- Joined
- Aug 26, 2011
- Messages
- 567
- Reaction Score
- 806
Obviously, you have to have a sound "X's and O's" approach to Specials, but Coach P is too smart a guy to let the new Special Teams Coach put in fundamentally unsound Specials.
That leads me to believe the MAJOR dropoff in ALL facets of Special Teams play is more a matter of lack of practice time.
3 games into the season our Specials:
1) Our KR unit has gone from the best in the country to, AT BEST, "average";
2) Our KO coverage is horrible-exposed lanes become glaring within 15 yards of our players going down on coverage;
3) While almost never going for the punt block, we somehow still allow the opponent's coverage team to converge IMMEDIATELY on our PR with 3-4 tacklers (I know-the block was a huge exception, but overall for 3 games, this pattern has held true.);
Losing Robbie Frey certainly hurt our Specials. The steady increase in athleticism of our team, coupled with all the returners, should have been able to overcome this big loss. The major steps back in all areas of Specials leads me to believe practice time is being gobbled up trying to get our struggling offense going.
That leads me to believe the MAJOR dropoff in ALL facets of Special Teams play is more a matter of lack of practice time.
3 games into the season our Specials:
1) Our KR unit has gone from the best in the country to, AT BEST, "average";
2) Our KO coverage is horrible-exposed lanes become glaring within 15 yards of our players going down on coverage;
3) While almost never going for the punt block, we somehow still allow the opponent's coverage team to converge IMMEDIATELY on our PR with 3-4 tacklers (I know-the block was a huge exception, but overall for 3 games, this pattern has held true.);
Losing Robbie Frey certainly hurt our Specials. The steady increase in athleticism of our team, coupled with all the returners, should have been able to overcome this big loss. The major steps back in all areas of Specials leads me to believe practice time is being gobbled up trying to get our struggling offense going.