Special Teams

skins75 · Post by **skins75** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:24 pm

All and all it was a great game but we did not do a very good job in the 1st half with KO and Punt coverage. We were lucky that TB got that holding call. Anyway the defense looked great and I gotta give props to GW and the rest of the defensive coaching staff. They played great and I loved how everyone attacked the ball.

hkHog · Post by **hkHog** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:31 pm

Yeah, not impressed by the special teams either. Bad coverage on kicks and even worse blocking when we were returning kicks. Also, I guess John Hall missed a FG. Well, I'm not too bothered, these things take a little time and we all know how JG stresses special teams. I loved seeing the replay of the holding call though, Sean Taylor just flattened the guy who was trying to block him! He literally ran him over and the guy just grabbed hold for life and pulled him to the ground.

Countertrey · Post by **Countertrey** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:49 pm

Also, I guess John Hall missed a FG.

fer cryin out loud... it was a 50 yarder. No one in the league has a better average at that distance.

Jake · Post by **Jake** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 8:29 pm

Countertrey wrote:
Also, I guess John Hall missed a FG.

fer cryin out loud... it was a 50 yarder. No one in the league has a better average at that distance.

And he was kicking into the wind.

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 9:01 pm

It was a 50 yarder and he still had some air up under the ball.

Im thinking if we needed him to, he could kick a 60 yarder! :shock:

What do you guys think? He had plenty of leg.

hkHog · Post by **hkHog** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 9:04 pm

Well, I have confidence in him, he's a great kicker, I was just saying that overall our special teams weren't that special.

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 9:26 pm

The kickoff coverage unit was the only bad thing I saw about the Bucs game. Hopefully, Gibbs & Co. will fix that problem this week.

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 9:57 pm

Justice Hog wrote:The kickoff coverage unit was the only bad thing I saw about the Bucs game. Hopefully, Gibbs & Co. will fix that problem this week.

I agree Hopefully/probably will get a lot of work against the gints

skin_to_the_bone · Post by **skin_to_the_bone** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:35 pm

Chris Luva Luva wrote:
Im thinking if we needed him to, he could kick a 60 yarder!

What do you guys think? .

I think that might be pushing it a bit much. With all do respect that is flirting territory with the record. He just doesn't strike me as that type of kicker, buy I'm thrilled to have him on our team.

And yes, that was a "heel" of a boot last night

Scottskins · Post by **Scottskins** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 1:27 am

special teams was bad, but I think that takes more time than offense and defense, because in comparison it get s so little time in practice. It will get better IMO.

John hall is a good kicker. His average isn't as good as some of the elite kickers, but he's got a heck of a leg and he's good under pressure. Can't ask for much more than that. I'm more concerned with good kickoffs than I am with having a vanderjagt.

I would say that while I'm extremely happy with the game and the win, I'm not as happy with the our play as some of you. We once again had problems putting the points on the board when dominating a game. I know the offense will take time, and I'm confident Joe will remedy that, but I'll save the real praise for when I start seeing the endzone a little more often.

The other things I noticed was the offense seemed to have an emotional letdown for the 2nd and 3rd quarter, and the defense wasn't using blitzes to get pressure in the 3rd quarter. Just noting things here, not bagging on anyone. I'm sure the team was a little worn after a difficult camp, and still came out with a great win. And Gregg did an excellent defensive coaching job overall. This team will only get better.

*edit* I just want to amend this a little bit. After thinking back on the game, I realized that some of our offensive woes were caused by the zebras. They didn't cost us a game though, so it's just mild irritation so far...

GoSkins · Post by **GoSkins** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 9:49 am

I suspect Gibbs and Co will make some personnel changes on ST. Let's see what happens this week.

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 10:02 am

As far as John Hall, that 50 yarder was easily 10 yards longer in length. If straight, it probably would have been good from 60.

As far as kick-off coverage, one thing missing is Pierce. When he is the backup middle linebacker, he is a beast on kick coverage. I don't remember seeing him in that role until the later part of the second half, when we needed to stop their returns (consequently, when we DID stop their returns).

cvillehog · Post by **cvillehog** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 10:54 am

The problem with very long field goals is that the trajectory of the ball makes it much easier to block. Most of the kickers in the league have enough leg to reach the uprights from that distance, but not without risking a block.

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 11:20 am

The special teams have had to go a looong way to go. In fact, I am convinced that they have made significant advances but they are still far from being the the kind of unit that the Skins had the last time around when Joe was our head coach.

I am convinced that there will be changes and adjustments in the special teams. I still need to be persuaded that our special teams coach is the right person to get the job done.

redskinz4ever · Post by **redskinz4ever** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 11:23 am

the kickoff coverage is a BIGTIME concern to me , the coaching staff i'm sure are at work on it right now !!