The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

I am not sure about these players, but we got to ethier upgrade our blocking on punt and kick returns or get a new coach. We have not broken for a single long run yet. There all fair catches or 2-3 yd punt returns. Kick returns are all to the 20 or 25. We need a new coach or the special teams players can't block for jack. I don't know what the problem is, is it the coach or the players.

Is it Novak's fault? The coaches seem to be blaming the line, but I'm not sure.

Also, that 54 yarder looked ugly but good. Penalties penalties penalties...

Looked like Courtney Brown got a big paw on it.

It looks to me like he's really driving it low for distance...and the defense is getting push. He's just gotta keep his head up and continue to make plays. When's John coming back again...???

Not to mention both blocked kicks. . . . As far as I'm concerned, Novak is kicking 100%. He even nailed that 50+ kick that was called back for a false start.

"Special teams troubles" topics merged.

I'm really starting to wonder what exactly it is that our special teams does during practice. This is the one unit that hasn't show any, and I mean any, improvment since Gibbs' return. The line is doing a terrible job on kicks, penalties are killing us, and Thrash and Betts are just not effective returners. Most of the time there are no holes for the returners to run through and when they are there Thrash/Betts are way too slow to get through them.

I think the special teams are improved over last year. They arent the best but they dont lose games for us. I don't remeber in significant gains being run on us for big yards.

I think that we still need a kick return guy.


Also, don't gauge yesterdays game on our special teams. The field was sloppy and the ball was wet. Moss even had trouble with footing on his punt return. Running on loose turf causes you to think too much. You can't just plant your foot and go. You have to hesistate to be sure u footing is true before you push off. They protected the ball and field position in horrible conditions. Im pretty satisfied but we do need some improvement.

Mind you, we're probally getting more lower string guys on the special teams unit due to injuries. We can't risk good players to the unit, especially defensive.

skinz74 wrote:It looks to me like he's really driving it low for distance...and the defense is getting push. He's just gotta keep his head up and continue to make plays. When's John coming back again...???

I don't know that I want John Hall coming back again. Why? He keeps getting injured, that's why. Novak seems pretty decent to me. I'm not saying he's Adam Venturi, but my fear is he's snatched the moment Hall leaves, and then when Hall gets hurt again, we're stuck with someone worse.

I think its time to wonder if Hall might be done as a consistent kicker in this league. He's had a consistent rash of injuries that really make me question things.

Novak's been a great replacement -- he's had some blocked. When you look at footage, though, it's the line. Hopefully, they can put up some new drills and reinforce the need to convert these kicks.

AZHog wrote:Novak's been a great replacement -- he's had some blocked. When you look at footage, though, it's the line. Hopefully, they can put up some new drills and reinforce the need to convert these kicks.

He is a very good replacement, but he's had 2 kicks blocked.
He has done a little better on kick-offs, but we still have two Kickers taking up roster spots. If nothing else free up the spot for a return man.

i cringe everytime novak steps on the field.

Hall is listed as probable for this weeks games. That's good news after he practiced today

hailskins666 wrote:i cringe everytime novak steps on the field.

I actually feel confident in his FG's but his kickoffs cause me to cringe.

Im afraid that Hall may be rushing back a little too soon. We have great trainers so hopefully he'll be just fine.

We need the roster spot

The problem is I dont trust Hall's health. Theres a good chance Novak will get swept away if he release him... I think they may boot Hall in the offseason. It wouldn't shock me due to his health. They may hold on to this kid.

Chris Luva Luva wrote:The problem is I dont trust Hall's health. Theres a good chance Novak will get swept away if he release him... I think they may boot Hall in the offseason. It wouldn't shock me due to his health. They may hold on to this kid.

I said weeks ago

Hall= IR
Novak= FG
Frost= KO
Redskins= 1 roster spot for a DB

Even though Hall is listed as Probable, I would still like to wait a week to suit him up.

Or at least keep Novak for at least one more week. Like CLL said, Novak will probably be gone pretty quick after he is cut, so even though we need the roster spot, ST is a big part of football and I'd rather be safe than sorry.

surprising news from yahoo! sports:

Oct 19 Ryan O'Halloran, of the Washington Times, reports Washington Redskins PK John Hall (quadriceps) returned to practice Wednesday, Oct. 19 and if his leg holds up during practice this week, he may play in Week 7. Hall is listed as probable this week.


waht do you think guys, does he play over novak this weekend? persoanlly, i like nick novak and wouldnt mind seeing him around for the year, hall has just become an injury liability the past 2 seasons and its just the same thing over and over again.

i think its great that hall is coming back i like the veteran kicking the field goals. I get a little nervous when the terp is up there.

I thought he did OK. He doesn't kick long but he kicks high which may be more effective. It's so strange to watch a game in KC...Your teams scores a TD amd the KC fans get up and start to cheer...I was like what the !#@$ Then I realize they just go crazy when the X-Factor (Hall) walks on the field. Everyone in the stadium crosses their arms to make a X it's pretty awesome. I swear my stomach turned everytime he touched the ball, we did a GREAT job on him but man he makes a 1 yard return so exciting!!

I think our hopes for any long returns this year went out the window along with Joe's confidence in Antonio Brown after that fumble against Chicago... only way it happens now is if Moss is back there in a desperate situation... As far as the kicking game goes, no way Joe will let Hall come back against the 49ers he'll give him an extra week, then he'll have to make a choice because we'll need the extra spot going into the division games... I think the real short kickoffs have obviously been a "Moseley" type tactic to avoid dangerous return guys... I'm sure if Frost could kick it out of the endzone, Gibbs would rather do that, but apparently that's not the case...

Chris Luva Luva wrote:

hailskins666 wrote:i cringe everytime novak steps on the field.

I actually feel confident in his FG's but his kickoffs cause me to cringe.

i have yet to see him have a kickoff blocked.

We have become pretty good at blocking kicks in the last two years. That has been good.

die cowboys die wrote:

Chris Luva Luva wrote:

hailskins666 wrote:i cringe everytime novak steps on the field.

I actually feel confident in his FG's but his kickoffs cause me to cringe.

i have yet to see him have a kickoff blocked.

thats because the kicks don't make it far enough down field to be blocked. :-&