Rose colored glasses view and prediciton of the NFC
NFC East Review
by Ken Sins
Substandard special teams play can torpedo a promising season. Just ask the 2008 Cowboys, who lost as many as three games due to foul-ups in the kicking game. Win those three and the cowboys steam into the playoffs at 12-4 ith a first-round bye rather than staying at home and watching from the den.
The Cowboys hope they've patched some of those holes with the hiring of respected special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis and the drafgting of some kids who have the potential to contribute on coverage units.
Special teams have also been the summer focus for the three teams who share NFC East airspace with Dallas.
In Washington, the kicking game has been a shore subject.
The Redskins used three punters last season, none of them proving satisfactory, so they signed free agent Hunter Smith, a 10-year veteran of the Indianapolis Colts. Kicker Shaun Shishan returns, but he's been pushed by Dave Raynor. Suisham, the former Cowboy, was near the bottom of the league in accuracy last season, hitting only 16 of 26, 12 for 20 from 40 yards or more.
Special teams coordinator Danny Smith also must revamp his coverage units after the departure of the team's top two tacklers in the kicking game, Khary Campbell and James Thrash. Smith does welcome back solid kickoff returner Rock Cartwright, and Washington was sixth in the NFL in kickoff coverage last season.
Philadelphia has a new special teams coordinator in TEd Daisher, who takes over for Rory Segrest, now the team's defensive line coach.
Kicker David Akers and punter Sav Rocca are back. Akers rebounded from a down 2007 season, connecting on 33 of 40 field goals last season, 10 of 15 from 40 yards or more. Rocca, the former Aussie Rules footballer, has adapted well to the American game, averaging 43.3 yards per punt last season and dropping 24 inside the 20.
In the return game, Quintin Demps tops the depth chart as the kikoff specialist and DeSean Jackson is set to bring back punts.
Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was taken by the Eagles in the first round in part because of the special teams potential he demonstrated at Missouri, where he had five touchdown returns in two seasons. But Maclin muffed two pounts in Philadelphia's first two preseason games, and nothing will scare a special teams coordinator more than ball security questions.
Backup running back Eldra Buckley, a member of the Chargers' practice squad the last two seasons, has shown promise returning and covering kicks. The wild card might be Michael Vick, whose athleticism has led to speculation that he could enter the mix as a return man.
Last season the Giants were the division's best special teams club, placing fourth in comprehensive league rankings and third in the league in punt coverage. But the G-men said farewell to their kicker, John Carney, who converted 35 of 38 field goal tries last season, a .921 percentage that earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl.
Carney's age (45) and short kickoffs prompted the Giants to return to Lawrence Tynes, who held the job before a 2008 knee injury limited him to two regular season games. Carney was released and signed with the New Orleans Saints, so Tynes is under pressure to approach Carney's incredible 2008 statistics.
Coming back are two other Giants special teamers who made last seasons's Pro Bowl: punter Jeff Feagles and deep-snapper Zak DeOssie. Return men Ahmad Bradshaw and Domenik Hixon also have strong credentials. Bradshaw is fourth on the Giants' all time kickoff return list. Hixon averages more than 29 yards per kickoff return for his career.
by Ken Sins
Substandard special teams play can torpedo a promising season. Just ask the 2008 Cowboys, who lost as many as three games due to foul-ups in the kicking game. Win those three and the cowboys steam into the playoffs at 12-4 ith a first-round bye rather than staying at home and watching from the den.
The Cowboys hope they've patched some of those holes with the hiring of respected special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis and the drafgting of some kids who have the potential to contribute on coverage units.
Special teams have also been the summer focus for the three teams who share NFC East airspace with Dallas.
In Washington, the kicking game has been a shore subject.
The Redskins used three punters last season, none of them proving satisfactory, so they signed free agent Hunter Smith, a 10-year veteran of the Indianapolis Colts. Kicker Shaun Shishan returns, but he's been pushed by Dave Raynor. Suisham, the former Cowboy, was near the bottom of the league in accuracy last season, hitting only 16 of 26, 12 for 20 from 40 yards or more.
Special teams coordinator Danny Smith also must revamp his coverage units after the departure of the team's top two tacklers in the kicking game, Khary Campbell and James Thrash. Smith does welcome back solid kickoff returner Rock Cartwright, and Washington was sixth in the NFL in kickoff coverage last season.
Philadelphia has a new special teams coordinator in TEd Daisher, who takes over for Rory Segrest, now the team's defensive line coach.
Kicker David Akers and punter Sav Rocca are back. Akers rebounded from a down 2007 season, connecting on 33 of 40 field goals last season, 10 of 15 from 40 yards or more. Rocca, the former Aussie Rules footballer, has adapted well to the American game, averaging 43.3 yards per punt last season and dropping 24 inside the 20.
In the return game, Quintin Demps tops the depth chart as the kikoff specialist and DeSean Jackson is set to bring back punts.
Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was taken by the Eagles in the first round in part because of the special teams potential he demonstrated at Missouri, where he had five touchdown returns in two seasons. But Maclin muffed two pounts in Philadelphia's first two preseason games, and nothing will scare a special teams coordinator more than ball security questions.
Backup running back Eldra Buckley, a member of the Chargers' practice squad the last two seasons, has shown promise returning and covering kicks. The wild card might be Michael Vick, whose athleticism has led to speculation that he could enter the mix as a return man.
Last season the Giants were the division's best special teams club, placing fourth in comprehensive league rankings and third in the league in punt coverage. But the G-men said farewell to their kicker, John Carney, who converted 35 of 38 field goal tries last season, a .921 percentage that earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl.
Carney's age (45) and short kickoffs prompted the Giants to return to Lawrence Tynes, who held the job before a 2008 knee injury limited him to two regular season games. Carney was released and signed with the New Orleans Saints, so Tynes is under pressure to approach Carney's incredible 2008 statistics.
Coming back are two other Giants special teamers who made last seasons's Pro Bowl: punter Jeff Feagles and deep-snapper Zak DeOssie. Return men Ahmad Bradshaw and Domenik Hixon also have strong credentials. Bradshaw is fourth on the Giants' all time kickoff return list. Hixon averages more than 29 yards per kickoff return for his career.
posted by The Gryphon at 11:08 AM
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