Special Teams concerns

[Blackrain]

Im a bit concerned with the special teams . We have zero return game . I cringe every time Beasley runs it or Maher lines up to kick . Fumbles, penalties that give us bad field position or worse take us out of FG range.

Is it me or is this a neglected part of this team that needs cleaning up before it screws us up in the playoffs

 

[Hook'em#11]

Been neglected. It is a concern, especially if and when playoffs come around. Sometimes those are deciding factors. Especially field position wise. There is a legit concern there.

 

[ShiningStar]

fire the ST coach now.

 

[Blackrain]

Been neglected. It is a concern, especially if and when playoffs come around. Sometimes those are deciding factors. Especially field position wise. There is a legit concern there.

Yep seem like this phase of the game spits the bit every game and it could really cost us in the playoffs if some attention is not given to cleaning it up . Some kind of punt return for positive yardage would be nice once in a while no followed by a penalty

 

[brymatt94]

Miss Bisaccia. One good thing Oakland did.

 

[Cowboy-33]

Until coaches on every team learn to teach guys not to hold or block the gunners in the back there will never be many punt returns. 75% of time there is a flag. At least Beasley catches it.

One more thing: punters have gotten so dang good at hanging them up there that most of the time there’s no chance for a return.

 

[Blackrain]

I think we are going to have to be able to kick 40 yrd fgs and is it me or is Maher always dangerously to the right

 

[charron]

Im a bit concerned with the special teams . We have zero return game . I cringe every time Beasley runs it or Maher lines up to kick . Fumbles, penalties that give us bad field position or worse take us out of FG range.

Is it me or is this a neglected part of this team that needs cleaning up before it screws us up in the playoffs

They decided we don't need ST to win games. Hate they traded switzer but after getting the great tavon austin and trying to keep beasley 3 was a crowd in the small receiving dept.

 

[TheHerd]

It's not you. We're bad. Coverage teams are bad. Really bad. Luckily the kickoff return has largely been removed from the game and our punter is a stud. Otherwise we'd be screwed even more.

 

[LandryFan]

Im a bit concerned with the special teams . We have zero return game . I cringe every time Beasley runs it or Maher lines up to kick . Fumbles, penalties that give us bad field position or worse take us out of FG range.

Is it me or is this a neglected part of this team that needs cleaning up before it screws us up in the playoffs

All I know is that if I were JG, I would bench the first player that elected to return a kickoff from ANYWHERE in the end zone. Only three outcomes ever happen when a KO is returned:
1. Fumble
2. Get stopped short of the 25 yd line, and/or
3. A penalty causes the offense to start from inside the 10 yd line.
It's sad that our kick return game is that bad, but it is.

 

[LandryFan]

I think we are going to have to be able to kick 40 yrd fgs and is it me or is Maher always dangerously to the right

I referred to that (his misses and occasional "close makes" are always to the right) in another thread. I am not a kicking guru by any stretch, but it seems to me that if that is a consistent issue (which it seems to be), then it should be fairly easily correctable (alignment issue at outset of the snap or his approach to the kick is off line?). Someone needs to study that problem and come up with a solution to correct it.

 

[Blackrain]

All I know is that if I were JG, I would bench the first player that elected to return a kickoff from ANYWHERE in the end zone. Only three outcomes ever happen when a KO is returned:
1. Fumble
2. Get stopped short of the 25 yd line, and/or
3. A penalty causes the offense to start from inside the 10 yd line.
It's sad that our kick return game is that bad, but it is.

All truth there I just hold my breath every time the ball is kicked not much good ever seems to come of it . Beasley just looks like a fumble waiting to happen out there . I find myself just yelling at the TV . Get Down before you Lose it !!!

 

[Blackrain]

They decided we don't need ST to win games. Hate they traded switzer but after getting the great tavon austin and trying to keep beasley 3 was a crowd in the small receiving dept.

I would be happy if we could just avoid the penalties . Lance Lenoir . Gregory . LP just of the top of my head

 

[LandryFan]

All truth there I just hold my breath every time the ball is kicked not much good ever seems to come of it . Beasley just looks like a fumble waiting to happen out there . I find myself just yelling at the TV . Get Down before you Lose it !!!

I know what you mean, even though Beasely isn't known as a fumbler, really. I'm always content with touchbacks on the kickoffs and fair catches on punts simply because, even though nothing great will come from that, nothing bad is likely to come of it, either. Any time there's a return, I hold my breath and totally expect something negative from the play.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Frankly I am shocked and surprised by the special teams. And by that I don't mean I think they are all world but I have to say I thought when the ST coach left and we promoted from within that our Special Teams would go back to what we had some years ago where we were not very good in coverage and give up big plays.

For the most part it has been pretty quiet and sometimes that is a good thing.

My guess is since the NFL is basically trying to do what they can to neuter the kicking game I was wondering if teams just started putting much emphasis on special teams like they used to do.

There is not much for us this season as far as returns go but at the same time we have done a pretty good job of not letting people kill us in that area as well.

Call it a wash I guess.

 

[Blackrain]

I referred to that (his misses and occasional "close makes" are always to the right) in another thread. I am not a kicking guru by any stretch, but it seems to me that if that is a consistent issue (which it seems to be), then it should be fairly easily correctable (alignment issue at outset of the snap or his approach to the kick is off line?). Someone needs to study that problem and come up with a solution to correct it.

Glad Im not the only one that sees this and like you say it should be correctable . Would be nice to get it fixed before playoffs

 

[nightrain]

The Cowboys should take the touchback every time.

 

[ActualCowboysFan]

Maher is at 27/32. Not perfect but fine. Dan Bailey wouldn't have made a 62 yarder.

 

[Blackrain]

This is the one area I still worry about . As the competition gets stiffer we really need to concentrate on not having mistakes and penalties in this part of the game . It has been a liability this year and now is not the time to have to pay the price .

 

[windjc]

Did I dream this or did Austin almost return 2 punts two the house in only one game?

A questionable penalty and a stumble away from 14 points.

Seems pretty good to me.

And if we are relying on FGs to win games from now on out then we are in trouble anyways.