When Will Our Special Teams Become Special Again?!

[jdynamite]

Watching this entire season has left me, wanting for a special teams that can create dynamic plays for us like years past.... For years we had a greater chance of scoring on ST than on offense it seemed.
We had Jermaine Lewis, BJ Sams, Yamon Figurs returning Punts & Kickoffs for TDs. Coming into this season I really thought David Reed was going to become our new Special Teams ace. I also thought Billy Cundiff would be consistent ( but he had an up & down year that ended very badly for him to be honest he reminded me of how he kicked with the Cowboys. ).

We were used to getting great field position because of good special team returns and Stover was a consistent kicker.

Reed had some fumbling issues this season then suffered an injury, ( so who knows if he can make an impact in the next season) what's worst is he never contributed as WR so his value is special teams.

We hard on him for the Seahawk fumbles but wow look what just happen to the 49ers because of 2. Punt muffs....

[Ravenslifer]

We'll probably have to draft a kick/punt returner next year. I don't know how much faith the FO has in Reed after Seattle.

[scrock]

Oh I have no doubt it will be taken care of this offseason

Harbaugh is a special teams guy and he should be able to locate a good special teams coach or have a hand in it himself

[Crabcakes&Football]

Improving ST play will be a major priority in the offseason. We'll get it sorted out.

[callahan09]

In my opinion we need a new QB Coach, an Offensive Coordinator, an Offensive Line Coach, a Wide Receivers Coach.

In terms of player needs we need to address, I think we have to get a Center, Left Tackle, and Kick Returner. I don't really think we have that many needs in terms of personnel on the roster. I think we just need new coaches and staff to bring our talented players to the forefront of their abilities. We have players who can make it work on offense, in terms of our receivers and o-line, but the players haven't been consistent enough, and I think we honestly need to see a couple of replacements in those coaching positions, because the players we have have got the raw talent and ability, so it must be something else that's missing. Maybe it's just the schemes from the offensive coordinator. I don't really know. But if we overhaul most of the offensive side of the coaching staff, I'd be happy to see it.

[ghost1986]

Yeah I agree, David Reed and Cam Cameron lost us the Seattle game. Both issues need to be taken care of in the offseason.

[berad]

[quote name='Ravenslifer' timestamp='1327424609' post='971211']
We'll probably have to draft a kick/punt returner next year. I don't know how much faith the FO has in Reed after Seattle.
[/quote]

Agreed. HAVE to. Or at least sign someone who is halfway decent at it; like Chris Carr was supposed to be, years ago...

David Reed is on the bubble, IMO. Unless he shows up big in TC and PS, he won't be on the roster in 2012. He could be gone before then, actually. 2 years in the league, active for 23 games and only 2 rushing attempts with 0 receptions. They were touting this guy as a Derrick Mason clone, haven't seen it yet.

[Guest RBates]

[quote name='callahan09' timestamp='1327426198' post='971262']
In my opinion we need a new QB Coach, an Offensive Coordinator, an Offensive Line Coach, a Wide Receivers Coach.

In terms of player needs we need to address, I think we have to get a Center, Left Tackle, and Kick Returner. I don't really think we have that many needs in terms of personnel on the roster. I think we just need new coaches and staff to bring our talented players to the forefront of their abilities. We have players who can make it work on offense, in terms of our receivers and o-line, but the players haven't been consistent enough, and I think we honestly need to see a couple of replacements in those coaching positions, because the players we have have got the raw talent and ability, so it must be something else that's missing. Maybe it's just the schemes from the offensive coordinator. I don't really know. But if we overhaul most of the offensive side of the coaching staff, I'd be happy to see it.
[/quote]
What about a special teams coach? They have been horrible all year. The plays that they made in the playoffs weren't enough to make me say that Rosburg keeps his job. We gave up to many big plays this year.

[ellicottraven]

I say we let Jerry Rosburg go and have John Harbaugh take on coaching duties for the special teams himself... Other HCs' are undertaking coordinator duties as well, so why should Harbs??

[Azmo]

With the 'speedsters' we are supposed to have on the sideline in the backup WRs, why do defensive backs keep returning kicks? Lardarius is a stud with the ball, but he is CRITICAL on the defense... Zibby has good hands, but I don't see the speed there... I would have thought one of the 3rd sting WRs or even Anthony Allen should have been returning kicks... Hopefully that will get addressed this off-season...

[jdynamite]

Just a thought but it would be nice to get Travis Benjamin as returner in the 5th or 6th round of the Draft

[adam713]

Jerry Rosburg most certainly needs to GO. We were a slightly less than mediocre to mediocre ST unit the entire year in almost all of the important ST statistical categories. Also Jerry was the one who should have identified that Cundiff was being rushed in the Pats game. Was he sleeping???

FIRE ROSBURG!

[mgaither0]

FIRE ROSBURG! The special teams has been horrible. John "clueless" Harbaugh who is a former special teams coach has done nothing to improve special teams. The return game has been awful, kick off and punt coverage has been awful. Obviously after all the stuff coming out with the cundiff miss and him rushing on the field, the special teams coach should of gone to harbaugh and told him to call time out. At the same time Harbaugh should actually learn how to coach and called timeout. Being out coached has cost us the last 2 seasons.

[Mr. GM]

Fixing the special teams is easy. Replace the current Special Teams coach with a better coach. The current one is too non chaulant in practice, during the game, and after the game! Be a coach and make coaching decisions! 1. Case in point, we all know about the Seahawks game; "Be a coach" and pull Reed to the side after the first fumble and show him the proper technique(because you obviously didnt during the preseason) on the sideline OR tell him to fair catch the rest of the game OR put his back up in the game! 2. The punt and kickoff coverage can use some work; the players stay in their kickoff lane a little too long. But the plus of it all, is that the Special Teams do a good job at forcing turnovers!





"Be A Coach"
- Coaching doesnt stop when the game starts.
-
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P.S. anyone can add to this theme and use it as their signature

[RedFire]

Torrey smith was a rookie. I think he had enough hands and confidence for a kickoff return. Webb got that swagger for punt returner ala primetime and ed reed. Deion was a shutdown and ain't no one worry bout him getting broken up on special teams. Don't be afraid to use playmakers on special teams.

[SideStep77]

I think special teams wins games. If you score a TD off of a kickoff or a punt, its a quick score with minimal time off the clock. FGs can be game changing scores. We need improvement on ST no doubt.

[RedFire]

[quote name='SideStep77' timestamp='1327507094' post='972483']
I think special teams wins games. If you score a TD off of a kickoff or a punt, its a quick score with minimal time off the clock. FGs can be game changing scores. We need improvement on ST no doubt.
[/quote]

But you got people on this board upset when webb and ed reed return kicks, lol. I'm a mid 80s baby...I remember playmakers on special team. If deion sanders played in todays nfl most teams would not even let him return kicks. People purposely kicked away from him like hester cause he could find the crease and he was gone.

[Dfence4champs2052]

I wish we had a dynamic returner. Special teams absolutely CRIPPLED us this year. Giving up FG yardage on returns, no PR yardage minus Webb's TD, Cundiff missing FGs and kickin' to the 10 yard line routine, and D.Reed fumbling and getting stupid penalties. I could keep going but you get my point.

[BloodRaven]

I hate when we draft and activate players with no perceived potential and the expectation that they can only play special teams, guys like Edgar Jones, Jason Phillips, Davon Drew, Prescott Burgess etc.

Why cant we stop wasting picks on players who don't have future starter potential?

[Mr. GM]

If you all want a draft picked used on a KR/PR look for Tavon Austin out off West Virgina. Might be able to squeeze him onto my draft board(see below).

[tae2ill]

We had Laquan Williams, Damien Berry, Gorrer and Brown. But Zibby was on Kick-offs, I like Zibby but I think one of them could have made more of an impact on ST. IMHO

[scrock]

[quote name='tae2ill' timestamp='1327516661' post='972807']
We had Laquan Williams, Damien Berry, Gorrer and Brown. But Zibby was on Kick-offs, I like Zibby but I think one of them could have made more of an impact on ST. IMHO
[/quote]

Zibby definitely is all about safety with the football, he takes a lot more knees than some of the other guys and at least get our offense the ball around the 20....Webb shouldnt be on special teams next year but u do need to upgrade that unit...field position can win u games