Special Teams?

[Beerball]

+1

 

I can't imagine Buffalo using a roster spot on a kick-off specialist. My thoughts are that John "Harry" Potter will be stashed on the practice squad as insurance just in case anything happens to Lindell.

Why not stash him on the active roster & use him? If any one position suddenly needs a PS replacement then toss somebody on IR with a phantom injury if you have to.

 

The last guy on the active roster typically doesn't get in on the action. This guy will have the ability to affect field position at least once every game (& hopefully a lot more). Then toss in the extra long FG attempt from time to time and you're getting you money's worth.

[I_want_2_BILL_Lieve]

+1

 

I can't imagine Buffalo using a roster spot on a kick-off specialist. My thoughts are that John "Harry" Potter will be stashed on the practice squad as insurance just in case anything happens to Lindell.

 

 

I dunno..... If the guy can routinely kick off out of the end-zone, then the other guy has to consistently travel 80 yards to score a TD. With our (expected) new and improved defense, I like our chances. That means a lot less wear and tear on the ST. Would you feel better if it was the 7th CB or 8th WR who consistently makes a play pinning them at the 20? I would make a roster spot for a guy, any guy, who time after time makes a play pinning the other guy at the 20. If that guy happens to be my 2nd kicker... I'm OK with that.

[hondo in seattle]

I say that we would have been better every year if Rusty Jones was still here.

Since he left our injuries have been out of control.

 

Heres to the Bills staying healthy!!

 

Letting Rusty Jones move on was a huge mistake. Our new (Gailey era) S&C coaches seem to have good resumes but didn't have a chance last year to really implement their program. It will be interesting to see if they can successfully cut down on injuries this year.

[San Jose Bills Fan]

1) Chixley said they would carry a kickoff specialist. If the kid plays as well during the preseason as they expect him to, he'll make the team.

 

2) Bobby April wasn't even considered for the vacant head coaching position in Buffalo so there was no way he was gonna stay unless there was some outlandish contract offer from ownership that the new regime would have to accept without having any involvement in the decision. In other words it wasn't going to happen.

 

3) Contrary to the old adage, special teams is not one-third of the game, IMO. While special teams does decide a few games here and there, it certainly does not decide one-third of the games. If you have average units, then the vast majority of the time, your offense and defense will determine whether you win or lose. The Bills unit is in the top 3rd more or less so that is sufficient. I personally would find special teams a non-issue as long as they're not in the bottom half of the league.

 

4) This roster was both short on talent in the beginning of 2010 and shorthanded due to injuries over the last two years. I'll say the injuries will get better simply because they can't get worse. In addition the Bills talent has been improving and the better players you have, the better your special teams are. Now there are some good players who suck at special teams and some good special teams players who suck from scrimmage but by and large, if you're truly a good football player, you will be better on special teams than a worse football player. In other words, as this team becomes more talented, their special teams will improve.

 

Bottom line for me, this team will likely be in the top 3rd to top quarter in the league in special teams and that's just fine. The thing that could kill them is if Lindell or Moorman (or whomever the kicker and punter end up being) really suck this year.

 

Having an undependable kicker or a lousy punter? That could sabotage the special teams.

[Webster Guy]

Brooks looks like he could be a monster on coverage teams. Guy has a knack for getting to the ball. I would be surprised if he is not the gunner on punt coverage come opening day.

I think you're right. Just watched Ron Brooks highlights on You Tube, there wasn't a ton of clips showing his ball skills (same with Gilmore actually) but Brooks is wicked fast and he hammers guys and wraps up like Winfield. All four of our Buddy Nix-picked corners (williams, rogers, gilmore and brooks) are exceptionally hard hitting guys.

[hondo in seattle]

Wondering if Potter make the final roster. Per Chris Brown...

 

Though the Bills finished seventh in the league in average drive start off kickoffs, it was frustrating to watch Buffalo’s return men take a knee for a touchback in the end zone. Not that the approach was wrong. In 2011, 44 percent of kicks returned from inside the end zone at any depth failed to reach the 20-yard line. Taking a knee, though far from exciting, was the prudent practice.

 

What Buffalo’s GM and head coach wanted however, was the ability to force their opponents into touchbacks as much as they were last season. It’s the main reason the Bills chose kicker John Potter in round seven.

 

“This guy is a kickoff guy,” said Nix. “He kicked through the uprights kicking off. If you kick the ball in the end zone and make them start on the 20 it gives you a much better chance defensively.”

 

DeHaven has had a kickoff specialist before. During Scott Norwood’s last season in Buffalo (1991) DeHaven also had the strong-legged Brad Daluiso.

 

“He’d put it six or seven rows into the stands sometimes if there was any wind at his back,” said DeHaven. “If a guy has that kind of leg it can be a tremendous weapon.”

 

In the NFL any kickoff with four seconds of hang time is considered good. Anything over 4.3 seconds is considered exceptional. DeHaven said some of Potter’s hang times went beyond that.

 

“I had him with some hang times of 4.6, which is very, very good,” DeHaven said. “Buddy is right, he puts kickoffs through the uprights and in college they kick it from the 30-yard line. Up here he’s going to have five extra yards kicking from the 35.”

 

“I think any team that can consistently kick it out (of the end zone) saves you from good returners,” said Potter. “So I think I can really provide something to the Buffalo Bills.”

 

Naturally the challenge is finding a spot for Potter not only on the 53-man roster, but as one of the 46 active players on game day. But if Potter proves effective removing the threat of any return will carry a lot of weight.

 

Said DeHaven.

 

“If we can make them start at the 20-yard line every time I know it’ll make Dave Wannstedt real happy.”

Edited May 8, 2012 by hondo in seattle

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

Bills ST Rankings...

 

Bobby April

2004: #1

2005: #1

2006: ? (top 5)

2007: ? (top 5)

2008: #1

2009: #3

 

Bruce DeHaven

2010: #27

2011: #11

 

Bobby April since leaving Buffalo has been #2 in both his years with the Eagles.

 

No doubt, Bobby April is and was awesome. But the flip side to April is that he always runs way too many trick, fake ST plays, many of which backfire or are too risky. Recall the game against the Eagles last year. The Eagles were down big, drew to within two scores, and I think anyone who knows April knew there would be a surprise onsides kick. The Bills suspected it, recovered, promptly scored, and the game was over.

[Wayne Cubed]

per Chris Brown...

 

Though the Bills finished seventh in the league in average drive start off kickoffs, it was frustrating to watch Buffalo’s return men take a knee for a touchback in the end zone. Not that the approach was wrong. In 2011, 44 percent of kicks returned from inside the end zone at any depth failed to reach the 20-yard line. Taking a knee, though far from exciting, was the prudent practice.

 

7th in the league in average drive start and 1st in the league in average kick off return yardage at 20.3 yards. I understand what the Bills brass is getting at, but I actually liked what they did last year. To me that was taking the closer kick offs and being smart about it. Lindell would directional kick it, almost daring the player to run it out. And seeing as the average yardage was 20.3 yards, the Bills coverage was excellent. It made perfect sense to me. Lots of times last season a player wouldn't even make it to the 20 yard line because the coverage could get down the field fast, since they were closer.

 

Apparently this wasn't planned at all, which is rather disappointing.

[Captain Hindsight]

Bills ST Rankings...

 

Bobby April

2004: #1

2005: #1

2006: ? (top 5)

2007: ? (top 5)

2008: #1

2009: #3

 

Bruce DeHaven

2010: #27

2011: #11

 

Bobby April since leaving Buffalo has been #2 in both his years with the Eagles.

Bobby April was a big reason for our lack of depth. He had wayyyyyyy to much say when it came to draft day and thats how we ended up with 4th round picks being purely special teamers instead of a player that could fill in and you know play defense. Ill take 11th in the league for a little depth

[eball]

Bobby April was a big reason for our lack of depth. He had wayyyyyyy to much say when it came to draft day and thats how we ended up with 4th round picks being purely special teamers instead of a player that could fill in and you know play defense. Ill take 11th in the league for a little depth

Interesting take. I don't recall specifically that April strongly influenced draft decisions, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

[Captain Hindsight]

Interesting take. I don't recall specifically that April strongly influenced draft decisions, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

He was the assistant HC when we had no GM. Id say he had a large say. You look at guys like John Wendling, Alvin Bowen, Nic Harris John Digiogio. We often had to sign LBs and put our starters on IR becuase we had no backup. Big reason why we always fell apart IMO

[Wayne Cubed]

He was the assistant HC when we had no GM. Id say he had a large say. You look at guys like John Wendling, Alvin Bowen, Nic Harris John Digiogio. We often had to sign LBs and put our starters on IR becuase we had no backup. Big reason why we always fell apart IMO

Is it a coincidence that Philly had the same problem at LB last year?

[Owen]

Getting Potter to be our deep kicker is a definite plus...

Some of the other draft picks will also improve special teams and last years group will only get better...

Special teams will be vastly improved... I do not see as many kick returns with the ball going into the end zone more often keeping the players healthier throughout the year... We won't see as many injuries... Bills looking good going into this season....and we do have a good special teams coach... he now loves the talent he has to work with...

[Beerball]

“Kicking out here in practice I was kicking from the 35, but I had to back it up to the 30 so the returners could field some kicks,” said Potter.

[Optometric Insight]

I read on Chris Brown's blog that Potter was doing an excellent job kicking the ball out of the endzone. My question is this, if your kicker has such a powerful leg, why not tell him to kick it a little bit higher?

 

This allows more hangtime, which means our guys can get farther down the field before the returner can return it. If the ball lands somewhere around the 1-4 yard line, there would be no opporutunity for a touchback and he can't really return it because our guys are all ready on top of him. Tell me what you guys think because this has been a question I always ask to myself since I started watching football.

[eball]

I read on Chris Brown's blog that Potter was doing an excellent job kicking the ball out of the endzone. My question is this, if your kicker has such a powerful leg, why not tell him to kick it a little bit higher?

 

This allows more hangtime, which means our guys can get farther down the field before the returner can return it. If the ball lands somewhere around the 1-4 yard line, there would be no opporutunity for a touchback and he can't really return it because our guys are all ready on top of him. Tell me what you guys think because this has been a question I always ask to myself since I started watching football.

This is essentially what the Bills did last year with Lindell, and their coverage units were very good. The whole point of having a kicker who can boom it out of the endzone is to save the wear and tear on your ST, as well as make the other team have to drive it 80 yards consistently.

[bills1960]

I'm interested to see how Justin Rogers progresses this off-season. His burst in those last few games of the year last year was unreal.

 

Another thing to think about is whether Spiller will continue to return punts. Now it's safe to say he's in the prime of his career, and the Bills may want him to get more carries rather than returns.

 

Also excited about Potter. Don't know if they see him as strictly a kickoff specialist or an eventual replacement for Lindell, but from what I've heard he has a rocket for a leg.

[You herd it hear last]

This is essentially what the Bills did last year with Lindell, and their coverage units were very good. The whole point of having a kicker who can boom it out of the endzone is to save the wear and tear on your ST, as well as make the other team have to drive it 80 yards consistently.

It's all good until deep in the playoffs your kicker doesn't get quite a hold of the ball and the other team returns it for a touchdown because you haven't repped it all season long...

[San Jose Bills Fan]

I read on Chris Brown's blog that Potter was doing an excellent job kicking the ball out of the endzone. My question is this, if your kicker has such a powerful leg, why not tell him to kick it a little bit higher?

 

This allows more hangtime, which means our guys can get farther down the field before the returner can return it. If the ball lands somewhere around the 1-4 yard line, there would be no opporutunity for a touchback and he can't really return it because our guys are all ready on top of him. Tell me what you guys think because this has been a question I always ask to myself since I started watching football.

You make a great point and I wouldn't be surprised if the Bills did this occasionally.

 

With his leg strength, hitting high-arc kickoffs would force teams to fair catch deep inside their own 20 or risk returning the ball with the coverage team virtually on top of the returner.

 

Like eball says, there's a reason you boom it away but I could definitely see this strategy being employed as an effective changeup.

 

 

[Webster Guy]

I'm interested to see how Justin Rogers progresses this off-season. His burst in those last few games of the year last year was unreal.

 

Another thing to think about is whether Spiller will continue to return punts. Now it's safe to say he's in the prime of his career, and the Bills may want him to get more carries rather than returns.

 

Also excited about Potter. Don't know if they see him as strictly a kickoff specialist or an eventual replacement for Lindell, but from what I've heard he has a rocket for a leg.

TJ Graham: 5-11 190

Devon Hester 5-11 190

 

Both have run 40's in the 4.3 range. T.J was the ALL TIME ACC leader for kickoff return yardage. I think the notable difference this year in special teams will be our kickoff return increase, because this is the type of kid that might get the green light to return anything except for the very deep endzone kicks.

 

If he can protect the ball and give us the possibility for a long return I think kickoff return will be fun to watch again, despite the league trying to kill them.