Taco John
09-28-2006, 12:07 PM
Broncos' weak link is poor special teams play
By ARNIE STAPLETON
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DENVER - The Denver Broncos’ biggest concern heading into their bye week isn’t the revamped offense, which is finally starting to click thanks to Javon Walker and Tatum Bell.
Nor is it their dominant defense, which held opponents out of the end zone for 11 quarters, the longest streak to start a season in the NFL in 64 years.
It’s their dismal special teams.
‘‘Pretty average, pretty average,’’ is how coach Mike Shanahan assessed it. ‘‘It’s an area that we need to improve on.’’
Actually, Shanahan’s being generous. The Broncos aren’t average on special teams or even mediocre. They’re way below average.
The Broncos rank next to last in the NFL with an average kickoff return of 20.5 yards, ranking better than only San Diego. That they’re ahead of anybody is a bit deceptive, however, because the Chargers (2-0), who have outscored their opponents 67-7, have only had three kickoff returns for a 17.7-yard average.
Denver has had 13 returns, so the Broncos’ body of work is greater and therefore much more of a concern.
The Broncos signed receiver-returner Quincy Morgan last week to jump-start them on kickoffs after Mike Bell, David Kircus, Cedric Cobbs and Chad Mustard proved they weren’t the answer. But Morgan, who was cut by Pittsburgh earlier this month, looked rusty and didn’t get much of a chance to showcase his skills in Denver’s 17-7 win over the Patriots on Sunday night, returning his only kickoff a meager 12 yards.
Cornerback Darrent Williams ranks dead last in the NFL in punt returns, averaging less than a yard on four returns. He was nearly stopped for a safety after fielding a punt near his end zone at New England.
It’s not just the returners’ fault for the poor special teams performances.
‘‘Well, it’s like offense and defense,’’ Shanahan said. ‘‘You have to have 11 guys playing together and if one guy has to be off and everyone else is busting their rear ends, then it doesn’t look very productive even though you’re just maybe one player away from getting the job done. Sometimes, it’s two or three players, so you just keep on working on the little things and hopefully one of these weeks we’ll put it together.’’
Morgan said he’s shaking the rust off and pledges that kickoffs will be more productive, and Williams guaranteed he’ll shake off his slump and perform more like he did last season, when he averaged 8.7 yards on 17 returns, including a 52-yarder.
‘‘Yeah, especially a guy like me, from excelling last year and being a great return guy in college, I ain’t used to getting shut down,’’ Williams said. ‘‘And you know I’m trying too hard, like the play that happened Sunday, I’m just trying too hard to make each play a big play and I’ve just got to relax knowing they’re going to come and not trying to go all out every single time.
‘‘I’m actually getting real frustrated. But everybody’s telling me just relax, they’re going to come.’’
Better field position would go a long way toward kick-starting the offense, which finally got going against the Pats behind Bell’s 123 yards rushing and Walker’s 130 yards receiving.
The Broncos have already made their personnel switches and their scheme is deemed solid, so, Williams said, it’s just a matter of better execution.
‘‘Guys are out there making mental mistakes, not making blocks, not doing the right technique, so we’ve still got a long way to go,’’ Williams said. ‘‘That’s what we’re slacking at right now. Offense picked it up last week. Defense, we’ve been playing at a high level. Special teams we’ve got to come on. We’ve really got to pick it up.’’
http://www.chieftain.com/sports/1159432609/3
By ARNIE STAPLETON
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DENVER - The Denver Broncos’ biggest concern heading into their bye week isn’t the revamped offense, which is finally starting to click thanks to Javon Walker and Tatum Bell.
Nor is it their dominant defense, which held opponents out of the end zone for 11 quarters, the longest streak to start a season in the NFL in 64 years.
It’s their dismal special teams.
‘‘Pretty average, pretty average,’’ is how coach Mike Shanahan assessed it. ‘‘It’s an area that we need to improve on.’’
Actually, Shanahan’s being generous. The Broncos aren’t average on special teams or even mediocre. They’re way below average.
The Broncos rank next to last in the NFL with an average kickoff return of 20.5 yards, ranking better than only San Diego. That they’re ahead of anybody is a bit deceptive, however, because the Chargers (2-0), who have outscored their opponents 67-7, have only had three kickoff returns for a 17.7-yard average.
Denver has had 13 returns, so the Broncos’ body of work is greater and therefore much more of a concern.
The Broncos signed receiver-returner Quincy Morgan last week to jump-start them on kickoffs after Mike Bell, David Kircus, Cedric Cobbs and Chad Mustard proved they weren’t the answer. But Morgan, who was cut by Pittsburgh earlier this month, looked rusty and didn’t get much of a chance to showcase his skills in Denver’s 17-7 win over the Patriots on Sunday night, returning his only kickoff a meager 12 yards.
Cornerback Darrent Williams ranks dead last in the NFL in punt returns, averaging less than a yard on four returns. He was nearly stopped for a safety after fielding a punt near his end zone at New England.
It’s not just the returners’ fault for the poor special teams performances.
‘‘Well, it’s like offense and defense,’’ Shanahan said. ‘‘You have to have 11 guys playing together and if one guy has to be off and everyone else is busting their rear ends, then it doesn’t look very productive even though you’re just maybe one player away from getting the job done. Sometimes, it’s two or three players, so you just keep on working on the little things and hopefully one of these weeks we’ll put it together.’’
Morgan said he’s shaking the rust off and pledges that kickoffs will be more productive, and Williams guaranteed he’ll shake off his slump and perform more like he did last season, when he averaged 8.7 yards on 17 returns, including a 52-yarder.
‘‘Yeah, especially a guy like me, from excelling last year and being a great return guy in college, I ain’t used to getting shut down,’’ Williams said. ‘‘And you know I’m trying too hard, like the play that happened Sunday, I’m just trying too hard to make each play a big play and I’ve just got to relax knowing they’re going to come and not trying to go all out every single time.
‘‘I’m actually getting real frustrated. But everybody’s telling me just relax, they’re going to come.’’
Better field position would go a long way toward kick-starting the offense, which finally got going against the Pats behind Bell’s 123 yards rushing and Walker’s 130 yards receiving.
The Broncos have already made their personnel switches and their scheme is deemed solid, so, Williams said, it’s just a matter of better execution.
‘‘Guys are out there making mental mistakes, not making blocks, not doing the right technique, so we’ve still got a long way to go,’’ Williams said. ‘‘That’s what we’re slacking at right now. Offense picked it up last week. Defense, we’ve been playing at a high level. Special teams we’ve got to come on. We’ve really got to pick it up.’’
http://www.chieftain.com/sports/1159432609/3