Kick Off Team Must get better!!!

I don't like Danny Smith. I don't care what anyone says, the guy is a bad special teams coach. We have our damn starting defense on coverage and still give up good field position. Antonio Brown is NOT a Redskin, I don't give a **** if he did run that kick back. He nearly cost us the Bears game, and did cost us a Dallas game. He is stupid and he sucks. Get Thrash or Betts back there or Moss for Christs sake.

In the NFL they kickoff from the 30, in college it's the 35.

Yeah I know, but that's just a 5-yard difference. Doesn't explain the 20-30 yard difference in Hall's kicks. He just seems consistently short on kickoffs.

Yeah I know, but that's just a 5-yard difference. Doesn't explain the 20-30 yard difference in Hall's kicks. He just seems consistently short on kickoffs.

Actually it's a huge difference.

Touchbacks were getting out of control before the NFL backed it up to the 30.

Even when Novak was in, he was dropping it at the 10, but then when we played the Cardinals, he was was putting it at the goal line.No I paid close attention to Novac's kicks and his kicks were short. Brown caught his TD at the 15, and one kick went to the 20. Maybe we can sign Kurt Smith from UVA next year just for kickoffs. It would be worth it.

Actually it's a huge difference.

Touchbacks were getting out of control before the NFL backed it up to the 30.

How does kicking off from 5 yards deeper result in a 15-25 yard shorter kick? I'm talking about the actual spot on the field where the ball hits or is downed. Seems like kicking off from 5 yards deeper ought to result in a 5 yard shorter kick, not three or four times that.

Granted I'm basing all of this off having watched way too much college football this week. Anyone have some stats on the average kickoff length and Hall's average kickoff? I still think he's gotta be quite a bit shorter than the norm.

Our kick coverage has looked weak to me. I wonder sometimes if they ask Hall to kick is short...

I'm ok with Brown, and he earned his right to catch em with the Arizona game. But I admit that I'm still nervous with him back there.

A quick look at NFL.com player stats would seem to indicate John Halls' leg is declining:

Kickoff Average

1997: 66.6
1998: 67.8
1999: 66.0
2000: 64.6
2001: 63.3
2002: 62.4
2003: 61.5
2004: 60.8
2005: 60.5

I'm not saying he sucks or anything, but there's a very obvious, steady decline in distance.

Taking a quick look at other kickers there doesn't seem to be a tremendous difference - average kickoff is in the 62 - 65 yard range.

I think someone already said this, it was rumored earlier in the year that Smith was having Novak kicking off high and short on purpose to allow the coverage team more time to get down the field. Perhaps this strategy has carried over to Hall?

I think someone already said this, it was rumored earlier in the year that Smith was having Novak kicking off high and short on purpose to allow the coverage team more time to get down the field. Perhaps this strategy has carried over to Hall?

Ah, now there's an explanation.

Guess in theory it would allow better coverage. Does anyone think it's working?

Seems like our opponents are always starting out with pretty good field position.

On returners, I think the argument is pretty much moot. Moss will be there on punt returns in this game. You can take that to the bank. Remember who Gibbs used to trot out there in the playoffs? Good old 28. He's going to bring out the big guns this game.

I'm not sure if he'd put Moss back there on kickoffs though. If he does, I'd prefer that. But Brown deserves a chance, because he has the speed to do damage. It's just that some games Brown seems very confident, and other times very scared. I think you just have to guage him on each day, if he is scared, take him out and let Betts do it. But Moss would be preferable. After all, it's the playoffs, win or go home. You put your best players out there, injuries be damned.

As for kickoffs, yesterday the Linc's field was in HORRIBLE shape. Hall was losing his footing, which is why that one kick went out of bounds. Akers was doing fine, but he's David Akers. He's the man. In Tampa I think Hall will get back to normal on better footing, and he'll get back to adequate kicking distance.