Is Marc Mariani on the Hot Seat?

The entire article is about Wright saying he's willing to do returns...

Every receiver and half the DB's looking to get drafted will say the same thing.

Mouton was far more experienced than Wright returning kicks coming out of college. I'm not saying Wright is a Mouton, but to assume he's better than Mariani?

I'm not even impressed by Mariani when he is returning except for the fact that he has sure hands and doesn't crap himself when the ball is hanging a hundred and some odd feet in the air and eleven guys are running right at him. We had someone back there that couldn't handle it, and it cost us games and the playoffs.

 

Even if Mouton didn't teach us, surely the guy from the 49ers did. Mariani is, at the moment, the best we have.

 

Why do you ask that now that you started a whole thread about us getting rid of our best return man?

A 30 year old WR is going to learn how to return a kick.

 

Yeah, I think Mariani is gone and DWill handles most of the returns. If you think back to their rookie year, DWill and Mariani were competing for the job anyway. DWill lost out because he fumbled one kick in a pre-season game. I feel completely comfortable with him taking over. We just can't afford the roster spot now with Mariani just returning kicks.

If I had my preference, I'd like to see what Wright can do back there. He's fast and shifty, exactly what you want in a returner. I actually asked Munch this question face to face and he said Wright would get a shot at it and would compete for the job but it would depend on how much WR he's playing.

 

I told you guys he has one preseason left to show what he has as a WR and I'm pretty sure he will fail sure he has so so hands but has no Speed and bad route running so he will get cut and the Rams will pick him up.

The Key is to not put a rookie to catch punts we will be fine.

 

He is a pro bowler though. So i hope we try and trade him. He has SOME value.

 

Anyone think Hawk gets a shot back there? I remember him returning in preseason his rookie year ... I think he even took one to the house, and he showed some good open field moves last year. I guess it may depend on how good he is at fielding.

I like Mariani as a returner, but he really does need to develop as a wr. Hopefully he does, but if not, it could be hard to keep him around if roster spots are needed at other positions, especially if some one else shows some potential.

I think it will really depend on how confident the coaches are with the young depth in the secondary. If they feel they need to bring some vets in for insurance, then Mariani could be cut to make room. If they feel confident enough in the secondary, to not bring too many people in, then I would say Mariani's spot is safe. Just having someone sure handed back there that you know won't turn the ball over is worth something, and he is usually pretty good at pick up some yards if he doesn't have to FC.

 

Hawkins was on the team before we drafted Mariani and we were desperate for a return guy. Obviously they can't have much confidence in him. DWill was horrrible when he had chances to return so I think all this is right now is finding what guys they would use if Mariani got dinged. I think Mariani sticks until we find someone they have equal confidence in as a returner who can be a better WR and it won't be Wright. While they might let him have a few shots at returning they aren't going to depend on him to do it full time.