Improvement needed by Bills - Special teams

[Saxum]

Special teams are weak both kicking and returns.

Bills need to hire an assistant to special teams with knowledge of kicking who help our kickers get their groove back.

An ex-kicker would probably be best.

 

 

No need to fire anyone but they want to an extra kicker and put on practice squad that is fine also.

[mrags]

Fire the returner. Because HarDLY sucks 

[Bubba Gump]

The punter sucks. The ST coverage is fine. Harty had one of his better games against the Cowpies. Anything else to complain about after a great win?

[ganesh]

Who was the player who decided to run back the Kickoff and stopped at the 11 yard line ?  That was a terrible decision even though at that point it was not going to impact the game.   You have to play a full 60 minute game

[JohnNord]

14 minutes ago, ganesh said:

Who was the player who decided to run back the Kickoff and stopped at the 11 yard line ?  That was a terrible decision even though at that point it was not going to impact the game.   You have to play a full 60 minute game

This is consistent in the NFL, especially now with the fair catch rule on kickoffs.  You are likely better calling for a fair catch every time.

[Bermuda Triangle]

Martin and the punt protection team are really struggling.  Dallas really should have blocked the punt on which they were called for roughing the punter, and they had come close to a block on the previous Bills punt as well.

[Doc Brown]

21 minutes ago, ganesh said:

Who was the player who decided to run back the Kickoff and stopped at the 11 yard line ?  That was a terrible decision even though at that point it was not going to impact the game.   You have to play a full 60 minute game

They had their onsides kick unit on and Harty just went down to avoid a fumble at the end of the game so they could run out the clock.  I'm guessing that's what he was instructed to do.  They obviously rely on him the most as a returner as he only has one muff this year I believe on 40 or so punt return opportunities.

1 minute ago, Bermuda Triangle said:

Martin and the punt protection team are really struggling.  Dallas really should have blocked the punt on which they were called for roughing the punter, and they had come close to a block on the previous Bills punt as well.

Brilliant play as the blocking ineptitude allowed the savvy veteran in Martin to get that punt off and draw the personal foul.  Led to a Touchdown.  

[Trogdor]

2 hours ago, Limeaid said:

Special teams are weak both kicking and returns.

Bills need to hire an assistant to special teams with knowledge of kicking who help our kickers get their groove back.

An ex-kicker would probably be best.

 

 

No need to fire anyone but they want to an extra kicker and put on practice squad that is fine also.

Or just get a better coordinator. Kick and punt coverage are bad too. 

[Saxum]

54 minutes ago, Trogdor said:

Or just get a better coordinator. Kick and punt coverage are bad too. 

 

That was Coach McD method when he because head coach.  He basically let go all of staff (helped cut down on leaks), scouts and coaches.

 

Changing Special Teams coach with four games left makes no sense but bringing a consultant makes more sense.

[BuffaloBillyG]

3 hours ago, Bermuda Triangle said:

Martin and the punt protection team are really struggling.  Dallas really should have blocked the punt on which they were called for roughing the punter, and they had come close to a block on the previous Bills punt as well.

On the play that ended up roughing, it looked like the up man (I think it was Hamlin) started going upfield to cover the return immediately instead of staying in to block. 

 

This could have been by design (which is my guess) or could have simply been a case of a guy that hasn't played a lot this year being overanxious to get upfield and make a play. 

[SoonerBillsFan]

We need a new punter before the post season.

[LABILLBACKER]

8 hours ago, Bubba Gump said:

The punter sucks. The ST coverage is fine. Harty had one of his better games against the Cowpies. Anything else to complain about after a great win?

Harty has not been spectacular but he had a good game yesterday with no fumbles and 1 good return.  The biggest need is a better punter and punt blocking at the line.  2 close calls yesterday that could've changed the game completely. 

[Royale with Cheese]

I wonder if they're checking on him more and more?

 

 

[Captain Hindsight]

7 hours ago, Bermuda Triangle said:

Martin and the punt protection team are really struggling.  Dallas really should have blocked the punt on which they were called for roughing the punter, and they had come close to a block on the previous Bills punt as well.

Yeah Hamlin i think it was bailed as soon as the ball was snapped, the Dallas guy beat the long snapper and it had a clear shot 

[davefan66]

13 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

I wonder if they're checking on him more and more?

 

 

Sign him to the PS.  Won’t get as much attention as straight to the roster.  Probably wouldn’t sign him to the roster until next season u less something goes wrong with Martin injury wise or gets worse.

[Big Turk]

20 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

I wonder if they're checking on him more and more?

 

 

 

Wouldn't be surprised to see him as our punter next year. Ironically while it sucks for him he had to go thru this and fight to get back in, it may benefit him financially as now he is a free agent and not subject to the rookie wage scale limitations of a late round pick.

Edited December 18, 2023 by Big Turk

[reddogblitz]

I've been saying for weeks if we miss the playoffs we can talk offense/defense/Dorsey/Brady/McDermott til we're blue in the face but it will be because of the 2 losses lost by kicking teams. 12 men on the field and the punt return for a TD in OT in the Jets game.

[ganesh]

7 hours ago, JohnNord said:

This is consistent in the NFL, especially now with the fair catch rule on kickoffs.  You are likely better calling for a fair catch every time.

No. The prblem is this guy caught the ball at 5 and then gave up at 11... He could have done a fair catch at 11 and the ball would have been at 25

[boater]

9 hours ago, Limeaid said:

Special teams are weak both kicking and returns.

Bills need to hire an assistant to special teams with knowledge of kicking who help our kickers get their groove back.

An ex-kicker would probably be best.

 

 

No need to fire anyone but they want to an extra kicker and put on practice squad that is fine also.

I'm not normally a "fire him" type of guy, but I have to say: we need a new special teams coach. 12 men on the field, and KO coverage lapses come to mind.

 

And the Bills sorely need a speedy return man. They got nothing. When Hines is recuperated, will he have his speed back? I don't know.

 

And Matt Araiza would be a nice upgrade to Sam Martin. Almost anything will be an upgrade to Martin.

[Saxum]

1 hour ago, boater said:

I'm not normally a "fire him" type of guy, but I have to say: we need a new special teams coach. 12 men on the field, and KO coverage lapses come to mind.

 

And the Bills sorely need a speedy return man. They got nothing. When Hines is recuperated, will he have his speed back? I don't know.

 

And Matt Araiza would be a nice upgrade to Sam Martin. Almost anything will be an upgrade to Martin.

 

Hardy IMO was a GM mistake unless he is being misused. He is being paid a great amount for what he is doing .

 

Matt Araiza can be put on PS and elevated for 3 games.  He has not played for a long time,