line, but his returns almost always give us the best possible outcome.

 

[Ramrasta]

Cunningham was good but nothing to celebrate over. There were a few times I was wishing he would just kneel but he was on fire to run it out. Don't run it out from 9 yards deep in the endzone. You would think that was common sense.