SANTA CLARA – Jeremy Kerley admits he had a supreme dislike for returning punts.
But, he said, his opinion of the craft has changed since coming to the 49ers.
On a conference call Wednesday with Bay Area reporters, Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan said Kerley, his former player for four seasons with the New York Jets, did not like to return punts.
“I love punt return now,” Kerley said. “It’s different now.”
The biggest difference, according to Kerley, is the scheme of 49ers special-teams coordinator Derius Swinton. When Kerley returned punts on Ryan’s teams, the Jets were set up to try to block the kicks. That left the return man vulnerable without many teammates assigned to block the opposition.
“The blocking was a little different,” Kerley said. “People were always in my face. I just shied away from it.”
Kerley said he didn’t want to do it any more.
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“But I come here, it’s totally differently,” he said.
The 49ers are set up to be 50-50, between attempting blocks and setting up returns, Kerley said. Kerley is the only player to return a punt for the 49ers through five games. He has averaged 8.1 yards on seven punts while making 14 fair catches.
In his six-year career, Kerley has averaged 9.3 yards on 141 punt returns with 103 fair catches.
Kerley denied that Ryan’s preference to use him as the primary punt returner was a determining factor in his decision to sign with the Detroit Lions as a free agent. Ryan said he wanted to bring him to Buffalo, but Kerley was told he would be used as the team's return man.
“It was just a better opportunity,” Kerley said. “It had nothing to do with that (punt returns), other than the town of Buffalo. I don’t think there’s a lot to do out there.”
Kerley, the 49ers’ primary slot receiver, leads the 49ers with 26 catches for 304 yards and two touchdowns.
