Thoughts on special teams coach Bone Fassel

quickccc · Dec 2, 2020

What are your thoughts on new Special Teams coach John "Bones" Fassel so far ?

How do grade the Cowboys special teams work from coach Bones this year thus far ?

When I had heard that Bones was free and the Rams were not gonna renew his contract, I admit that I was totally taken by surprised and even elated that the Cowboys had signed him on here.

Bones has a rep known for being the most aggressive and most exotic special teams coach around in the NFL. He had a reputation for challenging opposing special teams unit and he could take to fake punts and onside kicks at any given moment. The HCs he's under had to give him the green light to try such tactics.

Impressed with Bones ?
.... or Not ?

.

jazzcat22 · Dec 2, 2020

ST's have been better, but they insist on keeping Pollard making dumb choices on returning KO's at times, knocks the grade down a bit. But not a lot.
But a little impressed as the have improved so much from last year without prep time, and with less players. I think they need better blocking setting up returns on KO's and PR's, but with more practice time and better players, that will improve.

INCowboysFan · Dec 2, 2020

I do like the aggressive nature of our special teams now. How many fakes did we run in the Garrett era? But there is a fine line between being aggressive and being reckless, which we crossed against Washington.

Plankton · Dec 2, 2020

Fassel is a definite improvement over Keith O'Quinn, but that's a pretty low bar to clear. However, sometimes I think that Fassel is too "smart" for his own good with some of his fakes.

cowboyec · Dec 2, 2020

i like him and the job he's done on s teams.
i don't like the call in the washington game...but over all i think he's done a job improving our s teams.

Jarntt · Dec 2, 2020

INCowboysFan said:
I do like the aggressive nature of our special teams now. How many fakes did we run in the Garrett era? But there is a fine line between being aggressive and being reckless, which we crossed against Washington.

I like aggressiveness, but there is a difference between being aggressive and being reckless and stupid

Motorola · Dec 2, 2020

There have been a few bad decisions made during this season.
But I like Fassel's overall approach to coaching special teams = prepare each week for every game so that when the squads take the field, each play could produce something"special".

Crazed Liotta Eyes · Dec 2, 2020

I think they are being overly aggressive with the fakes. That last one made no sense to me. I have to assume the head coach has the power to veto so I don't totally blame bones, but who knows with this franchise. I also don't understand why Pollard is still there on KO returns. It's pretty obvious he has no instincts for the position. I think he is solid as a backup RB but not as a kick returner.

dsturgeon · Dec 2, 2020

Jarntt said:
I like aggressiveness, but there is a difference between being aggressive and being reckless and stupid

McCarthy makes the call, and then the ST coach gives the play

Crazed Liotta Eyes · Dec 2, 2020

dsturgeon said:
McCarthy makes the call, and then the ST coach gives the play

Are we sure that is what is happening? I would assume so but I'm really trying to figure out what McCarthy does.

Future · Dec 2, 2020

Crazed Liotta Eyes said:
Are we sure that is what is happening? I would assume so but I'm really trying to figure out what McCarthy does.

Obviously. This is what every team in football does. There's no ST coordinator who has autonomy to decide when to fake it lol

Future · Dec 2, 2020

Fassel, like every other ST coach in the league, is as good as his players. There's no such thing as a good ST coach.

Crazed Liotta Eyes · Dec 2, 2020

Future said:
Obviously. This is what every team in football does. There's no ST coordinator who has autonomy to decide when to fake it lol

I think you're correct but I just don't know anymore with this team. Some of these calls are just bizarre.

Aftershock · Dec 2, 2020

Sometimes I feel he is trying to be too exotic and aggressive just for the sake of being aggressive and exotic. But i'd take him over the last ST coach any day

OmerV · Dec 2, 2020

quickccc said:
What are your thoughts on new Special Teams coach John "Bones" Fassel so far ?

How do grade the Cowboys special teams work from coach Bones this year thus far ?

When I had heard that Bones was free and the Rams were not gonna renew his contract, I admit that I was totally taken by surprised and even elated that the Cowboys had signed him on here.

Bones has a rep known for being the most aggressive and most exotic special teams coach around in the NFL. He had a reputation for challenging opposing special teams unit and he could take to fake punts and onside kicks at any given moment. The HCs he's under had to give him the green light to try such tactics.

Impressed with Bones ?
.... or Not ?

.

I certainly can't claim to know for sure, but my guess is McCarthy has to call, or at least agree to, a fake punt before the play is called.

big dog cowboy · Dec 2, 2020

Much upgraded from last year. I don't understand Pollard returning kicks. He looks lost and more importantly, I hate starting drives on the 15 yard line!

Overall I think Fassel has done a great job and an anxious for further improvements next year.

thunderpimp91 · Dec 2, 2020

Huge fan. He would look even better if this team didn't have to rely on them pulling off a successful trick special teams play or onside kick every week. I think that has been the bigger issue. You can only pull off so many fakes before teams just expect it. Now the Cowboys are having to do even more extreme fakes for the element of surprise.

Kick returns still seem to be an issue for this team, but that could be for a lack of a decent returner. Despite what people want to think that is actually a tough job, and you cant just throw anyone back there.

BrAinPaiNt · Dec 2, 2020

Huge improvement in what we had IMO.

With that said, I think he needs to eat a bit more, looks a little unhealthy and gaunt in the face.

Crazed Liotta Eyes · Dec 2, 2020

Future said:
Fassel, like every other ST coach in the league, is as good as his players. There's no such thing as a good ST coach.

Strange take. Been quite a few that made great head coaches. There is one in New England and Baltimore for example.

Cowboyny · Dec 2, 2020

quickccc said:
What are your thoughts on new Special Teams coach John "Bones" Fassel so far ?

How do grade the Cowboys special teams work from coach Bones this year thus far ?

When I had heard that Bones was free and the Rams were not gonna renew his contract, I admit that I was totally taken by surprised and even elated that the Cowboys had signed him on here.

Bones has a rep known for being the most aggressive and most exotic special teams coach around in the NFL. He had a reputation for challenging opposing special teams unit and he could take to fake punts and onside kicks at any given moment. The HCs he's under had to give him the green light to try such tactics.

Impressed with Bones ?
.... or Not ?

.

Total mixed results for me as I was very excited about the hire at the time. Way too aggressive at times has really hurt this team. Zero in the return game, if not for a few penalties they would of given up a few 1st downs/scores of fake punts/fg's. The good things were the Pittsburgh game, onside kick against Atlanta and improvement stopping the return game. Zuerlin has also been a pretty good signing. Still have a long way to go, but they are improving. If Fassel would stop being super aggressive in our end, we should be ok.

Thoughts on special teams coach Bone Fassel

quickccc

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jazzcat22

INCowboysFan

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Plankton

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cowboyec

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Jarntt

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Motorola

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Crazed Liotta Eyes

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dsturgeon

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Crazed Liotta Eyes

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Future

Intramural Legend

Future

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Crazed Liotta Eyes

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Aftershock

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OmerV

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big dog cowboy

THE BIG DOG

thunderpimp91

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BrAinPaiNt

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Crazed Liotta Eyes

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Cowboyny

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