2011 Panther Player Season Recap - KR Kealoha Pilares
by Ivanofftheterrible on Feb 16, 2012 12:00 PM EST
in Panther Player & Position Reviews
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In 2010, the Carolina Panthers had an average kick return of 21.9 yards. Finishing 19th in the NFL, 10th in the NFC, and dead last in the NFC South. However, in 2011 the Panthers finished 16th in the NFL, 8th in the NFC, and 2nd in the NFC South. It’s not a huge leap, but it’s a start. One reason for this jump is Kealoha Pilares.
Below are the 2011 kick return stats for two players.
| Ret | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | 20+ | 40+ | FC | FUM | |
| Player 1 | 23 | 590 | 25.7 | 101T | 1 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Player 2 | 33 | 723 | 21.9 | 98T | 1 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Player 2 played in all sixteen 2011 regular season games, while Player 1 only played in twelve 2011 regular season games. I will reveal the names of these players after the jump.
Player 1 is Kealoha Pilares. Player 2 is Devin Hester. Am I saying that Pilares is the next Hester? No. What I am saying is that they’re pretty darn close.
Maybe Hester had an off year, or maybe not. In Hester’s career he has returned 20 or more kicks in one season, four times. His average kick return yardage for those 4 years is 22.9. Included in that average was his best year, his rookie year, with an average of 26.4. In that year, he returned 20 kicks for a total of 528 yards.
In Kealoha’s rookie season he returned 23 kicks for a total of 590 yards, with an average of 25.7. Sure Hester returns punts, and scored one more kick return td during his rookie season but he also fumbled the ball twice that year, Pilares only lost it once.
Could the Panthers have the next Devin Hester? Only time will tell, but I like what I've seen.
Additional Stats:
Coming from the Panthers player page on Pilares:
-Led the panthers and ranked 5th in the nfc with a 25.7-yard kick off return average.
-Set a team record with a 101-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, bettering the previous long of 100 yards by Rod Smart versus New Orleans (10/5/03) and Michael Bates at Atlanta (10/31/99).
-Tied the team record for highest kickoff return average of 46.67 yards, previously accomplished by Rod Smart versus New Orleans (10/5/03).
-Collected eight special teams tackles
2011 Season Highlights:
Also coming from Pilares' player page:
-Player of the week: Earned NFC special teams player of the week honors for efforts in week 11 at Detroit (11/20/11). Pilares returned three kickoffs for 140 yards and one touchdown.
Nicknames:
I have yet to hear a good nickname for Pilares, but I propose ‘Aloha.’ In Hawaiian, Aloha means both hello and goodbye. ‘Hi’ as he’s coming towards defenders and ‘bye’ as he goes past them. I look forward to seeing ‘Aloha’ in action next season.
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he's "The Flyin' Hawaiian" haha
evone knows that:) i’ve called him “Key” from my armchair during his returns, though. i was intrigued by him when i studied him and saw his workout regimen and that he used to play rb. you can see those aspects in his game. good read
yeah he's deof the flyin' hawaiian
Save us Pilares
by LimeyPanther on Feb 16, 2012 12:32 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I think he has a high ceiling.
I don’t know that he will reach it or not, but I think he has great potential to be an impact maker on offense as well as ST.
Slightly OT but it is WR related
I saw a mock draft where it had us selecting Baylor WR Kendall Wright. Being compared to by many as the next Steve Smith just a little bigger. While without a impressive combine could be seen a reach and we got bigger needs it is interesting to think about. I mean who better for him to learn from then Mr 89 himself. And we have seen what Cam and a WR like Smith can do already.
Highly doubt it happened but with all the other names thrown in as our first pick Wright was a change up i have not seen
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by PanthersRoar on Feb 16, 2012 7:52 PM EST up reply actions
This guy could very well be our scatback.
I know he is a WR with his running back days behind him but I could see him beinging used like Wes Welker or Danny Woodard. The guy has skill in several areas so I doubt he will be getting cut if and when we get more WRs in traning camp.
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Never thought of that
But yea he could be. Think about him in a Percy Harvin role, coming outta the backfield receiving and maybe even some draw plays. Also it cold cause problems match up wise bc we could come out in a power running formation w Smitty and Lafell out wid,e olsen at TE, Brockel at fb and “Aloha” at running back. Come out in an I formation and then audible at the line sending everyone out wide. defnses would struggle with this, as a nickel or dime defense would not be able to stop a decent run in the power I, and a base 4-3/3-4 would not be able to stop a spread formation of 3 wr and 2 tight ends.
Bingo.
One of the pro’s that was spoke of when we drafted him was that he had a powerful running style for a WR do to his running back days. I doubt he would run to much out of the backfeild because one of the reason’s he became a Wr was his size, but the mere threat he proposes is intrigueing. He has more upside the Armiate Edwards which makes me think AE his history. What for quick slants, and smoke routes for him, not to mention a new option on the option plays Cam runs.
I belive when Chud and Rivera looks at Alhoa this year they are going to be itching to throw some new quirks in the playbook.
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He can certainly cause some matchup problems.
Id hate to be the linebacker whose responsibility it was to guard him coming outta the back into the flat. I was gushing over this guy when we drafted him. did anyone else see his post draft interview? Kid is fearless. Talkedabout how he was more than willing to go over the middle and take the big hit to make the play bc that was neccessary for an NFL offense. That he didnt mind doing the dirty work. Then you take in the fact that hes blazing fast, has jukes like a runningback bc he is one, and has some pretty good return skill, youve got a winner. And he picked the best panther to look lke too
that's what i thought.
when i envision us using him, it’s always in the screen game or a wierd pitch or sweep. former rb with strength and speed. good in open field. rivera said their still looking for that guy is the only reason i got away from that thought.
No doubt it they are looking to get him more involed in the game.
I think of him very much like Steve Smith, as in the first couple of years it took the coaching staff to awhile before figureing out just what they had.
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Nice write up, but you will have to change your screen name… I own the rights to being “Ivan”.
;)
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Thanks!
Ha! But Ivanoff is my last name…
by Ivanofftheterrible on Feb 16, 2012 4:22 PM EST up reply actions
Haha, I was just kidding man. Even though Ivan is my first name.
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Haha. Ivan isn’t my first name or my last name.
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After viewing your attempt at humor...
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The truth will set you free, but not until it is finished with you. ~David Foster Wallace
I may not always be right, but even a blind nut finds a squirrel every once in a while.
Nice to compare stats with Hester...
Potential goldmine?
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by carolinapillpusher on Feb 16, 2012 3:19 PM EST reply actions
Hester returns punts also
so off top of my head you are missing stats for several hundreds more yards and a couple td’s in your comparison. I hope Pailares can grow into a specialist like Hester is. Time will tell.
You're correct.
I was only comparing what they had in common, as pilares doesn’t return punts… yet.
by Ivanofftheterrible on Feb 16, 2012 7:22 PM EST reply actions
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