Smiley must go

[dpberr]

Special teams is the biggest wild card in terms of team units.  He and Eric Ciano should have been released this last offseason, with new leadership in both ST and Strength Conditioning for the 24-25 season.  

 

Bringing back both gentlemen for 2024 likely results in 1) another season of wobbly special teams play and 2) nagging leg injuries to the punter and kicker that never quite improve. 

 

[tomur67]

I don't understand why you have any offensive players on the kickoff team. I would think you would want say your backup LBs, CBs and Safeties on the kickoff team.  

[Big Turk]

Not sure how you reach that conclusion based on a play that nobody has any real idea how to defend properly yet.

[mollymalonesmafia]

  On 9/11/2024 at 4:13 PM, yall said:

That and three people completely whiffing on what should have been a tackle.

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Then whos faults thats?. 

[NickelCity]

Smiley shouldn't have been retained for this season.

[4BillsintheBurgh]

  On 9/11/2024 at 6:42 PM, tomur67 said:

I don't understand why you have any offensive players on the kickoff team. I would think you would want say your backup LBs, CBs and Safeties on the kickoff team.  

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Could be a numbers thing and expectations of that, in Ray Davis' case, position. His was the most egregious to me. He just needed to wrap up, looked like he went for the knockout shoulder. That is on coaching for me, the player needs to know you have to get the man down in that case, especially if you're a rookie offensive player. You're not trying to be a hero, just do your job.

[RoyBatty is alive]

  On 9/11/2024 at 6:56 PM, mollymalonesmafia said:

Then whos faults thats?. 

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Why does it have to be someone's "fault"?  

 

Is this some psychological need to blame someone?  You want to pillory them and fire them, will that make you feel better? Do people realize unforeseen things happen?  It doesn't have to be anyone's fault.  There is a large element of luck involved.  

 

This is exactly why there is the constant "need" to find a scapegoat.

[PrimeTime101]

  On 9/11/2024 at 4:01 PM, RobbRiddick said:

Oh I thought you were referring to Josh’s grin after his leap into the end zone. I was about to call you insane

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[RoyBatty is alive]

  On 9/11/2024 at 7:09 PM, 4BillsintheBurgh said:

Could be a numbers thing and expectations of that, in Ray Davis' case, position. His , was the most egregious to me. He just needed to wrap uplooked like he went for the knockout shoulder. That is on coaching for me, the player needs to know you have to get the man down in that case, especially if you're a rookie offensive player. You're not trying to be a hero, just do your job.

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Now this i can agree with.  Davis is small and expendable, why he is one special teams buyt the knockout shoulder i think is an example of poor coaching.  Davis is on offense and likely doesn't have nearly the skill or coaching of tackling, certaijly at the NFL level.

 

Lets see if he is on more covering of kickoff returns in the future.

[ColoradoBills]

  On 9/11/2024 at 5:53 PM, DrDawkinstein said:

 

It's an issue on Special Teams and one that has plagued our defense for years. These players all learned technique since high school and made it all the way through college ball. Yes, they know how to tackle. But they arent. There is something being missed by the coaches. And at the very least it is on the coaches to fix, whether through different motivation or punishment.

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I see your point and do agree that "coaching" is part of the equation.  I just don't see it as the ONLY part.

Same when I hear comments during a GDT after penalties are called and comments are made that it's "all on the coaches".

 

Are we all for "punishing" Josh for not sliding?  

 

It's a team sport and I believe it's requiring a team to succeed.

[Steptide]

I'm not on the fire everyone train, but it is surprising in McDermotts time here, special teams has always been pretty bad, and has never seamed to have been corrected. Part of me wonders if McDermott just thinks it's not that important 

Edited September 11, 2024 by Steptide

[NewEra]

He has 3 years left if what I hear is correct.  Babich the mcds sacrifice this year, then Brady next season, followed by Smiley. The coordinators are only here to take the fall for McD…….get with the program

[RoyBatty is alive]

  On 9/11/2024 at 7:21 PM, NewEra said:

He has 3 years left if what I hear is correct.  Babich the mcds sacrifice this year, then Brady next season, followed by Smiley. The coordinators are only here to take the fall for McD…….get with the program

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I cant tell if this is sarcasm or not.

[NewEra]

  On 9/11/2024 at 7:25 PM, RoyBatty is alive said:

I cant tell if this is sarcasm or not.

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Sarcasm indeed.  It’s just what I’ve learned while reading this board

[DrDawkinstein]

  On 9/11/2024 at 7:17 PM, ColoradoBills said:

 

I see your point and do agree that "coaching" is part of the equation.  I just don't see it as the ONLY part.

Same when I hear comments during a GDT after penalties are called and comments are made that it's "all on the coaches".

 

Are we all for "punishing" Josh for not sliding?  

 

It's a team sport and I believe it's requiring a team to succeed.

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Oh dont get me wrong, a good portion is on the players as well. They should absolutely know better at this point of their football careers.

 

And please dont ever confuse my Wednesday posts with GDT posts.

 

But for issues that are so widespread and consistent, the accountability starts with coaching.

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

  On 9/11/2024 at 7:31 PM, DrDawkinstein said:

But for issues that are so widespread and consistent, the accountability starts with coaching.

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Almost sounds like a backhanded argument to bring back the 'old' days of coaching.  Screw up, coach has you running laps.  AND NO WATER!!!

*
No chance of the NFLPA agreeing to that. 😁

[DrDawkinstein]

  On 9/11/2024 at 7:37 PM, Ridgewaycynic2013 said:

Almost sounds like a backhanded argument to bring back the 'old' days of coaching.  Screw up, coach has you running laps.  AND NO WATER!!!

*
No chance of the NFLPA agreeing to that. 😁

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Nowadays you gotta be able to make a "dank meme" about tackling in order to get through to the players.

[HappyDays]

I blame McDermott for that return more than Smiley. It's a game management issue, not a special teams coaching issue. The only thing we can't do there is give up a quick TD. Literally kicking it sideways out of bounds on purpose would have been better. We did the right strategy on the final kickoff - concede some return yards while ensuring they don't score a TD.

 

Edited September 11, 2024 by HappyDays

[ColoradoBills]

  On 9/11/2024 at 7:31 PM, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Oh dont get me wrong, a good portion is on the players as well. They should absolutely know better at this point of their football careers.

 

And please dont ever confuse my Wednesday posts with GDT posts.

 

But for issues that are so widespread and consistent, the accountability starts with coaching.

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Now that is FUNNY.  I should have been clearer on that.  NO ONE wants that comparison!

[Augie]

  On 9/11/2024 at 7:17 PM, ColoradoBills said:

 

I see your point and do agree that "coaching" is part of the equation.  I just don't see it as the ONLY part.

Same when I hear comments during a GDT after penalties are called and comments are made that it's "all on the coaches".

 

Are we all for "punishing" Josh for not sliding?  

 

It's a team sport and I believe it's requiring a team to succeed.

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At some point the players have to make the plays, catch the ball, etc.