Special Teams Issues

[UMDan]

I was surprised to not already see a topic about this. (If there is one, I couldn't find it.) Anyways, we have a few issues on special teams, and I'm not sure what if anything is being done to improve it. The biggest issue is missed tackles. It may be the personnel we have in there or perhaps the way we respond to a punt/kick return attempt. And personally, I don't like to see Ed Reed returning for us. It makes me nervous, like he might get injured or do something ill-advised. (With all do respect, I love Ed, but I know there's a lot of us that get nervous that he might pitch the ball somewhere it shouldn't be pitched.)

Bottom line is something needs to change. We've allowed two punt returns for touchdowns this year, and against Jacksonville they had two long returns in a row after a rekick that was enforced by a penalty. Field position is huge in football, it can single handedly win and lose us games. And you better bet it'll be a big deal against the Steelers, as well as every team we play for the rest of the seasons and potentially in the playoffs.

[FerrariFan87]

Missed tackles and poor blocking on kick-off returns are the most troubling issues....

[Raven146]

I think Billy's kickoff has made them slack. They act surprised when there is a return. Instead of concentrating on the ball , they are getting involved with the return team players making them react slowly to the ball.

[Runnin Raven]

Totally with you on Ed returning punts. Just no. How about the following:

KR: D. Reed
B. McCann

PR: B. McCann
Webby
L. Williams

I know Webb is too important to risk injury but so is Ed! Plus, Webby could take 1 to the house in a tight game *Marcus Smith - smacks forehead*

[usmccharles]

I dont see a problem with our special teams, other than those missed tackles the other day cant really think of another game where they let me down. I dont mind ed reed back there because sometimes we need him to do somethng the way the offense has been playing, its always high risk high reward with him, only reason why i wouldnt want him back there is just for health reason. i would be interested to see doss out there, not sure on his speed though

[Tiz]

[quote name='Raven146' timestamp='1320248226' post='850140']
I think Billy's kickoff has made them slack. They act surprised when there is a return. Instead of concentrating on the ball , they are getting involved with the return team players making them react slowly to the ball.
[/quote]
I agree.
So many are taken the ball deep out the endzone this yr.

I find myself thinking we are foolish to do it too.

[FerrariFan87]

I actually like Carr back there returning punts... that's originally why he was brought in. His ability as a CB was a welcomed surprise to be honest.

[UMDan]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' timestamp='1320250057' post='850174']
I actually like Carr back there returning punts... that's originally why he was brought in. His ability as a CB was a welcomed surprise to be honest.
[/quote]

Agreed. Carr and Webb, I like back there with David Reed on KR. One thing I didn't like was when Zibby was returning. He never really did anything great in the return unit.

[757RavensFan]

Has Haruki ever returned punts for us? Not suggesting he's an option just don't ever recall him doing it.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='757RavensFan' timestamp='1320251075' post='850196']
Has Haruki ever returned punts for us? Not suggesting he's an option just don't ever recall him doing it.
[/quote]

I've been quietly campaigning for Haruki to return punts for a while now. He's more agile and faster than Zibby and they've let him do it. Plus, he showed he's no slouch with the ball in his hands on that fake-punt rush in pre-season last year.

Don't know why the coaches won't let him do it.

[PurplePollock]

I was watching NFL Replay last night which had the Arizona game on...on that punt return for a TD, did anyone else see a block in the back?

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOr2lIm9a6s"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOr2lIm9a6s[/url]

Watch at the 0:04 second mark.


Never the less, our special teams needs to strap up on those tackles. Same thing happened in week 4 against the Jets.

[Twistidfunk]

I am more concerned with who we have on coverage than running the ball back.

Personally I like Webb and D. Reed but all of those guys are capable.

Tackling has been an issue and I think some of the guys over pursure...like a lot.

Harbs better fix this

[arnie_uk]

i play rugby and the first thing you learn when tackling is too slow down before you come up to make your hit.. if your running full speed the man with the ball has all the control, all he has to do is step one side and you cant get stopped to tackle him quick enough and hes gone.. but if your slowed down, you react to his movements quicker and can tackle better.. When people are chaisng down the kick or return their running as hard as the go and more often than not you see them fly straight past the guy with the ball in his hands and he only moved an inch or two to the side.. he avoids the tackler rather than goes around them... slow down when your come up to the returner, you can tackle better... Surely harbs being a ST coach know this...

[colljb9]

Why don't we let torrey smith return kicks or punts? I mean this guy set multiple ACC return records while in college and im pretty sure he had some touchdowns in there as well. We talk about how fast this guy is and on kick returns its a lot about letting your blocks set up and then bursting through the hole, something torrey seems like hed be very good at

[1/28/01]

[quote name='colljb9' timestamp='1320258902' post='850361']
Why don't we let torrey smith return kicks or punts? I mean this guy set multiple ACC return records while in college and im pretty sure he had some touchdowns in there as well. We talk about how fast this guy is and on kick returns its a lot about letting your blocks set up and then bursting through the hole, something torrey seems like hed be very good at
[/quote]
Cause right now he's our #2 WR. Could you imagine life without Evans AND Smith? NO THANK YOU! Horrible idea!!!

[UMDan]

[quote name='colljb9' timestamp='1320258902' post='850361']
Why don't we let torrey smith return kicks or punts? I mean this guy set multiple ACC return records while in college and im pretty sure he had some touchdowns in there as well. We talk about how fast this guy is and on kick returns its a lot about letting your blocks set up and then bursting through the hole, something torrey seems like hed be very good at
[/quote]

I thought about the same thing, but I think we might want to wait for Lee to be healthy to attempt this. If Torrey gets hurt, we are forced to put LaQuan or Reed in, and right now Torrey is our #2.

[SideStep77]

I think you have a point, with Billy knocking the balls out of the endzone most of the time, when a return happens I think the special teams get surprised about it. Like they think "Oh crap he's actually returning this" and maybe they panic or get confused because a return on a kickoff is getting rarer and rarer in this league.

[BALTIMOREFLACCO]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1320257735' post='850333']
i play rugby and the first thing you learn when tackling is too slow down before you come up to make your hit.. if your running full speed the man with the ball has all the control, all he has to do is step one side and you cant get stopped to tackle him quick enough and hes gone.. but if your slowed down, you react to his movements quicker and can tackle better.. When people are chaisng down the kick or return their running as hard as the go and more often than not you see them fly straight past the guy with the ball in his hands and he only moved an inch or two to the side.. he avoids the tackler rather than goes around them... slow down when your come up to the returner, you can tackle better... Surely harbs being a ST coach know this...
[/quote]
Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure you are supposed to tackle the exact opposite way. Full speed 100% of the time for full effectivness and injury prevention

[Crabcakes&Football]

Agree with that, we have not been good this year on special teams. It has a lot to do with the kickoff changes too I think. Teams place less emphasis on it because they figure more touchbacks, but teams are exploiting that and taking it out from the endzone. Harbaugh is a ST guy, I think we'll get better in that area.

[Free Agent]

Blocking has also been an issue on special teams. The problem with our kick returns hasnt been the returners, in my opinion, but rather the blocking for the returners. There are some issues on special teams that definitely need to be addressed.

[nyc9192]

[quote name='colljb9' timestamp='1320258902' post='850361']
Why don't we let torrey smith return kicks or punts? I mean this guy set multiple ACC return records while in college and im pretty sure he had some touchdowns in there as well. We talk about how fast this guy is and on kick returns its a lot about letting your blocks set up and then bursting through the hole, something torrey seems like hed be very good at
[/quote]
I think if evans comes back or we establish doss and our two te's gain more experince then yes but as of right now,we cant risk him.