What is up with our special teams? Revisited.

[mmohican29]

Team looks good to go except the special teams units. Punter is "ok", but no Andy Lee by any stretch of the imagination and yet noone is going to say we're outkicking our coverage. They just can't cover kicks at all so far. Blocked FG, FG Miss... Punt hitting scoreboard... are our guys getting coached at all?

I know it's the preseason but this is clearly a team weakness.

 

[Jerruh]

I was about to start a thread about this myself. They looked really bad tonight. I think it may be necessary to keep Danny McCray around another year simply because the coverage units looked absolutely lost at times. Unbelievable.

 

[Idgit]

Teams is the unit that usually looks worst in preseason, as they're juggling so many back-roster guys, trying to find the best fits. Thing is, they're playing against other guys' teams units, too, so you'd like to think it wouldn't show so much.

Still, when they're playing 2s and 3s back there instead of so many 3s and 4s, it's going to look better. All it takes is one guy out of position to give up a big play on a re-kick. Especially on a re-kick when everyone's shagged from going down the field the first time.

 

[skinsscalper]

You know I remember a few seasons ago when the Chargers had the #1 Offense, #1 Defense and missed the playoffs because they lost so many games due a a Keystone Cops Special Teams. I really hope that Basaccia (sp)? wasn't the one who was coaching ST in San Diego that year.

 

[mmohican29]

Teams is the unit that usually looks worst in preseason, as they're juggling so many back-roster guys, trying to find the best fits. Thing is, they're playing against other guys' teams units, too, so you'd like to think it wouldn't show so much.

Still, when they're playing 2s and 3s back there instead of so many 3s and 4s, it's going to look better. All it takes is one guy out of position to give up a big play on a re-kick. Especially on a re-kick when everyone's shagged from going down the field the first time.

I'd love to agree with this post, but I simply can't. Here's why.

Anyone "gunning" for an NFL roster spot knows that teams is the way in for low draftees and udfa's. In the preseason, guys that probably don't deserve to make a team CAN find their way on a roster because of a ST flash.

Noone is flashing. Not even guys that have been on teams since gaining a roster spot. The blocking is very weak and undisciplined. Returners are hesitant and making bad decisions to return kicks. The kicker looks iffy from anything other than gimme distance.

I'm not pleased at all with what I'm seeing. De Camillis's units were hardly spectacular, but they appeared just as likely to make a big play as yield one most of the time. I'm seeing nothing to lean on here.

 

[Idgit]

I'd love to agree with this post, but I simply can't. Here's why.

Anyone "gunning" for an NFL roster spot knows that teams is the way in for low draftees and udfa's. In the preseason, guys that probably don't deserve to make a team CAN find their way on a roster because of a ST flash.

Noone is flashing. Not even guys that have been on teams since gaining a roster spot. The blocking is very weak and undisciplined. Returners are hesitant and making bad decisions to return kicks. The kicker looks iffy from anything other than gimme distance.

I'm not pleased at all with what I'm seeing. De Camillis's units were hardly spectacular, but they appeared just as likely to make a big play as yield one most of the time. I'm seeing nothing to lean on here.

I don't want to give the impression that its a good thing. Only that ST play is really variable. I've seen really bad preseason units look good on opening week suddenly just because they're no longer subbing so much. They've looked pretty unimpressive, overall.

 

[Bay10]

Cowboys special teams should be called Special Needs Teams with the way they play.

 

[Parcells4Life]

Special teams in regular season there are nowhere near the # of returns there are in preseason. Everyone runs it out and doesn't take fair catch in preseason as opposed to reg season.

 

[Picksix]

You know I remember a few seasons ago when the Chargers had the #1 Offense, #1 Defense and missed the playoffs because they lost so many games due a a Keystone Cops Special Teams. I really hope that Basaccia (sp)? wasn't the one who was coaching ST in San Diego that year.

Steve Crosby was the ST coach that year. Bissachia replaced him.

 

[Hoofbite]

So the ball hit the scoreboard tonight? Didn't get to watch the game but watching it now.

Wonder if they'll raise it like last time.

 

[gimmesix]

Team looks good to go except the special teams units. Punter is "ok", but no Andy Lee by any stretch of the imagination and yet noone is going to say we're outkicking our coverage. They just can't cover kicks at all so far. Blocked FG, FG Miss... Punt hitting scoreboard... are our guys getting coached at all?

I know it's the preseason but this is clearly a team weakness.

I think there are several things we're doing to get a good look-see at players vying for a special teams spot that we won't be doing during the season (bringing the ball out from deep in the end zone; Chris Jones punting down the middle of the field instead of toward the sideline, etc.).

 

[bayeslife]

What the heck? Is this based off of a few bad plays? The special teams unit has been fine.