Focus On Special Teams

[MHS831]

As Rivera stood on the sideline and watched a team with one of the best defenses in the NFL and the perhaps the best offense in the league over the last few years in SD, one can only imagine how he felt when he came here and watched the special teams stink it up for much of the year.

It seems that special teams was the focus in free agency, but the draft seemed to have a special teams flair as well. Quieetly, our speclal teams unit may have been upgraded through free agency, the draft, and players coming off the IR. Aside from the WRs and RBs we brought in as Undrafted Free Agents, here is what we have added (help me if I missed an obvious special teams upgrade):

Joe Adams (punt returner)

Brad Nortman (P)

Haruki Nakamura (S)

Reggie Smith (S)

DJ Campbell (S)

Kenny Onatolu (LB)

Jordan Senn (LB—re-signed)

Gary Barnidge (TE-off IR)

Justin Medlock (K)

[ItsPantone278]

Chargers had some horrible special teams squads while Coach was there.

[EMSMedic79]

Big improvements are coming no doubt. I can't wait for preseason to have it all come together.

[Jesse]

Our ST helped immensely lose 3 games last year (Arizona, Chicago, Minnesota). We'd be 9-7 if we stopped two returns and a fuggin 27 yard FG to tie the game. If we improve ST, our defense will benefit greatly.

[ed bell]

Chargers had some horrible special teams squads while Coach was there.

...and now he has the authority to address it here. I bet it was a major sore spot with him. I can't say enough about how much a punt return for a TD can suck the life out of a team when the game is close. It bit us badly in two games and started the complete meltdown we had against Tennessee last year. Those type situations aren't always preventable, but the tape on all of those returns shows a complete lack of proper execution.

[Ivan The Awesome]

D.J. Williams is a stud Special teamer, right?

[KillerKat]

As Rivera stood on the sideline and watched a team with one of the best defenses in the NFL and the perhaps the best offense in the league over the last few years in SD, one can only imagine how he felt when he came here and watched the special teams stink it up for much of the year.

Hopefully he has this logic applied to kicker after watching Nate Kaeding and then seeing Olindo Mare last year

[KillerKat]

bears also had a good ST too

[ForMac]

Giving our 2nd year ST coach something to work with is exciting. We have been so bad for so long though, not hard to improve.

[top dawg]

I believe that there is an argument to be made that special teams was the ulterior motive of the whole draft of Rivera and staff. I am thinking that the last few games gave the staff, and fans to a lesser degree, a lot of hope. Moreover it gave the staff the will to separate the wheat from the chaff in regards to the primary needs of the team , as well as the priority of the needs of the team. Special teams was arguably the weakest link in the team, especially when looking at the context of the entire season, and not just the success, or lack thereof, of the last six games.

[La Pantera]

STs was the weakest spot and has been, but it doesnt help when your best special teamers were starting in place of your starters.

[Argus Plexus]

I'm so excited for this season's STs unit

[Herbert The Love Bug]

When Rivera was in SD with the top offense and defense, the ST unit was the worst in the NFL. He is used to crappy STs and obviously tired of it.

[TANTRIC-NINJA]

STs was the weakest spot and has been, but it doesnt help when your best special teamers were starting in place of your starters.

Need to add munnerlyn to the special teams unit..he is pretty good there.