Our special teams have been abysmall the past few years, pathetic. If we are going to get greedy and talk super bowl, I need to see a marked change in our special teams.
They change field position, they win and lose games. I hope we drafted players to correct this.
Obviously having good punter, kicker and returner are key, but so is having roster depth. For years the Browns have had shallow rosters. The guys who make up the lower end of position groups are who cover and block on special teams. As the depth of those position groups improves, so, in theory, should the quality of special teams players.
1. #GMstrong 2. "I'm just trying to be the best Nick I can be." ~ Nick Chubb 3. Forgive me Elf, I didn’t have faith. ~ Tulsa 4. ClemenZa #1
I think Dorsey and Freddie understand the importance of having good Special Teams. A lot of our best ST'ers were cut in recent years. Guys like Bademossi, Mingo, Desir, Moore, etc and we counted on guys like Ricardo Louis. Thank goodness we don't have to watch that any longer.
Agreed. One of the things I meant to say in my post was that there should be players who are listed in position groups, but who are, in fact, primarily ST players.
1. #GMstrong 2. "I'm just trying to be the best Nick I can be." ~ Nick Chubb 3. Forgive me Elf, I didn’t have faith. ~ Tulsa 4. ClemenZa #1
We did improve ... I think the late round guys were probably drafted with STs in mind
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
True that. Especially as we get depth and the competition gets more intense. Ability to help ST play is crucial. Can be crucial in wins, can be responsible for losses.
This group has picked some just for ST skills; the general group will need to shine to be kept.
Cardinal Rule: "We cannot all be long snappers!"
"Every responsibility implies opportunity, and every opportunity implies responsibility." Otis Allen Glazebrook, 1880
I think everyone drafted is going to play special teams if they make the team (exception is Greedy) We did need a jolt on special teams, that is certain.
Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday. -John Wayne
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
We drafted a kicker who holds the BCS record for points. (Seibert) We signed a big-legged punter known as the Scottish Hammer. (Gillan) We signed a kick return demon from a junior college. (Sheehy-Giuseppe) We drafted 3 players with impressive ST tape. (Takitaki, Redwine, Wilson)
I don't know how any of these moves will work out, but it is clear to me the Browns are doing everything they can think of to improve special teams. My opinion is that some will work, others won't, but the results will be better than last year.
1. #GMstrong 2. "I'm just trying to be the best Nick I can be." ~ Nick Chubb 3. Forgive me Elf, I didn’t have faith. ~ Tulsa 4. ClemenZa #1
Did we improve as team on Special Teams...um yeah!
We went HO-HUM to I think a dominate ST unit. We also got ourselves a reliable kicker.
Honestly I was thinking ok we will go on 4th down a lot. and We will score a lot of TDs...and oh well we go 2 point conversion all the time. So all we got to do is have a good Kick Off guy...which is what we have. Now we got a guy who will kick Ex Points and be steady consistent in his FGs. Also a pressure guy who to win a game will not kick a low knuckleball to pray and hope we get it.
He kicks it high and consistently accurate.
Punter Colquitt is good better than average but a little competition with the Scottish kid. He will probably go on the side possibly practice squad or a - "kid if nobody picks you up stay close" any injury to Colquitt we are signing you.
In the mean time our new kicker also can punt.
So we have a lot of potential ST beasts in the coverage department.
I know we got a pretty good OL kid to help on our returns and we got Hunt who can return and of course Duke.
But we got several WRs that will make this team as a Return specialist...would like to see Wilkes and/or Ratley make that move!
Defense wins championships. Watson play your butt off! Go Browns! CHRIST HAS RISEN! GM Strong! & Stay safe everyone!
We drafted a kicker who holds the BCS record for points. (Seibert) We signed a big-legged punter known as the Scottish Hammer. (Gillan) We signed a kick return demon from a junior college. (Sheehy-Giuseppe) We drafted 3 players with impressive ST tape. (Takitaki, Redwine, Wilson)
I don't know how any of these moves will work out, but it is clear to me the Browns are doing everything they can think of to improve special teams. My opinion is that some will work, others won't, but the results will be better than last year.
What is he doing nowadays? Liked him until his snapping went south. Also always loved that sig of "Fear us for we have Pontbriand!" That one broke me up from the first time I read it.
"Every responsibility implies opportunity, and every opportunity implies responsibility." Otis Allen Glazebrook, 1880
Our special teams will get better because the bottom of roster got better. When you have talented players playing special teams the unit will get better.
While that is certainly true, it appears that Dorsey & co. made moves and choices to specifically target players for special teams. Both Redwine and Wilson have big ST plays in their highlight tapes, and Takitaki was a key ST player on his team. Add to that the drafting of Seibert and the signing of Gillam and Sheehy-Guiseppi all appear to directly address ST needs.
1. #GMstrong 2. "I'm just trying to be the best Nick I can be." ~ Nick Chubb 3. Forgive me Elf, I didn’t have faith. ~ Tulsa 4. ClemenZa #1
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Cooper is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Moore is flanked out wide to the right. Chubb and Ford are split in the backfield as Watson takes the snap ... Here we go."
If we had a somewhat reliable kicker, I think we try for a field goal at the end of the Baltimore game, instead of going for it on 4th and 10. What would have that been, a 55 yard field goal?
Looks like that drive stalled at the 39, so I believe that would be a 54 yard fg attempt.
Last edited by BuckDawg1946; 05/03/1904:26 PM. Reason: Research
Blaming our special team's woes on ST coach is unsound thinking. It kills me how so many people who are not athletic enough to play checkers think they can evaluate football.
Blaming our special team's woes on ST coach is unsound thinking. It kills me how so many people who are not athletic enough to play checkers think they can evaluate football.
Being athletic and evaluating football having nothing to do with each other.
Also, the special teams coach was bad. So were the players. Those two combined make a poop soup.
Being athletic and evaluating football having nothing to do with each other.
I was just quoting Baker.
I will add that you don't have any idea if the ST's coach was bad or not. ST's aren't real complicated schematically. Most people used to put the blame on the Teflon Man. What was his name? Tabor? He gets fired and people celebrate.
The players on the ST unit's were bad. Most of that was due to the roster decisions that were made.