WFAA Blog: Is Wade Phillips delusional about special teams?

[WoodysGirl]

Is Wade Phillips delusional about special teams?

10:21 AM Wed, Aug 27, 2008 | Permalink
Aaron Chimbel
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To quote the previous head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, "You are what you are."

And current Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips' coverage units are not good. Just look at this preseason or last season when Keith Davis was not playing.

Now Davis is playing for the Miami Dolphins and overlord Bill Parcells.

What is more disturbing is how nonchalant Phillips is about the breakdowns in coverage.

"Special teams, you know the return teams are outstanding, have been this preseason," said Phillips. "Our punt team had trouble the first game, and we've had some trouble on kickoff coverage."

Really? Giving up a 40-yard kick off return average to Andre Davis, including the 68-yarder is more than some trouble.

Special teams and turnovers are the two easiest ways for a less team to beat a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

Phillips blames (and blame is being nice to the rookie free agents he is blaming with this: "some of it is guys that won't be in there") young players, some who may not make the team.

But it's young, hungry backup players where you build special teams. Roy Williams and Adam 'Pacman' Jones are not on coverage units.

It's the Miles Austins and Deon Andersons and Bobby Carpenters and Pat Watkins that make up your core of special teams, but they need young players to add depth.

I've been saying it all preseason, but there will be surprises who make this team based on special teams, or at least there should be.

It's not worth losing a couple games when it counts to keep an extra offensive lineman or player who will simply sit on the bench. This season is too important for the Cowboys.

Read more on the speical teams from George Riba.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Wade is the most optimistic person in the NFL.

 

[kmp77]

Wade is the most optimistic person in the NFL.

...exactly what our "special" teams doesn't need :bang2:

 

[DaBoys4Life]

was BP using some of the starters on ST ???

 

[Doomsday101]

Wade knows there is a problem and they are trying to deal with it. Once the final roster is in place so will our coverage unit be in place.

 

[Future]

was BP using some of the starters on ST ???

I know some coaches do. Heck, Darren Woodson was our best ST player after Bill Bates left. I think he was on all four units.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

If Aaron Chimbel doesn't post here, he should. He'd fit right in.

 

[Arch Stanton]

was BP using some of the starters on ST ???

Wade used Ant during the Texans game.

 

[Brandon]

Wade knows there is a problem and they are trying to deal with it. Once the final roster is in place so will our coverage unit be in place.

Come to me the first week of January when Reggie Bush or Nate Burleson kill us in the return game and oust us in our first game again.

 

[stealth]

Come to me the first week of January when Reggie Bush or Nate Burleson kill us in the return game and oust us in our first game again.

bet you cash money you aren't around in january

 

[Bluefin]

Nick Folk has been trying a new approach before kicking in an attempt to disguise which direction the ball is going and caused some miscues.

We're missing some regular coverage participants due to injury.

We've been trying a bunch of new players with the usual snafus.

I'm concerned about our coverage units, but there is some hope the picture isn't as black as it's often brushed.

 

[Doomsday101]

Come to me the first week of January when Reggie Bush or Nate Burleson kill us in the return game and oust us in our first game again.

I'll be here no matter what. If special teams fails then it clearly could hurt our chances we will see. Unlike you though I don't throw hissy fits during the pre-season I look at is as an oppertunity to make changes and correction and we will see if that is going to be good enough come regular season.

 

[TNCowboy]

was BP using some of the starters on ST ???

Roy Williams was a vicious special teams player his first year or two.

 

[speedkilz88]

Roy should be put on the coverage teams. He's still pretty young and is only playing two downs most of the time.

 

[Disturbed]

I think Phillips is delusional on how good a special teams coach "Bruce Read" really is for the Cowboys. Our special teams are getting worse, not better...and Read is front and center from a responsibility standpoint.