Special Teams
 

The one area that I think we have really improved in is special teams. So, given that we lost a couple of games last year because of poor special teams play, do you guys think that we have upgraded enough to win a couple with special teams this year?

Re: Special Teams
 

This is where we see if Danny Smith can do it. Our special teams improved last year a ton, but I'd like to see better blocking. We have a lot of talent (and money) invested in special teams now.

Re: Special Teams
 

last year it was defense, this year its special teams... we've certainly grabbed a ton of bodies to throw onto the field... hopefulyy its enough to get us in the #5-10 range...

Re: Special Teams
 

You guys think Hall,is worth it? Hall's a little better but Chandler seems like he would be less of a cap hit and we could use those resources else where.

Re: Special Teams
 

Hall is money. He does not miss the big kick and is very consistent. Looks like they just have 2 quality kickers which really is not a bad problem to have.

The Special Teams actually did not improve over the previous year. Check the stats as they just do not lie. Glad to see this was a primary focus this year though. We now have plenty of options as far as return guys, seems there are 8 possible combos who all are pretty effective. Some say 9 but you know Chad will be gone. Probally once I get to the 500 post level when I will be blesssed to get good old number 36 or is it 21 or is it 36, oh it is 21 now. 1 head case to the next so I guess I will have to change my signature.

Re: Special Teams
 

I agree...Hall is money. If he can stay healthy our teams will be fine.

Re: Special Teams
 

Definitely. I haven't heard about any problems with him so I think he must have recovered just fine.

Re: Special Teams
 

If Hall can stay healthy... :oink:

Re: Special Teams
 

I agree that Hall will be fine. Bigger focus needs to be on the return and coverage teams. I think we need bigger returns and will see that this season. Morton has been a let down so far. If we could get an extra 10 yards on kick and punt returns it would help alot. I think with the moves on special teams this off season we will get just that and more.

Special teams is by far the most improved area of our team with the O-line a close second in my opinion. I see two more wins next year because of our upgades on special teams.

Re: Special Teams
 

AND because of the late emergence of Antonio Brown as a GREAT returner last year.

Re: Special Teams
 

Thanx Malcolm.

Re: Special Teams
 

?

Sure, anytime.

Re: Special Teams
 

the bears let go of paul edinger for doug "playoff" brien. and from a chicago report, paul out kicked doug connecting all five of his attempts vs briens 4 of 5. anyway i say give him a very detailed look and possibly dump chandler.

paul is a 77% career kicker. edinger is 75% from 40 and beyond and has 53 FG's from over 40 in last 4 years, a league best

Re: Special Teams
 

I think we're set. Hall is just as good, if not better than both of them.

Re: Special Teams
 

I wouldn't get too excited over Edinger, he's only 41 of 60 (68%) the last 2 seasons.

Re: Special Teams
 

A lot of people are down on Morton, and think A. Brown was awesome. Well, what about the theory that it was more that the return game blocking improved over the couse of the year, and Morton was injured and Brown was able to step in, especially being that he had played for Williams and Smith in Buffalo and was familiar with Smith's schemes. It seemed to me that our return game overall improved towards the end of the season, no matter who the returner was. Provided Morton is fully recovered and they don't cut him for cap space, it should be a pretty good battle in training camp. We could see Rogers in the mix too, at least until he becomes a starter...

As for kickers, as long as he's healthy, Hall is the man.

Re: Special Teams
 

I'd have no qualms at all seeing both Morton AND Brown deep on kicks.

Re: Special Teams
 

You also have Thrash, Moss, and Patten who can return kicks/punts...

Re: Special Teams
 

I was thinking Moss too, but someone brought up that he's kind of fragile. We already have a couple good returners. I'd leave him for kickoff duty.

Re: Special Teams
 

[QUOTE=Red Robert]I agree that Hall will be fine. Bigger focus needs to be on the return and coverage teams. I think we need bigger returns and will see that this season. Morton has been a let down so far. If we could get an extra 10 yards on kick and punt returns it would help alot. I think with the moves on special teams this off season we will get just that and more.

Special teams is by far the most improved area of our team with the O-line a close second in my opinion. I see two more wins next year because of our upgades on special teams.[/QUOTE]
it amazes me that we never use thrash to return kickoffs...he consistantly gets good yardage. we need to get rid of morton, and maybe use moss as the punt returner. HTTR!!!!

Re: Special Teams
 

I could see Moss and/or Rogers playing the "Darrell Green role" when a critical good return is needed towards the end of a game....but not returning kicks on a regular basis.

Re: Special Teams
 

Or as a Deion-like decoy?

Re: Special Teams
 

[QUOTE=TheMalcolmConnection]I'd have no qualms at all seeing both Morton AND Brown deep on kicks.[/QUOTE] You should about Morton

Re: Special Teams
 

Why is that? Everyone is discounting him so quick as though he had no talent. Now if you're talking about him being cut, that is very possible. I don't doubt his abilities as a return man though.

Re: Special Teams
 

Ok so what makes you think that Morton is good. He has punt return for a TD as a Skin. 2 kickoff returns in one game for the Jets. But his avg. return is 24 for Kick offs and 9 yards for punts. So if the other team kicked to him and he recieved on the 1 yard line it would be as good as a touchback. 9 yards on a punt, that is sad. That does not even put him in the top 10 in either catagory. In fact his numbers are quite inflated based on 1 good year in 2002 with the Jets, if you took away that year his numbers (avg.) are dismal. It does take talent to get on a NFL field I grant you that, but there are much better players to pay this type of money to.

Re: Special Teams
 

[QUOTE=CRT3]You should about Morton[/QUOTE]


I agree.....Morton has gotta go....us cutting him and saving cap space is better than retaining him........he is way OVERRATED as a returner! Brown is going to be an absolute beast! I can't wait to see him this year!

Re: Special Teams
 

agreed. Brown is much more explosive. He's like a rocket.

Re: Special Teams
 

We have had such dismal blocking for special teams the last few years there's only so much a returner can do when he has 3 guys on him and no wedge.

Re: Special Teams
 

i'm with daseal on this one...

Re: Special Teams
 

Morton is a straight up baller, he has MVP potential

Re: Special Teams
 

i liked morton. he does have explosiveness when returning punts and kicks, it just wasn't used to the fullest potential. but it seems he's on the chopping block now so i don't think he will be on the roster after june 1st. i guess that means santana moss will be taking over the primary duties on returning special teams.

Re: Special Teams
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72]Morton is a straight up baller, he has MVP potential[/QUOTE]OK Matty disagree with me for the sake of it. Or are you being sarcastic?

Re: Special Teams
 

[QUOTE=CRT3]OK Matty disagree with me for the sake of it. Or are you being sarcastic?[/QUOTE]

Do you even need to ask

Re: Special Teams
 

I just read that if we cut Morton this year we would save a little over $500,000 on the cap, but next year we would take a $1 mil. dollar hit.........anybody still think we are cutting Morton.........?????

Re: Special Teams
 

Yes I Do!!!

Re: Special Teams
 

I DO think we are cutting Morton, but if we DO keep him, I think he could at least be utilized as a return man with Brown.

Re: Special Teams
 

Daseal:

You hit this one right on the head; it isn't the guy with the ball lin his hand trying to run the kick back that is the problem; it is the blocking - or should I say the absence of the blocking. I don't happen to think Morton is any great shakes as a returner; I think he is no better or no worse than your average special teams return guy but when you marry his average skill with sub-par blocking you create a real problem for your football team.

There are plenty of guys on the squad who can catch punts/kickoffs and carry the ball forward. What the Skins need to find and develop are guys who can and will block efficiently (no penalties) and effectively (knock down guys in the other color jerseys) on at least 75% of the special teams plays.


Matty:

If Morton gets even one vote for MVP this year, the Skins will probably be 16-0 in the regular season and have generated an average of 9 points a game on special teams. Hey, it COULD happen...

Re: Special Teams
 

16 and 0 now that what I like to hear. Never know could happen.

Re: Special Teams
 

I've always liked Morton since we signed him, but he isn't the greatest. Everyone seems very high on Brown, but wouldn't you think there was a reason he was available mid-season when Morton went down? The guy is a burner, but does he have the skills needed to be successful long-term?
I agree with SC in that the biggest part of the return game is the blocking, and have stated before I tend to think that Brown (and others) had more success later in the season because the blocking (and/or blocking schemes) had improved. Yeah, a good return man is nice, but if he doesn't have space to get going, or any lanes to run through, he's never gonna get very far.

Oh, but of course BOTH of them are 1st ballot HOF locks!!! :headbange