Cannot Argue with the "Special Teams" Bottom of Roster Moves

[LarryCanadian]

Since we haven't been able to add real help at OG, OT, or Safety/CB (the most glaring needs still IMHO), I do think the team was wise in trying to upgrade the Special Teams in terms of blocking and coverage!

We kept Frampton, who made the team pretty much as a special teamer, over someone like Sterling Moore who can play both CB and Safety in a pinch...

We all saw the poor punt/kick coverage in the 5 pre-season games, and bringing in some proven veterans (the DE trade, the KC linebacker waiver pickup, and keeping McCray at a reduced salary), should help in keeping us competitive in the 3rd phase of the game.

We were just giving up too many yards on kicks/punts, and too many blocked FG's or near misses etc...

A team that is 8-8 can't afford to lose the weekly Special Teams battle on top of everything else.....

We'll see if the moves solidify things, but at least they were obviously thinking about it and scouting guys, because it didn't take them long to jump on a couple of opportunities....

LarryCanadian

 

[cannonball44]

Completely agree... i just wish we could clone Dez to return punts. Special Teams could easily be a major difference maker for us.

 

[The Quest for Six]

I think by these moves in the last day to bolster special teams show there is a MAJOR concern on this team with regards to punt and kickoff coverage..

 

[LarryCanadian]

Yep, and there should be MAJOR concern with the coverage - after what we saw! Even last year there were a few times where we had a nice drive and had created some good momentum and then gave up some major return yardage, negating the momentum shift and putting us on defensive again.
TOO much being behind and being predictable last year - and this "hidden yardage" stuff is a big factor that is so easy to forget....

Our punter, long-snapper, and kicker are great. But there is a LOT more to special teams. The blocking on returns in pre-season was ATROCIOUS in my opinion anyway. Our returners were getting hammered by guys sprinting in un-touched over and over. Not sure if that was coaching or just guys not getting it done or having the right mentality for special teams.

The blocking on field goals and punts has worried me for a bit as well! That needs to be cleared up.

 

[JonJon]

I still hope Moore is brought back for depth purposes at CB and S.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Since we haven't been able to add real help at OG, OT, or Safety/CB (the most glaring needs still IMHO), I do think the team was wise in trying to upgrade the Special Teams in terms of blocking and coverage!

I don't know. Lots of people out on the ledge over our trade last night.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

Keep in mind that McCray was part of the terrible special teams showing in the pre-season. Go back and look at his performance. I really did not see a need for keeping him.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

Completely agree... i just wish we could clone Dez to return punts. Special Teams could easily be a major difference maker for us.

Harris is better at returning them than Dez anyway..

 

[iceman117]

Harris is better at returning them than Dez anyway..

Maybe more consistent but Dez can bring them to the house and is a much more dangerous returner. Dez returned 2 punts his rookie year and Harris might have 1 in a much bigger body of work

 

[RoyTheHammer]

Maybe more consistent but Dez can bring them to the house and is a much more dangerous returner. Dez returned 2 punts his rookie year and Harris might have 1 in a much bigger body of work

He was good his rookie year.. remarkably pedestrian last year though.

 

[iceman117]

He was good his rookie year.. remarkably pedestrian last year though.

in any case he's more dangerous then Harris... but i agreed with your point by saying Harris is more consistent, Dez is way too important to the offense to risk injury on a punt return aside from in a playoff game/super bowl or where you need a big return late in the game out of desperation i'd expect Dez's career as a punt returner is over

 

[nalam]

So no excuse for Rich Bischa... Anymore!

If he does not turn this ST unit fast , he should be shown the door, Right JG err... Jerry ?

 

[gmoney112]

Special teams can will ballgames. How many wins did the Bears come by just from having a stout defense and excellent special teams? If they were relying on offense they'd have been completely irrelevant. Don't mind these moves at all. If these moves mean better starting position, worse starting position for the opposition, and a rare instance of a special teams score/momentum swing then hey I'm all for it. Whatever it takes to win.

 

[FiveRings]

Keep in mind that McCray was part of the terrible special teams showing in the pre-season. Go back and look at his performance. I really did not see a need for keeping him.

I haven't seen me play that justifies McCray's position on this team as "Special Teams Ace"

 

[jobberone]

It's Jerry's job with Stephen's cap help and the coaches input to acquire talent. I'm still amazed people find it so difficult to believe that many people are involved from the GM down to the guys in the film room/quality control.

 

[SportsGuru80]

Special teams cannot cost you games in the NFL, that has to be a priority. I'm fine with the moves...

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I have no problem with keeping guys who can have an impact on special teams. But we better be darn good on special teams then. Remember our "special teams draft" a few years ago? Any team that dedicates an entire draft to special teams should be amazing. I remember us still being below average after that draft.

 

[big dog cowboy]

It's Jerry's job with Stephen's cap help and the coaches input to acquire talent.

Wait....what?

 

[morasp]

Wouldn't it be fun if instead of not being a weakness special teams were a strength. Opponents kick away from our punt returner giving us better field position, some blocked punts, some recovered on-sides kicks when they aren't expecting it. In the nineties starters used to play special teams. I remember in the first NFC championship game in San Francisco Moose caused a fumble on a kick return that we recovered.

 

[Fredd]

So we get Jones for free (basically)...he should help ST's...and, perhaps he can help as a DE as well in spot duty, who knows

I thought the Lissemore trade was VERY curious since we aren't rife with numbers on the DL...and, to get a 2015 7th round pick for him?

the Bosworth move could also help in ST