Brendan Langley needs to emerge as a punt return threat in 2019
Brendan Langley is facing an uphill battle just to make the Denver Broncos roster in 2019, but his emergence as a punt returner will be critical.
Which team ranked dead last in the NFL in 2018 in average yards per punt return? I’ll save you the research because I did it myself — it was the Denver Broncos.
The Broncos ranked dead last in the NFL in 2018 with an average of 4.4 yards per punt return. The league leaders in this category were the New York Jets (13.0).
No other team was within even a full yard of the Broncos last year. That’s how bad they were at making plays in the punt return department. Two teams were tied for 31st in the NFL with an average of 5.7 yards per punt return.
The Broncos were in the middle of the pack in this area in 2016 and 2017 (18th both years) and if you go back all the way to 2015, they had a top 10 unit (10th, 9.8 yards per return).
The Broncos need someone to emerge in the return game this year after two sub-par years and one horrific, catastrophic year, and that player will hopefully be former third-round pick Brendan Langley.
Langley was really an afterthought in the return game of his own draft class, even, when the Broncos had also taken all-purpose threat Carlos Henderson and speedy Isaiah McKenzie.
Henderson went on IR his rookie season and was cut in September last year, while McKenzie was up and down, on and off the active roster and practice squad before signing with the Buffalo Bills.
It’s safe to say none of them could find their way as the team’s primary punt returner.
McKenzie was given the first and really only crack at it among that particular draft class, and he was sent out repeatedly in 2017 despite a consistent and maddening issue with fumbles and muffed punts.
Langley, who was a stellar punt returner in college, has just one punt return to his name as an NFL player.
Why has he not been given more opportunities?
That’s a great question.
Langley, according to Benjamin Allbright, was working with the Broncos’ special teams as one of three primary guys returning punts at OTAs.
Cracraft was getting his first shot at the job last season, but he obviously contributed to the historically low return numbers. Booker has been a kickoff returner for the Broncos, but is not the type of quick twitch, explosive playmaker you would want at that position.
Langley can set himself apart and earn a roster spot this offseason — even amidst a position switch from cornerback to wide receiver — if he can set himself apart as a punt returner.
The Broncos so desperately need a jolt there.
Langley has the speed to make an impact in this regard. He ran a 4.41 coming out of Lamar University and had solid explosive and agility numbers as well.
Next. Broncos position groups ranked best to worst. dark
Even if it ends up being three years after he was drafted, if this is the only way Langley figures out a way to make an impact on the Broncos, we’ll take it.