Special Teams Concern?

[HellCrowe]

Is anyone else other than me concerned about our special teams? I'm talking about every facet of the game minus our Kicker, punter, and Long Snapper. I understand that it has only been two pre season games but do we have an answer for Punt Return? Kick Return? And ST coverage?

McCray is suppose to be our specials team Ace (might not even make the team), Whitehead our KR/PR (doesn't look natural and could be a tackle away from TKO for the season) but I feel like we've taken a blow in quality compared to last year with Dwayne Harris and just coverage in general.

You would expect backups to fight for a spot and ST would be there calling card. However, I don't know if it's the energy or the talent that is lacking.

 

[DeaconMoss]

I hope Tim Scott get more looks on ST. He blasted a guy on a KR. It was the only solid ST tackle I saw all night. But I don't think he is being used as a gunner on punts.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I can not think of a time in the last 5+ years where I have not thought the Special Teams (minus the FG Kicker) has been questionable, at best, in preseason games and sometimes into regular season games in various areas.

So to answer your question...there are indeed others who are concerned about STs.

 

[BoysfanfromCanada]

Apparently coverage teams don't really practice much according to Spagnola, which surprised me. They don't have a ton of time to get their stuff together

 

[Rockport]

Is anyone else other than me concerned about our special teams? I'm talking about every facet of the game minus our Kicker, punter, and Long Snapper. I understand that it has only been two pre season games but do we have an answer for Punt Return? Kick Return? And ST coverage?

McCray is suppose to be our specials team Ace (might not even make the team), Whitehead our KR/PR (doesn't look natural and could be a tackle away from TKO for the season) but I feel like we've taken a blow in quality compared to last year with Dwayne Harris and just coverage in general.

You would expect backups to fight for a spot and ST would be there calling card. However, I don't know if it's the energy or the talent that is lacking.

Why? Those playing special teams during preseason are not going to be the ones playin opening day.

 

[Plankton]

Is anyone else other than me concerned about our special teams? I'm talking about every facet of the game minus our Kicker, punter, and Long Snapper. I understand that it has only been two pre season games but do we have an answer for Punt Return? Kick Return? And ST coverage?

McCray is suppose to be our specials team Ace (might not even make the team), Whitehead our KR/PR (doesn't look natural and could be a tackle away from TKO for the season) but I feel like we've taken a blow in quality compared to last year with Dwayne Harris and just coverage in general.

You would expect backups to fight for a spot and ST would be there calling card. However, I don't know if it's the energy or the talent that is lacking.

Harris is a loss that will be felt, mostly because of his versatility.

The guys you saw playing special teams last night likely won't be playing anywhere this season. They do need to start narrowing who the core players on those units will be.

 

[HellCrowe]

I can not think of a time in the last 5+ years where I have not thought the Special Teams (minus the FG Kicker) has been questionable, at best, in preseason games and sometimes into regular season games in various areas.

So to answer your question...there are indeed others who are concerned about STs.

I get that. Our backup punter is horrible but we we looked horrible compared to the Chargers and yesterday with SF. I mean there was a big difference in execution and quality between us and the opposing teams STs in both games.

 

[Zordon]

I can not think of a time in the last 5+ years where I have not thought the Special Teams (minus the FG Kicker) has been questionable, at best, in preseason games and sometimes into regular season games in various areas.

So to answer your question...there are indeed others who are concerned about STs.

They were good Bisaccia's first year here.

Right now, I'm worried about it all.

 

[The Natural]

Biggest problem with the punt coverage is the moron of a punter out kicking the coverage. But yes in general the special teams play has been despicable, they have concerned me in season too.

 

[Zordon]

Also if Bailey continues to miss kicks (1 for his last 4), does that mean the excuse that Chris Jones gets to make the team b/c he's Bailey's holder is no longer valid. Why have we become so complacent with our punting situation?

 

[Plankton]

I hope Tim Scott get more looks on ST. He blasted a guy on a KR. It was the only solid ST tackle I saw all night. But I don't think he is being used as a gunner on punts.

He also allowed Quinton Patton to block a punt for a TD.

 

[KJJ]

Special teams have looked like crap reminds me of a few preseasons ago and it carried over to the regular season that year.

 

[perrykemp]

Also if Bailey continues to miss kicks (1 for his last 4), does that mean the excuse that Chris Jones gets to make the team b/c he's Bailey's holder is no longer valid. Why have we become so complacent with our punting situation?

I worry about Bailey. There is plenty of history of good probowl calibre kickers of a sudden and rather inexplicably sucking.

I <think> Bailey is going be ok, but I'm not 100% confident of him as I was before.

 

[HellCrowe]

Why? Those playing special teams during preseason are not going to be the ones playin opening day.

Yes but players who we are expecting to fill our 2nd team and 3rd team were out there also. No one stood out but that one tackle from Scott, kieth, and our 4the string quarterback making tackles because no one else could get to the returner.

 

[The Natural]

Look at two of these plays from last year alone. It's like the punt teams (on both sides) do not grasp basic concepts



So the outside man comes in motion, and the gunner (looks like Harris?) does not even not call it out, none of the interior protectors even see it and the punt gets blocked.

Second video, 57 second mark)


How the hell do you just leave a gunner uncovered?

These are the kinds of mistakes that can cost you football games and we're lucky they didnt.

 

[Rockport]

Yes but players who we are expecting to fill our 2nd team and 3rd team were out there also. No one stood out but that one tackle from Scott, kieth, and our 4the string quarterback making tackles because no one else could get to the returner.

And as I said they won't be playing opening day. A lot of starters ply special teams once the season starts.

 

[erod]

I say we put Wilcox, Church, Patmon, White, Hanna.....everybody in there on Saturday just like a regular season game.

Or not.

 

[HellCrowe]

And as I said they won't be playing opening day. A lot of starters ply special teams once the season starts.

What I'm getting at is you have backups vs backups in preseason. We've lost in both games. That doesn't say anything about our quality?

 

[DeaconMoss]

He also allowed Quinton Patton to block a punt for a TD.

I saw that. Terrible. Maybe thats why he needs to be a gunner. He can't block.

 

[Rockport]

What I'm getting at is you have backups vs backups in preseason. We've lost in both games. That doesn't say anything about our quality?

Not really imho.