Some love for Special Teams

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
  • YardRat
    Well, lookie here...
    • Dec 2004
    • 86329
    #1

    Some love for Special Teams

    404: This page could not be found
    http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson-reuters/140916/buffalo-bills-teamreport


    The Buffalo Bills were one of the league's worst special teams performers in 2013, but there was a concerted effort to upgrade in that area across the board.

    Through two weeks, the results are readily apparent.

    Against the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo's kicking teams were the difference in the 29-10 victory as kicker Dan Carpenter made five field goals, one of which was set up by a blocked punt deep in Miami territory by Anthony Dixon. And C.J. Spiller had a 102-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. When you do the math, that's 23 of the 29 points (counting extra points) directly attributable to the special teams.

    Going further, over the first two weeks, punter Colton Schmidt, who replaced longtime Bill standout Brian Moorman, punted nine times and seven were downed inside the 20. Opponents total only six yards on punt return. And kickoff specialist Jordan Gay, who just joined the team, has 10 touchbacks on 14 kickoffs, and the opposing team's drive start after kickoffs is the 20.

    "We consider ourselves one of the best units in the league," Dixon said. "We're not going to shy away from that. Every team we go up against, we're looking to sting them, no matter who they is."
    One of the keys has been coach Doug Marrone's use of starting players on offense and defense playing active roles in the kicking game. For instance, Spiller on kickoffs. There's a school of thought that using your No. 1 running back, a fifth-year veteran, on kickoff returns is an unnecessary injury risk. Well, Spiller got dinged on the opening kickoff against Miami and sat out the first offensive series, but then in the third quarter, his touchdown was a key play in the game.

    "It's just like I told you guys early on with the touches and C.J. being an explosive player," said Marrone. "That's the type of stuff we're looking for. I think he's very dangerous back there. We were able to get a returnable ball and you see what he can do. That's how we're going to have to win; by playing well in all three phrases. Special teams, really for the last two weeks have done a heck of a job."
    YardRat Wall of Fame
    #56 DARRYL TALLEY     #29 DERRICK BURROUGHS#22 FRED JACKSON #95 KYLE WILLIAMS
    Tags: None
  • MitchMurrayDowntown
    Skoobasaurus-Rex
    • Oct 2011
    • 22284
    #2
    Re: Some love for Special Teams

    That's how you win by 19 points, all around team efforts and sacrifice. We're not going to beat the league's very best by 19 every week but we can beat them.

    Comment

    • Fletch
      Registered User
      • May 2007
      • 3166
      #3
      Re: Some love for Special Teams

      We're definitely not going to have blocked punts and return TDs every week. Better start figuring out how to score some TDs with this thing called the offense at some point.

      We only rank 17th in yardage offense and we haven't exactly played a great defense. We're 5th in rushing offense thanks to a bunch of yards in OT against the Bears, 6th in scoring thanks to Carpenter, and 26th in passing. We need to find a way to get some drives going. 31st in 1st downs, 25th in 3rd conversions, and 28th in plays from scrimmage, all need to go up.

      Defensively we're doing worse. 21st in yardage D, 27th in scoring D, 5th in rushing D and 27th in passing D.

      It's a little early in the season to be baselining yardage stats, just throwing that out there. It's not too early to be looking at 1st downs, 3rds, and plays run though, it was an issue last season and all through preseason and still is.

      Special teams isn't going to carry this team to the playoffs on its shoulders. The other two units are going to have to step up.
      http://www.billszone.com/fanzone/sho...s-haters/page3

      Post #46

      Originally posted by Yasgur's Farm
      (Moderator) My name's Max Yasgur, and I approve of this post.
      Originally Posted by pmoon6
      The idea that you "won't settle" presumes that you have some kind of control. Delusional thinking at best for a supposed fan of a spectators' sport. Your way to deal with it is to constantly ***** and denigrate any move, any result concerning the team even if it's positive because you don't want your whittle feewings hurt again. It's a protection mechanism.

      You shroud your childish approach in a vale of pompous, intellectual garbage in an attempt to look smart and "real". You over-analyze even minute points and manipulate statistics to fit your negative view of the team. Again, to feel good about yourself and to protect from getting hurt.

      Of course, the criticisms are obviously from someone who has no understanding of the team concept or what it takes to excel at athletics.

      The true "realist" understands that they have no control of what happens on the field or behind the closed doors at One Bills' Drive, so they do the prudent thing for a spectator. They enjoy the games on Sunday with family and friends, cheer for their team and realize that it's just entertainment.
      ------

      "I was an integral part in the drafting process of EJ Manuel," Whaley said Thursday on NFL Network's Total Access. "I was the person that handled the draft process and setting up the board."

      "We are committed. I want you to believe me when I say that," Whaley said of building around the second-year quarterback, per The Buffalo News. "I always tell you guys that I'll never say never because I don't want to paint myself in a corner, but when I do say something, I do it and I mean it and I try to fulfill it."

      "We believe the addition of Sammy is going to be instant impact, not only to our quarterback, but to what our offensive coordinator can come up with game-plan wise and how defenses attack us," Whaley said.

      Whaley on EJ Manuel: "We think we got a gem in this guy." (2:30)

      "And as Mark says, if in three years maybe he's not [our quarterback of the future], then I'll be sitting there saying 'hey guys', .... anybody got a job for me?" - Doug Whaley

      Comment

      • casdhf
        Registered User
        • Jul 2002
        • 17542
        #4
        Re: Some love for Special Teams

        Duh
        Originally posted by BillsZone Mod
        cas,

        I'm just letting you know that you have been given 2 points for telling Wys AKA Mark to kill himself.

        BillsZone Mod

        Comment

        • Fletch
          Registered User
          • May 2007
          • 3166
          #5
          Re: Some love for Special Teams

          Some people here don't seem to get that "duh" and would take issue with you.

          Send me a thought, I'll post it under my name and see what happens. lol
          http://www.billszone.com/fanzone/sho...s-haters/page3

          Post #46

          Originally posted by Yasgur's Farm
          (Moderator) My name's Max Yasgur, and I approve of this post.
          Originally Posted by pmoon6
          The idea that you "won't settle" presumes that you have some kind of control. Delusional thinking at best for a supposed fan of a spectators' sport. Your way to deal with it is to constantly ***** and denigrate any move, any result concerning the team even if it's positive because you don't want your whittle feewings hurt again. It's a protection mechanism.

          You shroud your childish approach in a vale of pompous, intellectual garbage in an attempt to look smart and "real". You over-analyze even minute points and manipulate statistics to fit your negative view of the team. Again, to feel good about yourself and to protect from getting hurt.

          Of course, the criticisms are obviously from someone who has no understanding of the team concept or what it takes to excel at athletics.

          The true "realist" understands that they have no control of what happens on the field or behind the closed doors at One Bills' Drive, so they do the prudent thing for a spectator. They enjoy the games on Sunday with family and friends, cheer for their team and realize that it's just entertainment.
          ------

          "I was an integral part in the drafting process of EJ Manuel," Whaley said Thursday on NFL Network's Total Access. "I was the person that handled the draft process and setting up the board."

          "We are committed. I want you to believe me when I say that," Whaley said of building around the second-year quarterback, per The Buffalo News. "I always tell you guys that I'll never say never because I don't want to paint myself in a corner, but when I do say something, I do it and I mean it and I try to fulfill it."

          "We believe the addition of Sammy is going to be instant impact, not only to our quarterback, but to what our offensive coordinator can come up with game-plan wise and how defenses attack us," Whaley said.

          Whaley on EJ Manuel: "We think we got a gem in this guy." (2:30)

          "And as Mark says, if in three years maybe he's not [our quarterback of the future], then I'll be sitting there saying 'hey guys', .... anybody got a job for me?" - Doug Whaley

          Comment

          • gebobs
            One Bills Drive, Georgia - 871 miles south of Orchard Park
            • Sep 2003
            • 11520
            #6
            Re: Some love for Special Teams

            How do they take a kick return into account for average drive start? Is it not included?
            Lehner's history. He just doesn't know it yet.

            Comment

            • gebobs
              One Bills Drive, Georgia - 871 miles south of Orchard Park
              • Sep 2003
              • 11520
              #7
              Re: Some love for Special Teams

              Originally posted by YardRat View Post
              One of the keys has been coach Doug Marrone's use of starting players on offense and defense playing active roles in the kicking game. For instance, Spiller on kickoffs.
              And Woods on coverage.
              Lehner's history. He just doesn't know it yet.

              Comment

              • gebobs
                One Bills Drive, Georgia - 871 miles south of Orchard Park
                • Sep 2003
                • 11520
                #8
                Re: Some love for Special Teams

                Originally posted by Fletch View Post
                We're definitely not going to have blocked punts and return TDs every week. Better start figuring out how to score some TDs with this thing called the offense at some point.
                Not even the point of the article if you would just allow yourself to read the gist of what it actually said. To wit: Special teams has not been an asset for many years. The first two weeks were a pleasant surprise. There are good reasons why there has been improvement.

                Take a bong hit, will ya?
                Lehner's history. He just doesn't know it yet.

                Comment

                Previous template Next
                Working...
                X