Time to panic on special teams coverage?

[neuronet]

You will not see that happen the following weeks.

It has been a problem since at least 2010. If it were a top priority, it would be fixed by now.

 

[IllegalContact]

 

[DaBruinz]

It has been a problem since at least 2010. If it were a top priority, it would be fixed by now.

Yep. Being the 4th best kick coverage unit in the league is REALLY a problem..

 

[PittPatriot]

While the coverage unit will be ripped at Tuesday's film session and hopefully regroup, I am also concerned we don't have any legitimate threat in our return game.

I think Shane Vereen with his great hands, speed, and open field instincts might make a viable kick off return man for (hopefully) our final 2 games. Any thoughts?

 

[Dagg]

Pitt I agree 100 percent. I was thinking to myself last night why is Vareen not back on kick return. My issue with McCourty is he never catches the ball with momentum, he stops under it catches it then moves forward. Other returners lay back a bit start to jog forward to catch the kick and then hit the wedge full speed where he is just getting up to speed. Big difference trying to get past first wave.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

It's not consistently a problem from game to game,

but it was a huge problem almost all day yesterday, so we must have been doping something wrong that the Texans exploited.

Also, don't forget that the KO return coverage ruined the comeback chance in the regular season loss to the Niners as well.

 

[Kid~Brady]

Special Team Worries....

So, I know with the Ravens coming into town, the hype is high and the media will have a ton of things to focus on with this match-up. From the inflammatory tweets from a special teams linebacker about the "quick" or NASCAR offense we run from Ray Lewis and the team wanting good old fashioned revenge from last year's AFC championship game. (Even though they beat us last on a controversial game winning field goal in week 3.)

Our offense going up against this defense doesn't scare me so much. They are older and slower and even with Gronk not playing Vareen coming out has to be a nice little surprise. This creates another mismatch with their linebackers. Although, you have to wonder about "just throw em up" Joe and his lob passes to the right side, what scares me the most is the special teams.

For some reason, they were bad yesterday. This is the same thing that killed us in the 49ers game and after seeing the Ravens return game yesterday, we should all be a little afraid.

Thoughts?

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Re: Special Team Worries....

the ravens specials teams should be much more worried..they let denver get 2 TDs of KOs

 

[jumbo77]

Re: Special Team Worries....

Both teams sspecial teams sucked. The Ravens were just as bad as the Pats were. If Mcourty would stop slowing down maybe they could get a few good returns.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Re: Special Team Worries....

Both teams sspecial teams sucked. The Ravens were just as bad as the Pats were.

Giving up 2 TDs and giving up 0..which is better?

 

[signbabybrady]

Re: Special Team Worries....

I am not worried about our STs unit. Bottom line is our kick return unit sux nothing we can do to fix but at this point oh well other than that our STs has been very good all year. Punt Return is good even with Welker instead of Edelman, Our Kick and Punt coverage has been exceptional all year and it really had one bad game yesterday and that aweful coverage vs San Fran on the one return and lets not let 4 plays dictate the sucess of the unit all year. Lastly I have some slight worries about Ghost but for better or worse he is what we have.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Re: Special Team Worries....

I have zero faith in any unit but the punt coverage. Can't expect either return unit to produce anything and the KO coverage was unreliable yesterday and in some other key spots (49er game, SB last year). Ghost and Zoltan at least have been mostly reliable in the playoffs.

The most I can hope is that they don't **** us too bad. Last year we went into the SB with a supposed edge in ST and we could've really used it with Gronk's injury and a leaky D. Unfortunately, not only did they not come up with a play but they were outplayed pretty badly. So at this point I'm just hoping we're not outplayed on ST to a point where it becomes a significant factor like it was yesterday, some of the losses this year, and last year's SB.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Re: Special Team Worries....

Giving up 2 TDs and giving up 0..which is better?

I have a hard time picturing McCourty hitting the holes like Trindon Holliday did.

McCourty seems to seek out someone to plow into, somewhere between the 18 and the 23. I know he once ran one back but it's hard to imagine, even though I know he has the speed.

On our returns, are we not blocking?

On defending returns yesterday, what were we doing wrong?

It truly is something needing a fix, because even if it was not a problem all year long, it was yesterday.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

Re: Special Team Worries....

Giving up 2 TDs and giving up 0..which is better?

well technically 0 is better but it could've lead to 2 easy TD drives instead of 10 points.