(05-19) 23:03 PDT -- Niners rookie Kyle Williams said punt returning is a little like playing center field, and he would know: He did both well enough to get drafted in both sports.

With that in mind, the 49ers' four prospective punt returners were all guilty of E-8s during voluntary workouts Wednesday. It was that type of misjudged, mishandled day for a unit dying to improve on a lousy 2009 season.

"You can jump off the ball and be aware of where you are on the field," said Williams, whose father, Ken, is the Chicago White Sox general manager.

"After that, it all goes out the window. The baseball doesn't move around like that at all. And, you don't have 10 guys trying to kill you."

No defenders were running after them Wednesday, making the collective struggles of Williams, Ted Ginn Jr., Brandon Jones and LeRoy Vann all the more puzzling.

If balls weren't sailing over their heads, they were falling well in front of their feet or bobbled out of their hands. Keep in mind, this was the third straight day the punt returners got significant practice, so it is a clear point of emphasis this offseason.

It got so bad, coach Mike Singletary finally pulled Ginn aside for a conversation. Just two days earlier, Singletary bragged on this group as an improvement from last year, when the 49ers ranked last in the NFL at 4.4 yards per return.

"I like that we have some guys that can catch the ball, first of all, and go," Singletary said Monday. "It's nice to have some options. Last year, we were scratching our heads every day, trying to figure it out."

Williams said that once they figure out the tricky Santa Clara breezes, they'll prove Singletary right.

"It was the first day it was windy like that," Williams said. "It's just a matter of getting used to it."

E-mail David White at dwhite@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page B - 7 of the San Francisco Chronicle