Special Teams

Falconwise · Post by **Falconwise** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 9:20 am

There are several players, who are past special teams players that are good athletes that are traveling but not playing.

The team, especially the defense, is "confused". That is poor coaching. Lovett bailed on his last team for a reason. Bowers can't coach.

Brandon needs to cut them lose. Do it now. Send a message.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 9:22 am

I don't know about all 11 guys, but I see an awful lot of starters out there on special teams - Perry, Jordan, White. I don't think it's a matter of having the right people on the field.

Falconwise · Post by **Falconwise** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 10:10 am

That is a big part of the problem. Starters should not be on special teams!!

If depth is a problem, you have to give the starters a break. Running 50 to 80 yard sprints does not give them legs for the rest of the game.

There is talent on this team. Coach's have to be smart enough to use it.

Also, UM was VERY involved in special teams. I don't think Brandon has a clue. He is a very nice guy. He is a very good OC. He cannot put the whole thing together.

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 10:42 am

Falconwise wrote:That is a big part of the problem. Starters should not be on special teams!!
.

Bull.

All the teams that field great special teams units put some of their starters on special teams. Beamer is considered a special teams genius and almost entire ST's units are made up of starters. I hate to see injuries, but you can deal with it, STs are a chance to turn a game around, you want your best out there.

That's not our problem. Our problem is that we don't have any idea how to instill discipline in our coverage units and we don't scheme well for blocks, etc. Under Urban he would design plays to get our best athletes in a position to block a kick. The play was designed to let somebody with the talent to finish the job get in position to do so. Now I cannot even remember the last time we pressured a kick/punt, let alone actually blocked it. Our coverage units are abysmal, just awful to watch. They look as though they've never been instructed about staying in their lanes, and if they have they obviously don't listen.

I have no problem putting your best athletes out there, especially in college football, it's a way to turn the game around. But you still have to take the time to teach them the right way to do things and put them in position to make a play. It seems to me that we're sending our better players out there on ST's, and saying, "Kick the ball deep and tackle the returner" Or "Go out there on the PR team, and it'd be pretty cool if you blocked the punt." It just doesn't look like we're designing any schemes to actually perform these objectives...