Phillip Buchanon might provide Redskins with happy returns

Looking to address one of their biggest annual problem areas, the Redskins coaches have spoken with newly-signed cornerback Phillip Buchanon about returning punts this season. 

"I'm definitely looking forward to that, so I can get back ot my returning punt days, so I can get some touchdowns," Buchanon said. "So I'm definitely looking forward to that. I need some."

Buchanon was an all-American as a returner at Miami. As a pro, he regularly returned punts his first three years in the league but only sporadically since. For Detroit last season, he was credited with four returns (34 return yards) and one fumble.

He returned three punts for touchdowns in those first two seasons in Oakland, including an 80-yard return and an 83-yarder. He returned a total of 72 punts in those first three seasons but only 46 in the five seasons since leaving the Raiders.

Redskins General Manager Bruce Allen was with the Raiders when they drafted Buchanon in 2002, so he's very familiar with Buchanon's capability.

"I'm going to come in and do my best. There's no guarantees to anything," Buchanon said. "I'm just going to come in and do my best. Like I said, I'm going to work hard."

The Redskins released Rock Cartwright and Antwaan Randle El, which opened up the team's full-time returning jobs. Receiver Devin Thomas showed a flash of promise returning kickoffs last season, and if Buchanon can lock up the punt return spot -- perhaps with spot duty provided by Santana Moss and DeAngelo Hall -- the team might have found some answers to this specialist holes.

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(washingtonpost.com)