San Francisco 49ers

What San Francisco 49ers fans really want this holiday season - Part 2

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Alright, San Francisco 49ers fans. Buckle up your seat belts as Niners Noise jumps right into the 49ers return game. There is no need to talk about the kicking game as punter Bradley Pinion does a good job and Phil Dawson is arguably the 49ers’ MVP.

We start this post discussing Jeremy Kerley’s punt return game. While Kerley has led all 49ers receivers in receiving yards this season, his punt return game has been less than adequate.

With a punt return average of 8.18 yards, Kerley ranks 16th per Pro Football Reference. Not too mention that the difference between No. 16 49ers and No. 19 Miami Dolphins is less than 0.2 yards, the 49ers could benefit from a better option.

Looking at recent 49ers’ history, former Niners punt returner and wide receiver Tedd Ginn Jr. averaged no less than a 10.2 yards-per-return average. At his peak with the Niners, Ginn averaged 13.4 yards per return, per Pro Football Reference. It would be nice to have Ginn back there returning punts right about now.

Now while Kerley has the Niners ranked at No. 16 in the punt return game, Jacorey Shepherd has the 49ers ranked at No. 26 in the kick return game, per Pro Football Reference. Now to be fair, Shepherd has served as the 49ers kick returner for only seven games this season. In that span, he is averaging 21.8 yards per kick off return, according to ESPN Stats and Info, which would be good enough for a 17th ranking.

Still, San Francisco can and should strive for better production out of its returners.

Nov 5, 2016; Morgantown, WV, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Shelton Gibson (1) stiff arms Kansas Jayhawks linebacker Courtney Arnick (28) Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports

In the offseason, the 49ers can bolster their punt and kick off return game by selecting West Virginia’s Shelton Gibson at the 2017 NFL Draft.

Gibson is an explosive playmaker for WVU, and when is he is not returning kicks, he serves as WVU’s No. 1 wide receiver. Gibson is the type of speedy player that can flip the battle of field position in favor of the red and gold.

Another option is Atlanta Falcons’ Eric Weems, who is averaging 12.7 yards per punt return as well as returning 10 of 13 kick offs for over 20 yards. 49ers fans will most likely remember him for burning the 49ers earlier this year when he returned a kick off for more than 50 yards.

Next in this series, Niner Noise will address the safety position.