Rookie wide receiver Jarvis Landry ready to handle kick and punt returns

Written by Matthew Cannata | Twitter: @PhinManiacs
When the depth chart for the first NFL game was released yesterday, we saw Jarvis Landry’s at the top of the list under kick and punt returner. Landry had an above average showing in preseason handling those duties and the Dolphins comfort level in him allowed the team to part ways with Marcus Thigpen. Now, it’s Landry’s time to shine and the coaching staff has great confidence in him.

“He has good hands,” Joe Philbin said to the Palm Beach Post. “He has good judgment on the football when it’s up in the air. He’s demonstrated some elusiveness. He’s one of those guys, I think he has a good feel for the game. He has some instinct as a runner that he’s shown and demonstrated, and he has an ability to break tackles.”

Landry has just as much confidence in himself and thanked Thigpen for teaching him different nuances about the position.

“First off, Marcus taught me a lot since my time here,” Landry said, listing how to read blockers and how to read kick coverage teams, “small things that could get 5 or more yards every now and then. I was behind Odell Beckham, who’s a great returner. Come here and Thiggy did some great things here. I’ve had good learning tools to look at, and now it’s just coaches giving me a chance to make some plays. That’s what I’ll do.”

Backing up Landry on the depth chart at kick returner are running backs Damien Williams and Orleans Darkwa. At the punt returner position, Rishard Matthews and Brent Grimes are listed as the backups.

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