Coaching or Personnel to Blame for Special Teams Problems?

[pantherj]

Sure, but Captain was statistically the same, if not better, than Gamble at returning punts. Captain is also not our shutdown, high-paid corner and I don't think Captain would try to throw the ball to an imaginary receiver on a punt return.

Gamble isn't a shutdown CB, but he is making a fortune as a zone CB. Captain gets an A for effort, but Gamble is a far superior athelte, and a threat to take it to the house. I'd roll the dice on Gamble being injured, rather than have Captain back there. I think most fans would rather go with Captain due to the injury risk, but I'm in the minority.

[monstercat]

I'm fine with Captain on punt returns. AE shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a punted ball in a real game though. I sure hope he turns out to be a good WR.

[Sandy Claws]

Something's obviously wrong. Is it special teams coach Jeff Rodgers, or is a problem with the players on squad?

Returning is an issue; is it the returners, or the guy coaching them?

Coverage is a constant issue; is it the coverers, or the guys telling them how to cover?

Lastly, what do we do about it?

I think it's the coaches who are to blame for the current production (or lack there of) by our special teams. They seem to have taken the position that the pre-season is really meaningless, and should be used to experiment with people in different roles with the goal of finding the best combinations. They should be canned immediately.

[rico6]

We cut Larry Beavers last year. He returned a KO for a TD for New Orleans this year... You decide.

THIS THIS THIS

Our Special Teams Staff is horrible.

[Mother Grabber]

If the special teams can get it together, that's another 3-4 games we won't lose...

And if Fox could coach a receiver or DB worth a damn we'd have a perpetual contender. Unfortunately he can't, so instead we just get excuses.

[carpanfan96]

I'm going to have to go with Coaching on this one. He has quite a few ST ace's and a couple other really good ST players..

With the players on this team that are playing st, there shouldn't be an issue at all in coverage and while Edwards is still learning how to PR, at this point he should be able to catch them.

[pantherholic]

I'm fine with Captain on punt returns. AE shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a punted ball in a real game though. I sure hope he turns out to be a good WR.

I agree that Captain has looked the best at returning punts in the preseason and he definitely looks more comfortable doing it than any of the others. However, nobody mentions that Captain muffed a punt last night as well - just so happened to basically bounce right back to him. The only way Edwards will get better at returning punts is to keep doing them. I doubt the coaching staff will scrap the idea based on one muffed punt.

[Snake]

Scott O'Brian fielded our last good ST unit. After Del Rio our best D has come from Meeks. Our last best Passing and Rushing Offense has come from Dan Henning. See a trend here...

It all lies in the coaching... Good coaching= Super Bowl Bad coaching = 8-8

[rayzor]

i'm not blaming coaching for the problems. coverage is much better than last year for sure. i'm seeing a pretty big improvement over what has been around for several years.

it's the returner...we don't have one. i might blame coaching or hurney for us not having a good one but beyond that they are doing better. still....we need a real returner...not someone we hope could turn into one someday.

[gmonet]

I have a theory, can they take pies from you?...ok, here goes...Fox was not really there last night! Instead they used HG footage from 2009!

It was the same face that I saw last season, when whatizname who plays for Cleveland, threw like a half dozen intercepts per visit to the field. Chewing his cud like a person with stuttering issues. The hair..all over the place and the constant questioning on the Motorola..."WTF just hapened?"

This was NOT the manI saw at Woffard, weight under control, cap on neatly, and a sense of this is fun. He stood in place whilst a series went through the motions and occassionally moved to the next yardage.

The joke is over, but let me also add the issue of Davidson. Many wanted him in the booth this year...well it sure hasn't done us any good to fulfill that quest. Could our play calling be anymore reun of 2009? Our ST action any more rerun of 2009? We faced good teams, I'll take that...but we also kept the foot shooting antics in place...THAT is a discipline thing I put on the men in charge!