Redskins fans are dissatisfied with special teams ̶ dissatisfied with everything right now. Special teams frustrated fans the most for a very long time.
Kickers and returners catch fan’s ire. But, folks, coverage is the devil. Defense is how teams win possession, but special teams is how teams win field position. The Redskins were in sucky field position all night against the Giants. Washington’s best starting position in that game was their own 27-yard line. That 3 and out drive began and ended with penalties.
The Giants had incredible field position thanks to unbelievable turnovers.
Poor kickoff coverage means the Redskins does not help the defense. Opponents average 35 yards on kickoff returns — a real problem when kickoffs go shallow end zone. The Redskins average 19. Rock Cartwright averaged close to 26 yards per return during his time in Washington (2002-2008). Special teams put the Redskins in a 216-yard hole on kick offs.
Punting is a tad better because Andre Roberts is a better punt returner than we expected. He is averaging 10.1 yards per punt return. When the bottom drops out of the offense as it did against the Giants, “decent return” does not cut it. The Redskins need a Devin Hester performance to flip games like that.
When evaluating special teams:
- Are opponent’s kick returns inside the 20 yard line while the Redskins are beyond it?
- Are opponents held to nine or fewer yards on punt returns while the Redskins are over 10 yards?
Too often, the ‘Skins are on the wrong side of the mix. It’s not just the kicks. It’s the coverage.
The fix?
Devin Hester is not available. Too many Redskins players assigned to special teams play as though they are a half step away from the practice squad, which sadly they are.
ex-Broncos PK Matt Prater? Another teams' cast off. That's how Redskins signed Forbath, Cundiff, Gano & Suisham. Has to be a better way
— Anthony Brown, The RedsCommander (@RedsCommanders) October 3, 2014
Washington worked out 10 players Monday. That is not a quick fix to a dearth of talent. There is no undiscovered talent on the street on NFL Week Five. Out of the box thinking is called for. Here are three things they might try.
1) Put front line players on special teams. Andre Roberts is returning kicks because he started the season as the No. 3 wide receiver. What if DeSean Jackson were part of that mix? Teams are reluctant to do that since it exposes stars to greater risks.
It has been done before. Sean Taylor was the gunner on kick off teams. The Redskins angled kicks to his side of the field. That was fun to watch.
2) Go for it on fourth and short … from anywhere on the field. The New York Times runs something it calls the Fourth Down Bot based on the work of stat master Brian Burke. The idea is that coaches should try to maximize point differential in games (obviously). The best way to do that is by converting fourth downs into first downs instead of punting that coaches invariably choose.
Teams go for it in “four down territory” late in games with a win on the line. That’s too late, according to the Fourth Down Bot. The more often teams attempt to convert fourth downs, the more likely they are to convert some when it will do the most good. The page goes into reasons why. Warning: Involves numbers, but it is a compelling case. If the logic is beyond you, the fourth down conversion chart found on their page is easy to follow. The point for the Redskins and their fans is that it is time for out of the box thinking. This can help.
For more, follow the link to How Coaches and the NYT 4th Down Bot Compare. Go take a look. We’ll be here when you get back.
3) Flip the script on special teams Draft strategy. Conventional NFL thinking is to draft late round players (4th to 7th round) hoping to find a gem (Alfred Morris, Tom Brady). Like most teams, the Redskins keep the late round player who shows development potential and can play special teams. Flip that script. Draft players for their special team skills ̶ and who want to play special teams. Keep those with potential to play other positions.
A Redskins front office with better personnel skills drafted Chip Lohmiller in the 2nd Round, '88 NFL Draft.
— Anthony Brown, The RedsCommander (@RedsCommanders) October 3, 2014
The Redskins tried that in the last Draft when they selected PK Zack Hocker. It was a failed pick. Hocker could not win the job from vulnerable Kai Forbath. This front office must do a better job picking the keepers. (Yeah. Thank you, Capt. Obvious.)
These are fan perspectives, simplistic ones at that. Of course, professional people do some of these things. It is time for the Redskins to take it up a notch; to think differently about special teams and with more urgency. Special teams is a box. Washington has to think its way out of it.
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