We need to be a lot better on special teams

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

I hate to complain after a win, but I am really concerned about our special teams.
 

We all know the issues with Bass. But beyond that, we have allowed multiple FG/PAT blocks, Martin almost had a punt blocked yesterday, and our coverage teams are generally terrible (which is reflective of Martin having one of the worst net averages and also us having almost no downed punts).

 

Coddrington has been decent enough as a return guy, which is probably the only bright spot.

 

But we have otherwise really generated no positive big plays on ST. 
 

what gives? And any ideas how to fix it? 
 

in the playoffs, the teams that win, tend to make the big splash plays on defense and special teams. 

[Big Turk]

Codrington has had a couple of nice kickoff returns, including one on opening day.  
 

But in general, I agree with you.  ST has not been a bright spot.

 

I think as with the whole team in general, this is a year where a lot of things are in flux that are getting figured out on the fly. Should start seeing improvement as the season goes on I would hope.

Edited October 21 by Big Turk

[Saxum]

Special teams lost most of the talent on it with cuts to save salary.   The Bills used to be one of the top rated special teams.  I guess we need more UDFAs like some posters suggested.

[Matt_In_NH]

I think bass is to blame for the blocks.  He has weird mechanics and a low trajectory.  

[Roundybout]

Codrington has been an excellent pickup, but I agree that our special teams are sloppy at best.

 

Man, I’d love to block a kick like Pittsburgh did last night. 

[DabillsDaBillsDaBills]

As you said, T Bass's struggles have been well documented. 

 

Sam Martin has been flying under the radar as a pretty bad punter. His 47.5 yard average punt is 18th in the league, but his 40.3 average net punt is 27th. His kicks tend to not go very far and are in the middle of the field with poor hang time. That's a bad combination. 

 

Coverage has been spotty as well, we were the first team to allow a kickoff return for a TD in this new format back in week 1.

 

Coaching is also suspect. Remember when we had a kickoff from the 50 yard line towards the end of the Jets game? Had we kicked the ball out of bounds the Jets would've started their drive at the 25. Instead we kicked for a touchback and Jets started at the 30. Either Bass meant to kick it out and butchered it (entirely possible), or our coaches don't know the rulebook. 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/41908327/houston-texans-kickoff-loophole-green-bay-packers-kaimi-fairbairn-week-7

[eSJayDee]

I read somewhere they said that 28 yarder was partially blocked.  He certainly looked peeved coming off the field.

As for Martin's low net, it's not entirely on him.  Maybe there's a homer observational bias, but how often are we able to down a punt near the goal line when given the chance?  Seems like a low percentage where as other teams seem to manage fairly frequently.  Poor coverage.  I could also believe that we allow longer returns than the hang time should dictate too frequently.

[MJS]

Martin is mediocre. He can't boom the ball and only has modest hang time. All the punt issues are on him. No punts have actually been blocked. I'm not going to complain about near blocks. That happens every game for every team. Martin needs to still deliver a good punt even when there is pressure.

 

The FG blocks are on Bass. His scatter shot kicks are sometimes barely over the line and easily tipped by just reaching your hand up.

 

Coddington makes good decisions and is dynamic with the ball in his hand. He is great, not just decent.

[Sojourner]

 

45 minutes ago, Roundybout said:

Codrington has been an excellent pickup, but I agree that our special teams are sloppy at best.

 

Man, I’d love to block a kick like Pittsburgh did last night. 

100%. 
He’s actually be the only real bright spot for that unit. 

[SoMAn]

52 minutes ago, DabillsDaBillsDaBills said:

As you said, T Bass's struggles have been well documented. 

 

Sam Martin has been flying under the radar as a pretty bad punter. His 47.5 yard average punt is 18th in the league, but his 40.3 average net punt is 27th. His kicks tend to not go very far and are in the middle of the field with poor hang time. That's a bad combination. 

Meanwhile, the punter with the highest net average in the NFL is former Bills’ draft choice Matt Araiza of the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs.  Who, by the way is a halfway decent backup kicker if pressed into emergency action. 
Thanks a lot lying sexual assault accuser from college. 

[JerseyBills]

1 hour ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

I hate to complain after a win, but I am really concerned about our special teams.
 

We all know the issues with Bass. But beyond that, we have allowed multiple FG/PAT blocks, Martin almost had a punt blocked yesterday, and our coverage teams are generally terrible (which is reflective of Martin having one of the worst net averages and also us having almost no downed punts).

 

Coddrington has been decent enough as a return guy, which is probably the only bright spot.

 

But we have otherwise really generated no positive big plays on ST. 
 

what gives? And any ideas how to fix it? 
 

in the playoffs, the teams that win, tend to make the big splash plays on defense and special teams. 

Codd has been awesome imo. 

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

47 minutes ago, eSJayDee said:

I read somewhere they said that 28 yarder was partially blocked.  He certainly looked peeved coming off the field.

As for Martin's low net, it's not entirely on him.  Maybe there's a homer observational bias, but how often are we able to down a punt near the goal line when given the chance?  Seems like a low percentage where as other teams seem to manage fairly frequently.  Poor coverage.  I could also believe that we allow longer returns than the hang time should dictate too frequently.

 

Maybe not so much this year but in the past the Bills offense often generates at least one of not two first downs, so Martin is often punting from close to the 50.  That give less room for error, rarely can ever let it rip.

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

8 minutes ago, SoMAn said:

Meanwhile, the punter with the highest net average in the NFL is former Bills’ draft choice Matt Araiza of the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs.  Who, by the way is a halfway decent backup kicker if pressed into emergency action. 
Thanks a lot lying sexual assault accuser from college. 

 

I was with you til that part.  You weren't there, you don't know what happened, so I think its unfair to victim blame.  Lets not act like he's a choir boy who was unfairly caught up in this.  Or whatever happened that night was completely legal, consensual, and generally OK.  To just say - oh well i left so its not my problem is such a cop out as a human being.  I don't feel bad for him, and i don't blame buffalo for getting rid of a PR nightmare.  

Just now, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

 

Maybe not so much this year but in the past the Bills offense often generates at least one of not two first downs, so Martin is often punting from close to the 50.  That give less room for error, rarely can ever let it rip.

 

I thought the one at the end of the first half was playable inside the 5, but the one gunner didn't get around on it.  

[Saxum]

27 minutes ago, SoMAn said:

Meanwhile, the punter with the highest net average in the NFL is former Bills’ draft choice Matt Araiza of the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs.  Who, by the way is a halfway decent backup kicker if pressed into emergency action. 
Thanks a lot lying sexual assault accuser from college. 

 

KC Chiefs probably will send her Chiefs gear and make her "Fan of the week" since she fits in so much with them.

[BuffaloBillies]

I remember a time where seemingly on EVERY KO AND Punt Return we would have a flag for holding or a block in the back.

Those have lessened, at least. 

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

I hate to complain after a win, but I am really concerned about our special teams.
 

We all know the issues with Bass. But beyond that, we have allowed multiple FG/PAT blocks, Martin almost had a punt blocked yesterday, and our coverage teams are generally terrible (which is reflective of Martin having one of the worst net averages and also us having almost no downed punts).

 

Coddrington has been decent enough as a return guy, which is probably the only bright spot.

 

But we have otherwise really generated no positive big plays on ST. 
 

what gives? And any ideas how to fix it? 
 

in the playoffs, the teams that win, tend to make the big splash plays on defense and special teams. 

 

We cut / lost almost all our best STs players over the last two years: Jones, Neal, Matakevich, Jaquan Johnson, Kumerow. That is a factor. As is Smiley sucking.

[Saxum]

1 minute ago, GunnerBill said:

 

We cut / lost almost all our best STs players over the last two years: Jones, Neal, Matakevich, Jaquan Johnson, Kumerow. That is a factor. As is Smiley sucking.

 

But UDFAs are better!!!!!  I heard that self-proclaimed experts on TBD.

[WotAGuy]

12 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

We cut / lost almost all our best STs players over the last two years: Jones, Neal, Matakevich, Jaquan Johnson, Kumerow. That is a factor. As is Smiley sucking.

This. For all the complaining about guys on the roster that only play ST, this is what you get when you eliminate those specialists. 

[SoMAn]

34 minutes ago, Bleeding Bills Blue said:

 

I was with you til that part.  You weren't there, you don't know what happened, so I think its unfair to victim blame.  Lets not act like he's a choir boy who was unfairly caught up in this.  Or whatever happened that night was completely legal, consensual, and generally OK.  To just say - oh well i left so its not my problem is such a cop out as a human being.  I don't feel bad for him, and i don't blame buffalo for getting rid of a PR nightmare.  

 

I thought the one at the end of the first half was playable inside the 5, but the one gunner didn't get around on it.  

You may be right, but I'm always suspicious of those people with accusations that only come out after there's some incentive, usually involving the prospect of getting paid. In this case, the guy signs an NFL contract with a bonus (I presume) and lo and behold, here comes the alleged assault. Was there a police report filed immediately following the alleged incident? If so, how were the Bills not aware of the accusation, or did they already have enough information to dismiss the validity?  

If the accusation has any merit, why on earth is Araiza playing at all when meanwhile, future HOF'er Von Miller is serving a 4 week suspension for a domestic incident for which both he and his girlfriend deny he hit her? In spite of the couple's denial, I believe it's likely there was some physicality that Von should answer for.  

If the accusation was completely frivolous, Araiza should have filed a civil suit against the accuser after losing out on more than a million dollars from playing football. If he hasn't done that, he may well have been involved in an assault, in which case he shouldn't be in the NFL.

/

[Ethan in Cleveland]

8 minutes ago, WotAGuy said:

This. For all the complaining about guys on the roster that only play ST, this is what you get when you eliminate those specialists. 

Let's see how did we lose to the Jets last year? How did we lose to the Broncos last year?  Oh yeah most of  those guys were on the team and the special teams blew those two games.  

 

Bass is the biggest question mark and has nothing to do with UDFAs.  Bishop should be our starting SS and he is on kick coverage unit. Hollins is supposed to be excellent at STs. So please don't say they are not still invested in STs.

 

Upgrading from Martin would be fine from me, but people on here believe holding for FGs is some magical skill.