Punt returns are marked by chaos and random patterns, daring teams to sift through the unpredictability to - depending on your viewpoint - either find the returner or the end zone.
And Jim Leonhard loves it.
"I think vision comes into play a lot more on punt returns because you don't know what's going to happen until you get the ball in your hands, whereas with kickoffs, it's kind of structured a little bit more," he said. "I've always done punt returns. I haven't returned kickoffs since, really, high school. But I've done a lot of punt returns. I really enjoy that."
Leonhard's delight shows in his play, which has appeared to help him leapfrog Yamon Figurs as the Ravens' primary punt returner.
Although special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg has taken great pains to avoid making such an announcement, Leonhard is averaging 12.2 yards on 19 punt returns and has fielded every punt in the past two games. Leonhard's average - which ranks sixth in the NFL - more than doubles Figurs' 6.0-yard average this season.
Leonhard, who is also the starting strong safety, said he wouldn't mind being the team's full-time punt returner.
"That's what I'm trying to do," he said. "I'm just trying to go out there and make as many plays as I can and set up our offense as good as I can. It's been going really well, and like I said, we're hitting our stride. We've just got to continue to keep moving forward."
Leonhard seems to contradict the image of many NFL players. At 5 feet 8 and 186 pounds, he isn't terribly big. His speed - though better than average - doesn't evoke oohs and aahs. And he doesn't celebrate after each successful return.
Rosburg said Leonhard is often underestimated by those who don't know him.
"The thing that people are perhaps a little bit mistaken of is they look at Jim and they think he's an overachiever. That guy's a good athlete," Rosburg said. "You don't make plays as a punt returner at this level without having athletic ability. He's got the ability to put his foot in the ground and cut off people, and he reads blocks very well. He's been a real positive force for us."
It's unclear whether Leonhard can continue being a force for the Ravens, who signed him to a one-year, $520,000 deal after his contract with the Buffalo Bills expired this past offseason.
Leonhard, who ranks fifth on defense with 79 tackles in 12 starts and has collected a sack and an interception as a replacement for the injured Dawan Landry, said he would like to stay with the Ravens.
