How to fix it (Special Teams)

[Mr. Scot]

(Currently posting different threads breaking down changes that I feel need to be made if we're going to salvage this season; keep in mind as you read that not everything can be fixed this year, so I'm attempting to concentrate on those things which realistically can be, and going unit by unit)

SPECIAL TEAMS

Problems here are fairly simple, fairly self evident, and similar to some seen elsewhere, so I’ll keep it short.

Find (or create) the next Jarrod Cooper

There was a time when the Panthers had gunners that were feared, and none more so than Jarrod Cooper. Let’s be real though. Is there anyone on our special teams units that scares opposing returners? Looking at the way they’ve run on us, I’d have to say that’s a big, fat no.

Somebody has to step up and be that guy again. Perhaps it can be Quinton Teal if Chris Harris gets healthy. Perhaps it can be Captain Munnerlyn if someone else can take over the return duties. All I know is it needs to be someone, and he needs to show up soon.

Bring back Mark Jones (or at least his attitude)

Nobody at this point has shown me much of anything in the return game. I like Munnerlyn on defense, but not so much as a returner. If he’s healthy enough, I’m ready to see Mark Jones back. Yeah, he was slow, but he was also smart, and unafraid. Unless we want to break the record for most fair catches in a season, we need a guy like that again.

If one of our current guys can become that type of returner, all well and good. At this poit though, I’m not betting on it. And part of the reason for my doubt is the issue that leads to point number three.

Fire Danny Crossman

It’s been four years. He’s not cutting it, and he’s not going to cut it.

The scheming is bad. The fundamentals are bad. The execution is bad. And in the end, all that leads back to the guy primarily responsible for the unit.

I hate mid-season firings. I really do, but I feel this one's called for.

Assistant Jeff Rodgers has been a special teams coach before at the college level and was a special teams QC guy at the pro level for a few years with the 49ers. Is he a long term answer? Unlikely, but at this point I’d at least be willing to see what he can do through the end of this year.

I’ve seen what Crossman can do, and sadly, what he can’t.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Harsh? Yeah, and reluctantly so. I've been in a position to have to fire people, and it was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. I hated it, and I'm conscious when I call for these things that these are real people, people with families and feelings.

But unpleasant as it might be, the time for brutal honesty is at hand.

[weyco2000]

1) We have 3 kickers and thats 1 too many.

2) Baker kicks it 50 yds and they return it at least 15, tonight more.

3) What the hell is Landon Johnson doing out there anyway, he should have been released already.

4) Where are the speed guys or the crazy guys who like to blow a MFer up?

5) Usually the 3rd or 4th receiver is a gunner on ST, oh my bad D. Jarrett I forgot that you cant run or catch or run a route, ect.......

6) A coaching change on ST has to happen now!

[Fireball77]

I think a lot of people have wondered for years how the guy has had this job so long.

[weyco2000]

ST sets the tone of the game, where's the attitude?

[Delhommey]

Crossman has been consistantly horrid.

Unfortunately Jones's steady returns and Lloyd's touchbacks saved his bacon last year. Well that and the fact they had to replace so many other coaches.

[Hairless Cat]

loyd and baker havent shown me poo this year. lets dump them both next year and get a kicker in here that can do both.

[thejimmy]

I think a lot of people have wondered for years how the guy has had this job so long.

He won't be fired midseason, unfortunately, but considering Fox probably won't be here next year, he will be out of a job at season's end. That means, however, we have to deal with sorry special teams for a season, in addition to everything else.

[Darth Biscuit]

loyd and baker havent shown me poo this year. lets dump them both next year and get a kicker in here that can do both.

On the two times, and only two, that Lloyd kicked off last night, he looked much improved. Baker's got something screwy in his head. He had a leg last year, where'd it go?

[Zaximus]

You have to get rid of Fox, then Crossman. The whole coach team is lackluster and shows no drive. We need someone to have more fire on our ST's too, I think having a coach with this will leak down to the players.

[DelhommesTheMan]

THE WORST SPECIAL TEAMS UNIT I HAVE EVER SEEN! Not only am i afraid every time we have to return a PUNT, but im afraid every time we have to PUNT ourselves..Thats not even including the incredible returns the other teams get on both our punts and kickoffs leaving us with awful field position the entire game... Not too mention we have 2 kickers, a scared punt returner, a kickoff returner who fumbles like crazy, no gunner, and a punter who spins the ball like a child for 10 seconds before punting..Of and we didnt even have enough money to re-sign our LS, that says it all...

[natty]

When you have overpaid starters, shitty ST is what you get. 21 of 22 starters returning, sound familiar anyone?

[rayzor]

Fire Danny Crossman

It’s been four years. He’s not cutting it, and he’s not going to cut it.

The scheming is bad. The fundamentals are bad. The execution is bad. And in the end, all that leads back to the guy primarily responsible for the unit.

I hate mid-season firings. I really do, but I feel this one's called for.

Assistant Jeff Rodgers has been a special teams coach before at the college level and was a special teams QC guy at the pro level for a few years with the 49ers. Is he a long term answer? Unlikely, but at this point I’d at least be willing to see what he can do through the end of this year.

I’ve seen what Crossman can do, and sadly, what he can’t.

totally agree here.

this is one area that the FO has done a poor job with.

[Mr. Scot]

Unfortunately Jones's steady returns and Lloyd's touchbacks saved his bacon last year. Well that and the fact they had to replace so many other coaches.

I'd take that in a heartbeat this season.

Agree that something is going on with Baker as he has hit more line drives this season than I'm used to (including an ill-timed one in Philly). That's fixable, if you have a coach that can do it.

Crossman's coverage and schemes this season look horrid. Some have suggested that we jhust don't seem to have the speed on ST that we did before. That's possible, but in fairness Crossman's schemes have never looked that good.

[rayzor]

i want to get rid of all 3 kickers. find someone who can do both kickoffs and field goals and find another who can get the ball off in a hurry and get some hangtime.

i don't care about kasay anymore. if he won't retire then cut him loose. thanks for all the years of service but we'd rather have someone that can do both jobs.

giving kasay that extension was just another case of stupidity by the FO. if he has lost his ability to do his whole job well, you don't reward him with a bigger contract. the past doesn't matter. all that matters is today and tomorrow. get us in the position to win.