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Posted

Slower, shorter, lighter and physically weaker than the blockers double-teaming him, Tasker used his mind and his will to beat them cleanly, essentially every time. He blocked kicks with regularity, or at least that's how I remember it. These days, "coverage specialists" are pretty common, and more valued all the time. They had to change a rule or two to reign him in. Think about that. Isn't it time Steve Tasker gets inducted into the Hall of Fame? Is anyone who matters actively lobbying for him these days? Any thoughts or memories to share about plays he made? I can think of a few beauties covering punts, including a delightful shoe-string tackle of Dion Sanders in his prime. Pretty sure Sanders lost yards on the return.

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Posted

Slower, shorter, lighter and physically weaker than the blockers double-teaming him, Tasker used his mind and his will to beat them cleanly, essentially every time. He blocked kicks with regularity, or at least that's how I remember it. These days, "coverage specialists" are pretty common, and more valued all the time. They had to change a rule or two to reign him in. Think about that. Isn't it time Steve Tasker gets inducted into the Hall of Fame? Is anyone who matters actively lobbying for him these days? Any thoughts or memories to share about plays he made? I can think of a few beauties covering punts, including a delightful shoe-string tackle of Dion Sanders in his prime. Pretty sure Sanders lost yards on the return.

A couple plays stand out - against the Raiders, Tim Brown, at the time the best punt returner, tripped him up for no gain after the catch, Brown shook his hand on the great play. I think the 2nd Raider playoff game, took a line drive , short kickoff , fielded it cleanly and ran it back to inside the 10.

I was at the Meadowlands sitting with Jets fans when Tasker made a great play, the Jet fan sitting next to me said, I love that guy, he's a monster.

He was great, should be in the Hall.

Posted (edited)

He's going to have to wait for the Vets committee. It's been too long and there's too many recent flashy guys stacked up now.

 

He's one of my all time favorites and one of the very best at what he did, but he's not getting in over guys like Cris Carter, who had to wait a few years himself.

Edited by Chuck Wagon
Posted

Since Special Teams players are now making it into the HOF, I definitely think Steve Tasker is worthy. He was a Special Teams phenom.

 

I remember a few times he downed punts near the goal-time that were spectacular. I remember seeing a slow motion replay of him diving with his body parallel over the goal line, pushing the ball back to the 1/2 yard line as he sailed by. It was almost like a clip of an Olympic high jumper clearing the bar, only he had to run down the field not knowing where the bar would be before he launched himself. And this type of play happened enough, it was clearly not a fluke

 

I thought at the time we'd see a new crop of players perfecting this skill, but again and again and again I see punt coverage team bumble near the goal line, unable to reproduce the magic.

Posted

Since Special Teams players are now making it into the HOF, I definitely think Steve Tasker is worthy. He was a Special Teams phenom.

 

I remember a few times he downed punts near the goal-time that were spectacular. I remember seeing a slow motion replay of him diving with his body parallel over the goal line, pushing the ball back to the 1/2 yard line as he sailed by. It was almost like a clip of an Olympic high jumper clearing the bar, only he had to run down the field not knowing where the bar would be before he launched himself. And this type of play happened enough, it was clearly not a fluke

 

I thought at the time we'd see a new crop of players perfecting this skill, but again and again and again I see punt coverage team bumble near the goal line, unable to reproduce the magic.

Tasker deserves the HOF for making special teams players relevant. They were an afterthought before him.
Posted

Serious question: Better receiver -- Tasker or Hogan? Both were trusted immensely in the passing game, it seems.

Serious question? I don't think so.

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