Special teams doesn't get the same kind of attention that offense or defense do, but make no mistake, the third phase of football is still immensely important.
That's to the benefit of the Dallas Cowboys, who boast an exceptional weapon in the return game. KaVontae Turpin, who is now in his second season with the Cowboys after dominating the USFL, boasts breakaway speed and is always a threat to take a kick back.
However, it seems that teams have come around to this fact. Turpin had 50 total returns in 17 games last season (29 punts and 21 kickoffs), but has just 13 in seven games this season (eight punts and five kickoffs).
For Turpin, his lack of opportunities this season is a byproduct of how opposing teams truly feel about him.
“Teams are still scared of me, so I don’t think I’ll get any more chances, to be real with you,” Turpin said this week.
Turpin has career averages of 9.4 yards per punt return and 25 yards per kick return, but he has yet to score a special teams touchdown. That almost changed in the fourth quarter of the Cowboys' 43-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, when Turpin ran a punt back 87 yards only for the return to be nullified by a holding penalty.
The Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas' next opponent, don't punt very often, and don't tend to allow many returns when they do. If Turpin wants to make some big plays, he and the rest of the Cowboys' special teams unit will have to take advantage of their few opportunities.
“It’s frustrating because I don’t get too many chances in the return game,” Turpin admitted. “So when I do get a chance, I don’t want to see any flags, especially when I take it all the way.
“At the same time, I tell my guys to go out there and block as hard as they can. But that just comes with football. We’re going to get another chance sooner or later.”
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