How can we improve the Special Teams on the Cards?

[nationsrj]

Hi all,

The most distressing thing I saw in the Detroit game was the weakness of the Special Teams for the Cards.

In the first half:

Most of Gramatica's kicks were around the 10 yard line.
A 20 yard return puts Detroit around the 30.
One return was to the Det 42.

Detroit's Kicks were close to the goal line.
A 20 yard return puts AZ at the 20 yard line.

Player's first punt was only 38 yards(short field for Detroit)
and returned 12 yards to AZ 29.

In the second half:
Player's first punt only 37 yards. returned for TD.
Player's next punt only 36 yards, fair catch.
Muffed punt(This probably rookie mistake)

Then the kickoffs and punts seem to get better.
(too little too late).

Some other comments: I saw Dexter Jackson on the kickoff return teams so they are not holding out starters on the ST.

Is Hank Khulman the problem, or are the players not good enough at special teams?
Did the Cardinals try so many players on special teams that they are not comfortable in their roles yet?

To me Detroit won the field position battle all day, not just on the two occasions we seem to dwell on.

 

[FrontRow]

Stop playing games and contract the franchise.

 

[pinnacle]

posted this yesterday...link and repeat below..

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15767

some thoughts on special teams changes..
1. change the role of bryan gilmore . He was a good gunner along with martay and he should return to being the gunner on punts. he should also be our #1 kickoff returner...he should not be starting at receiver (start boldin and kasper).

2. since I have moved foster out of the starting lineup - let him or bryant johnson return punts. too dangerous of a role for boldin...he is clearly our go to receiver.

3. hope justin lucas comes back healthy. he was a decent special teamer.

4. send our long snapper (nate hoedel) packing. Bush has snapped before and would be a better cover guy. hoedel was supposed to be playing safety today on punt coverage due to his injury....it is a waste of a roster spot if someone like bush (starkey is another backup) can do the job...this team is not one bad snap away from contending anyway...bush would be more of a factor on coverage anyway..

5. who takes hoedels spot on the roster? someone who can kick the balls out of the end zone on kickoffs...this killed us last year - and it is killing us again...grammatica is clutch on field goals..there has to be someone out there who has poor accuracy but can kick the football very hard on kickoffs..I want it at least 5 yards deep in the end zone every time..how we can say that this need is less than the need to carry a specialty long snapper (when others can clearly do this job - bush was a long snapper in cincy) is beyond me. keep 2 kickers...it has become too awful on kickoffs with gramattica.

6.. Bob kemp on kdus said kevin kasper can kick the ball on kickoffs into the end zone every time..and said he has outdueled grammatica at times after practice ( I have no idea if this is true) .if so - let him try..at least he could fly down the field and make 11 guys hunting the ball instead of 10.

short of going out and signing a new backup corner/safety, receiver or something that is also a special teams ace - we could at least try the above items and hopefully see some improvement.

 

[Jttsaz]

Martay is in Cinci today..I hear they expect to sign him....

 

[40yearfan]

pinnacle, you make a lot of sense. If I was in the Cards organization, I would implement your plan. Drastic changes have to be made to try and shake up this ST group. Hopefully, the Cards feel the same way and will make the changes.

 

[Buckybird]

Originally posted by nationsr
Hi all,

The most distressing thing I saw in the Detroit game was the weakness of the Special Teams for the Cards.

In the first half:

Most of Gramatica's kicks were around the 10 yard line.
A 20 yard return puts Detroit around the 30.
One return was to the Det 42.

Detroit's Kicks were close to the goal line.
A 20 yard return puts AZ at the 20 yard line.

Player's first punt was only 38 yards(short field for Detroit)
and returned 12 yards to AZ 29.

In the second half:
Player's first punt only 37 yards. returned for TD.


Look at the replay of the punt return ofr the TD, NO STARTERS are
on that unit. Put at least 2-3 that can run and tackle.





Player's next punt only 36 yards, fair catch.
Muffed punt(This probably rookie mistake)

Then the kickoffs and punts seem to get better.
(too little too late).

Some other comments: I saw Dexter Jackson on the kickoff return teams so they are not holding out starters on the ST.

Is Hank Khulman the problem, or are the players not good enough at special teams?
Did the Cardinals try so many players on special teams that they are not comfortable in their roles yet?

To me Detroit won the field position battle all day, not just on the two occasions we seem to dwell on.