Quote:
Originally Posted by That Guy
our STs here were much better with danny smith than without him. you realize that last year we weren't just the worst ST unit in the league, but the 2nd worst ST unit since they started tracking differentials in 2000 (the worst was the 2002 oakland ST unit).
why they don't use moss is simple, he's not that fast anymore, he doesn't play teams (ie, gunner on coverage) and he's been inactive most of our games. there's no point wasting an active spot on a guy that's not any better than roberts to maybe get 1 more ypr on a grand total of 3 punts in a game. roberts isn't that bad on returns (though he runs E/W too much for sure), though he's definitely not great either.
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Last year we were also working with Keith Burns. Who everyone KNEW needed the boot. Last year was inexcusable.
This is Ben Kotwica's first year and like I said we're already doing worlds better in putting, kicking (none of that low chip shot shit) and blocking for both (no kicks or punts blocked). Discipline still needs to be worked on... Still too many penalties and I feel we could use some personnel upgrades.
We are still at the back end of the league in terms of our ST unit, but we aren't making historical records and when you consider how awful the team has been this year overall, and how awful the ST unit was last year, you HAVE to consider that an improvement.
In regards to Danny Smith's ST unit... It wasn't that great either. In 2012 the Skins ranked in the bottom third in both punting, kicking and returns. We were splitting the year with Forbath and Cundiff and if it wasn't for that Forbath pick up, we would have been royally screwed. That was also the year Sav Rocca started getting the weak leg and granted, a good punter is few and far between but we still hung around with him until after the 2013 season.
In 2011, we did great at kick coverage, but didn't have a consistent returner (and we still don't). We also were busy putting the coals to Gano who was busy missing kicks left and right (literally, right?
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So without me going back into Redskins lore, what I'm trying to say is. Our special teams has never been what could be considered... Hearty, well-rounded, and consistently good. At some points we've been abysmal and at other points we've been, "Okay". But we've never had a full on, consistent and competent ST unit. The last time I remember us having one was with Lorenzo Alexander but that was because he was practically THE ST unit by himself.