Have the Cowboys Fixed the Special Teams?

[cern]

special teams are a good indicator of your backups. ours have been typically weak. but not having seen them in even a single practice yet, hard to answer the question.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

JG way. If it wasn’t Offense then he didn’t seem to care.

he defended his actions and decisions more than any coach I know. he stood by Marinelli when he should have let him go years ago...he assigned the special teams coach and given how it was performing didn't get involved, he delayed the decision on Maher and cost us games and playoff appearance.....he was somewhat stubborn

 

[G2]

Field position is the product of offense/defense, not special teams.

Returns are anomalies. You can go from the worst to the best in one year without changing a thing.

Not accurate.
If the opposing team punts a ball returned to the 5, that's a huge difference from them returning to the 30. That's all special teams.

 

[xwalker]

X-Walker had a good post yesterday looking at each team loss last season, special teams or lack thereof came up often. Have the front office done enough to fix this unit?

-They hired one of the best ST Coaches in Fassell, who is replacing Quinn who I believe never coached ST's on the NFL Level.

-After they finally cut Maher last season, they brought in Forbath who didn't miss a kick. Fassell also brought his PK from LA, who is coming off an injury plagued season. No matter who wins, they both should be major upgrades.

-They did bring in several players via fa and the draft to help out this unit, Canday, Robinson, Bell to name a few.

-Who replaces Austin as the team's primary punt returner? Lamb/Diggs have the experience, but you would think they would rather have them being factors within their respective units. Dez did return punts as a rookie, so it is a possibility for Lamb.

-Fassell decided to keep Chris Jones, which was somewhat surprising as he had a very poor season

The Cowboys played many close games last season in which I believe they were 0-8 in such games. If they improve the Special Teams Unit, they will have more success winning these games.

Fassell will have a big voice in the final roster cuts. Quinn likely had zero voice in that regard.

The final cuts tend to make or break special teams.

A team can't be full of career special teams players and expect to be good on offense and defense but they can't just cut to 53 only based on offensive/defensive positions with no regard for ST.

The punt debacle in the Pats game last season was comical. The players and ST coach were lost when the Pats didn't have a return man deep. A blocked punt in that game gave the Pats the ball with 12 yards to go for a TD. That was huge in a game that ended a 13-9.

Chris Jones just a had a few bad games. He was at least average in most games. He has been good in the past, especially in regards to punts downed inside the 5.

I think CB Robinson also returned punts in college.

 

[JoeKing]

At this point, there is no way they could have fixed the ST. They will need time to physically practice on the field to get that fixed.

 

[Hennessy_King]

Poor field position, along with a defense who couldn't turn the ball over, made it very difficult for the offense to drive the entire field on a consistent basis.

If fans actually watched other games they would be in disbelief at how many times other teams get turnovers and their offense only have to go 25-30 yards for a score lol

 

[Future]

Not accurate.
If the opposing team punts a ball returned to the 5, that's a huge difference from them returning to the 30. That's all special teams.

Sure, but the 25-yard return you're referring to does not exist, because players don't bring the ball out from inside their own 10. If they do, it's most likely b/c the punter didn't get any air under the kick...which has absolutely nothing to do with scheme/coaching or the quality of the coverage players.

 

[Cowboyny]

Fassell will have a big voice in the final roster cuts. Quinn likely had zero voice in that regard.

The final cuts tend to make or break special teams.

A team can't be full of career special teams players and expect to be good on offense and defense but they can't just cut to 53 only based on offensive/defensive positions with no regard for ST.

The punt debacle in the Pats game last season was comical. The players and ST coach were lost when the Pats didn't have a return man deep. A blocked punt in that game gave the Pats the ball with 12 yards to go for a TD. That was huge in a game that ended a 13-9.

Chris Jones just a had a few bad games. He was at least average in most games. He has been good in the past, especially in regards to punts downed inside the 5.

I think CB Robinson also returned punts in college.

Being from NY, I remember both Parcells and Bellichek while with the Giants, stating Special Teams was just as important as both the other units. Hidden yardage doesn't show up in the stats, but they can certainly determine the outcome. I believe Bellichek actually started as a ST Coach with the Colts.

 

[Williamsboys]

When I see kick returners like Beasley and Switzer, it seems to me the special team's coach was looking for the 'safe" type of players instead of going with someone that can break one every once in awhile. It's time to get It's time to get aggressive now.

 

[Cowboyny]

It would make it hard for any team to drive the length of the field all day. Explains why we had a very high ranked Offense on paper.

You hit the nail on the head

 

[Cowboyny]

I think you fix special teams, by paying it attention. seems like they hired the right coach and are paying attention to the special teams. this past couple of years, it was totally ignored.

The new staff has acknowledged that they need to revamp both the Defense and Special Team Units.

 

[MyFairLady]

We have special roster spots called Jerruhs Boyz. They are reserved for things like:

1. Old players who no longer need to earn a roster spot.
2. Players that are on and off suspensions.
3. Players that were a steal in the second round because of injury concerns.
4. Players that were high draft picks that will one day prove Jerry right.
5. Players coming back from injury that are gonna "turn it around".

The roster spots sure as **** are not available for frivolous things such a deep squad and a healthy special teams.

 

[glimmerman]

he defended his actions and decisions more than any coach I know. he stood by Marinelli when he should have let him go years ago...he assigned the special teams coach and given how it was performing didn't get involved, he delayed the decision on Maher and cost us games and playoff appearance.....he was somewhat stubborn

Yes sir. If we made the playoffs he would have the same game plan and get outcoached. Glad he is with the giants. Wonder how long before he is fired.. He has to coach a newer QB and don’t have the same talent he had for years..

 

[TexasHillbilly]

ST's. Guess we will find out after the season starts. All new coaching staff. May take the team as a whole to get on the same page. We really need a TCamp and preseason.

 

[Future]

We have special roster spots called Jerruhs Boyz. They are reserved for things like:

1. Old players who no longer need to earn a roster spot.
2. Players that are on and off suspensions.
3. Players that were a steal in the second round because of injury concerns.
4. Players that were high draft picks that will one day prove Jerry right.
5. Players coming back from injury that are gonna "turn it around".

The roster spots sure as **** are not available for frivolous things such a deep squad and a healthy special teams.

This is totally wrong. BJ Goodwin and Ventrell Bryant were both active because of their ability on Teams.

 

[fivetwos]

If we mean the kicker, I'm fairly sure Zuerlien will be much better than Maher.

Chris Jones will be replaced.. somehow.

The thing that killed us were the coverages....either blocking on returns, but mostly covering them.

After rewatching several games, it was much more noticeable to me just an overall lack of good players on those units. There were some awful football players out there and I'm hoping that a combo of the new staff putting guys in the right spots for a change coupled with the many bottom of the roster signings will help this out.

 

[OmerV]

X-Walker had a good post yesterday looking at each team loss last season, special teams or lack thereof came up often. Have the front office done enough to fix this unit?

-They hired one of the best ST Coaches in Fassell, who is replacing Quinn who I believe never coached ST's on the NFL Level.

-After they finally cut Maher last season, they brought in Forbath who didn't miss a kick. Fassell also brought his PK from LA, who is coming off an injury plagued season. No matter who wins, they both should be major upgrades.

-They did bring in several players via fa and the draft to help out this unit, Canday, Robinson, Bell to name a few.

-Who replaces Austin as the team's primary punt returner? Lamb/Diggs have the experience, but you would think they would rather have them being factors within their respective units. Dez did return punts as a rookie, so it is a possibility for Lamb.

-Fassell decided to keep Chris Jones, which was somewhat surprising as he had a very poor season

The Cowboys played many close games last season in which I believe they were 0-8 in such games. If they improve the Special Teams Unit, they will have more success winning these games.

I'm not sure Fassell has decided to keep Chris Jones. Remember, training camp hasn't started, and the training camp roster is not set in stone.

 

[Techsass]

We were blessed with both Bailey & Jones. It masked how weak our STs have been for a long time.

Who was our last good returner? I draw a complete blank after Dwayne Harris. He was also a pretty good gunner.

 

[irishline]

Sure, but the 25-yard return you're referring to does not exist, because players don't bring the ball out from inside their own 10. If they do, it's most likely b/c the punter didn't get any air under the kick...which has absolutely nothing to do with scheme/coaching or the quality of the coverage players.

So you are saying there is no difference between getting the ball at your own 22 yard line versus your own 47? Still the 25 yard difference in returns and can have a meaningful impact on the game.

By the way, returners do not act in a vacuum. The blocking, reads, and reactions the rest of the special teams unit makes are nearly just as important to the success of the return. You said a returner can go from worst to first overnight (and vice versa), do you not think the improvement of the unit as a whole does not influence that?

A QB does not throw a long pass without good blocking, recognition by multiple other players, route running, etc. So are you saying on offense or defense you either are bad at it or just doing what you are suppose to be doing?

Because if you aren't saying that about those units, I don't understand how those units can be "good" but a special teams unit cannot. Every play is dynamic, its how the unit positively or negatively reacts and attacks it that separates the good from the bad, no matter what phase of the game. IMHO of course.

 

[quickccc]

X-Walker had a good post yesterday looking at each team loss last season, special teams or lack thereof came up often. Have the front office done enough to fix this unit?

-They hired one of the best ST Coaches in Fassell, who is replacing Quinn who I believe never coached ST's on the NFL Level.

-After they finally cut Maher last season, they brought in Forbath who didn't miss a kick. Fassell also brought his PK from LA, who is coming off an injury plagued season. No matter who wins, they both should be major upgrades.

-They did bring in several players via fa and the draft to help out this unit, Canday, Robinson, Bell to name a few.

-Who replaces Austin as the team's primary punt returner? Lamb/Diggs have the experience, but you would think they would rather have them being factors within their respective units. Dez did return punts as a rookie, so it is a possibility for Lamb.

-Fassell decided to keep Chris Jones, which was somewhat surprising as he had a very poor season

The Cowboys played many close games last season in which I believe they were 0-8 in such games. If they improve the Special Teams Unit, they will have more success winning these games.

As with ANY special teams coach,..the team has to give him the proper personnel to operate in all aspects of the special teams .the coverage game, the kicking game, the return game.

- that's why fringe guys like Justin March Liddard, CJ Goodwin, Darian Thompson etc. were re-signed.
Jeff Heath was a top special teamer but he has taken his act to Casino City.

- Another reason why useless blocker FB Jamele Olawale is likely to have a
good chance to make the team ? He's supposedly noted as a fine special team guy - one of the leading tacklers on the team.
But hell, i'm trying to get a Keith Smith type -a violently physical blocker who can catch a little, run inside a little while also being
a big special teams helper.

- Now Here is the big deal package about new special teams coach John Fassel,

.. not only is he known as a strong disciplinarian fundamentalist, ..he also a master at fronting and stunting games at you ,
He will pressure and challenge the opposing special teams unit.
He will look for weaknesses, openings, and opportunities to draw opponents off sides for big penalty 1st downs, look for poorly designed
blocking-alignment for punt blocks,

- He'll move multiple formations around pre-snap to confuse and keep opponents off balance and out of sync in adjusting.
Fassel has been known to work misdirecting and misleading games in the return game and has been known to have punter
actually throw to wide open targets for surprise big 1st down momentum.

Til this day, i am still quite surprised we were able to sign him away from the Rams.