Finally, Some Help For STs (1 Viewer)

[Cougar 1]

The draft was not just good for GW and the D. Last year was one of the worst for STs Coach Mac and his crew. Was it coaching, personnel, injuries or a combination of the 3? Only the coaches really know for sure.

But help appears to be on the way. The injured should be back healthy and ready to go. But the rooks should get extensive playing time on special teams as well, esp. Wilson, Patrick, and Bussey.

That said, I would still like to see us bring a couple more players to
compete on STs, esp the KR/PR duties. Perhaps a player like.... Noel Devine?


I, for one, was unhappy with the job Coach Mac did last year. IMO, this year's combination of returning vets and rooks will give him some of the best talent ever to work with for his STs. I mean, its not often a player (Bussey, and Coach Macs ties to Illinois may have factored in) is drafted mainly to be a STs beast.

SP knows how to coach up players. GW knows how to coach up players.

Now its time for GM to show he can do the same. And no excuses this year, Coach.

 

[Saints 4 life]

It was embarrassing watching our ST against Seattle. Saints looked like they were scared to kickoff. UGH!!!

 

[bornnraisedwhodat]

Not to mention some guys that might be coming back off injury like Cassillas and Hamilton. Not sure if Ham will make the squad but he was mean on special teams in 09.

 

[Purple Haze]

I think no matter what ST will be markedly better.

 

[Cougar 1]

Not to mention some guys that might be coming back off injury like Cassillas and Hamilton. Not sure if Ham will make the squad but he was mean on special teams in 09.

I posted on another thread that STs play might be a factor for some spots on the team. The RBs should be back healthy, and we got MI. But Ham is still a good insurance policy at RB, and yes, he is one of the players I was thinking of when I talked about returning vets. With the way things are going with the LO, even if things are resolved, the NFL may have to put in some new rules concerning personnel. Maybe an expanded active roster, or some changes to the PS, like teams being able to protect some PS players, so they wont have to be cut first. Those types of moves could directly or indirectly benefit a player like Ham.

We'll see.

 

[nosaints213]

Unfortunately, I don't think our bad ST play is due to a lack of roster personel... McMahon has had a lot of talent to work with over the years, and he has never delivered. At some point, it's got to fall on the coach.

 

[JackDiesel]

Unfortunately, I don't think our bad ST play is due to a lack of roster personel... McMahon has had a lot of talent to work with over the years, and he has never delivered. At some point, it's got to fall on the coach.

Agreed. We've had plenty of talent on this team in terms of special teams ability. Our players on special teams are no less talented than other teams, yet we've consistently ranked on the bottom.

I've loved that we added all these guys for special teams but to be honest I'm not expecting some kind of bump. I don't know what it is that we are doing wrong but I know that our players are no less talented than any other teams.

 

[dwid]

Should kickoffs even be an issue now that they made the rule change?

 

[JackDiesel]

Should kickoffs even be an issue now that they made the rule change?

In a thread a while ago someone brought up the stat that when kickoffs were brought up to the new line in years past because of penalties it only decreased the number of returns by 25%.

 

[Cougar 1]

Agreed. We've had plenty of talent on this team in terms of special teams ability. Our players on special teams are no less talented than other teams, yet we've consistently ranked on the bottom.

I've loved that we added all these guys for special teams but to be honest I'm not expecting some kind of bump. I don't know what it is that we are doing wrong but I know that our players are no less talented than any other teams.

Food for thought:

In 09, the STs had players like Reis, MJ, Ham, and Casillias who contributed on STs.

In 10:

Ham: IR

Casillias: IR

Reis: IR

MJ: From STs to full time starter


Not to mention:

Dunbar: from STs to part time starter

Mitchell: from STs to part time starter

maybe a reason.....maybe?

 

[JackDiesel]

Food for thought:

In 09, the STs had players like Reis, MJ, Ham, and Casillias who contributed on STs.

In 10:

Ham: IR

Casillias: IR

Reis: IR

MJ: From STs to full time starter


Not to mention:

Dunbar: from STs to part time starter

Mitchell: from STs to part time starter

maybe a reason.....maybe?

You do have good points with Casillas, Hamilton, Reis and MJ. I think Dunbar and Mitchell were still used on ST though.

However, we were actually worse on special teams in 09 than we were last year. We've been below average ever since Payton and more importantly McMahon got here. 06 is the only year where we were average but our weighted rank still had us in the 20's.

No matter who we have healthy for special teams we've been consistently bad. Eventually, you have to look past personnel and look at coaching.

 

[Cougar 1]

You do have good points with Casillas, Hamilton, Reis and MJ. I think Dunbar and Mitchell were still used on ST though.

However, we were actually worse on special teams in 09 than we were last year. We've been below average ever since Payton and more importantly McMahon got here. 06 is the only year where we were average but our weighted rank still had us in the 20's.

No matter who we have healthy for special teams we've been consistently bad. Eventually, you have to look past personnel and look at coaching.

Don't misunderstand me. I'm not a Mac fan. Even if the 09 stats were worse, what I saw on STs last year was just embarrassing. If there was a time to let Mac go, it shoulda been at the end of last season.

But he's still here. So the obvious question is, why? With all the optimistic talk from SP and GW about the rooks being able to play STs, seems that personnel may have indeed been a factor, and they wanted to address it in the draft.

Again, only they, not us, know the real deal.

We'll just have to wait n see.

 

[Mudbug67]

Maybe I was dreaming but didn't they promote another assistant to ST coordinator and move Mac to another position. Thought I remembered hearing that, if not, they need to try something else. Loyalty is good, but not when it cost your team.
Where is Bobby April these days?
MB