Week 3 Special Teams Thread

[Barry from MS]

Positives:
Morstead: Freakin' Beast. 4 punts 176 NET yardage. Field position flipper.
PRob: great tackle on first kick-off return by one of the best returners in the league.
Punt coverage to end the first half: MIN pinned down at 4 yard line to close out the half.
Last Kick Return 4th QTR - stopping Patterson inside 20 yard line was huge for field position, making MIN go 80+ yards down by 11 with 12 minutes to play. MIN would not get the ball back after that possession. Crucial.

Negatives

Missed PAT: Seriously? Seriously?!?! Isn't this the NFL? It's irrelevant that if it is blocked or missed. PAT are gimme points; points win football games. Disgraceful.

Kick-Off coverage b/w 1st MIN return & the last MIN return: Average-to-below average at best. One of those returns going for 43 yards to open the 2nd half. In a 13-6 game, you give MIN the ball starting at the 35 yard to open the half? Terrible.

Return game: Can't help Walsh kicking it into the upper deck on kick-offs. However, we had one opportunity for a good return from a dynamic player named Cooks. We get -3 yards. Where have I heard that before? Last week, too. 2 Things: Coach up Cooks to go straight line up-the-field on returns and remove your head from your @$$, Coordinator McMahon, and get your return coverage team to block better.

Summary: A Very Generous Below Average Crucial stops on one of the best kick returners in the league opening and closing the game. Morstead is the savior with negating returns on punts and NET punting average. Missed PAT will get you dinged to below average automatically. Big return to open the 2nd half shows the blatant incompetence of the coordinator, especially in a 7 point game. And we may as well accept the fact that Cooks' talent in punt returns will be wasted until McMahon is permanently removed.

[Rugby Saint II]

When I saw Cadet back returning kicks I thought "crap". He isn't a returner in the NFL. He just doesn't have it.

[Audiotom]

We have the worse return coverage thats why Morstead is so crucial

Our return game has been nearly nonexistent since Sproules broke one on the Packers opening night 2010

[Beastmode]

Cooks is not a returner. That was one of his cons coming into the draft.

[Cruize]

Byrd will eventually return one and take it to the house.

[Barry from MS]

Originally Posted by Cruize

Byrd will eventually return one and take it to the house.

I honestly hope so. If we are depending on our punt return blocking schemes currently employed to make that happen, all 11 covering the punt will need to slip down at the same time.

[Barry from MS]

Originally Posted by Audiotom

We have the worse return coverage thats why Morstead is so crucial

Our return game has been nearly nonexistent since Sproles broke one on the Panthers opening night 2010

Nailed it. And I didn't realize it was that long ago since a return TD.

[hagan714]

sorry we have one player and only player alone that has the jets in that final gear. Cooks. that is. no player on our team has a passing gear. till this is addressed accept a return to the 40 as a miracle.

Coverage? we the vikies have that speed guy in the return game and despite not looking good. they did not break a real game changer. controlled hemorrhaging works.

[Mardigras9]

Cadet just take a knee and give it to Brees at the 20 every time, I'm good with that.

[SaintsBro]

Originally Posted by Audiotom

We have the worse return coverage thats why Morstead is so crucial

Our return game has been nearly nonexistent since Sproules broke one on the Packers opening night 2010

It was actually week 1 of 2011. Still too a long time but you don't need to make it any worse than it is.

Darren Sproles 72 Yard Punt Return Touchdown (Week 1, 2011) - YouTube

Darren Sproles 72 Yard Punt Return Touchdown (Week 1, 2011) - YouTube