Andy Reid knows he has a young talented football team, that will have some big games this year where the offense explodes. He also knows there will be a game or two or three which they give away because of their youth.
He’s got a football team that could significantly improve their record and possibly sniff at a playoff spot if they can win a few games on special teams. Three games could take a team from 7-9 and out of the playoffs to 10-6 and in the playoffs.
I know you might think that’s a stretch but the Eagles have some of the best special teams personnel in the league and Reid makes it a point to give quite a bit of time in his practices to the Eagles special teams. Most of the time, the special teams gets 20 minutes per practice and one out of three of their afternoon practices are primarily special teams workouts.
They were happy with their special teams a year ago, so they went out and hired a guy, Bobby April, who he considered one of the best special teams coaches in the league.
They have a fast football team, especially defensively. Rookie defenders like Jamar Chaney, Keenan Clayton and Ricky Sapp are all fast and should be good special teams players,. Rookie wide receiver Riley Cooper and backup tight end Clay Harbor both have good size and speed, which should help them be a good special teams players.
These guys should be able to do an outstanding job of covering kickoffs and punts, as well as blocking for the returners.
In addition, the Eagles have acquired second-string players like Kelley Washington and Tracy White whom are considered two outstanding special teams players, they’ve got size and they can run.
Backup running back Eldra Buckley is a good special teams player, who will likely make the football team for that reason.
They have two outstanding weapons in their special teams unit. One of those guys, Pro Bowl kicker David Akers is at the top of his game right now. He has been booming field goals of 50, 55 and 59 yards with some room to spare, if you can believe it.
You have to feel good about their chances in games which are decided by Akers’ leg. That will mean playing smart football in the second half of games in order to give themselves a chance to win.
There other major special teams asset is DeSean Jackson and there’s not a better punt returner in the league. He can score from anywhere on the field whether he has blocking or not. He is a game changer and it’s likely that the Birds will win a game or two because of his ability to either take one to the house or put the team in position to score.
Jeremy Maclin will be given opportunities to return punts and he’s got big play potential but has yet to put it all on display the way Jackson has.
It’s August which means the weather is warm and punter Sav Rocca is booming punts long and high. He’s hasn’t been as dominant when the season comes along but he still has been a solid punter for the Birds.
I expect to see Quintin Demps to be the number one kickoff man because last year’s kickoff returner, Ellis Hobbs is starting at the right cornerback spot. Demps is a very capable returner, who took one back to the house a couple of years ago.
Good article G. I like how aggressive they have been in this area specifically targeting one of the best coaches and some of the best players for special teams. The coverage at times was pretty bad last year.
Add that to D-Jax and Akers and this unit could definitely be outstanding this year. I just hope they can get some consistency out of the kickoff return spot. That was lousy last year.
This Article reminds me of I think the 2007 season where we opened against the packers and just totally got annihilated on special teams Was it Reno Mahe that had all these fumbles? and we just got owned that game. Ironically we open up again against the packers this year so hopefully reid remembers what happend that game.
I believe Greg Lewis fumbled late in the game as a Punt Returner that put the game away for the Packers after taking over for Mahe who had fumbled/bobbled a couple earlier in the Game..
(Lewis hadn’t returned a punt since his High School Days I remember him saying later on.. you guessed it, R Segrist was Special teams coach too… kind of scary that he’s still around isn’t it and that he’s coaching the most important part of a rebuilt Defense with the Defensive Line..)
V-yeah, I remember that game and it still stings, then I remember week 1 last year and DJax takes the 1st punt of the year to the house against the Panthers. If we can just stop the Illegal Block in the Back penalties we’d be sooo much better. I wonder how many yeards we lost last year because of that. Seemed like every kick, punt or KO, we’d be getting the flags for that crap.
PMan – wasn’t it JR Reed – the kick off return guy who went in for Lewis (for fumbling), who fumbled after trying to make a fair catch on a ball he had no business going anywhere near late in that game against the Packers ………………
JON DORENBOS
To Navy,
You may be right…I tried to block that nightmare game from my memory bank which set a lousy tone
for that entire season..I think this year versus the PAckers on Opening Day will be a different story.
If Kolb and the offense protect the ball, I think Eagles win 30-17 in an overall solid perfomance
Yeah it was JR Reed because they picked Mahe back up a couple games later because Lewis and Reed were stinkin up the joint.
Yeah I hope we do beat the Packers. I’m not worried about our offense (except the line), it’s the secondary. They are a long TD pass waiting to happen. Especially with Asante “let-my-man-go-so-I-can-jump-a-route” Samuel, Rodgers could torch us with a pump fake. Can the defense hold them to 17 points? I doubt it. If we win, it’s going to be high scoring.
remember everyone was crying for a legitimate returner and big red told us everything was alright?
We’ll just throw Reno Mahe back there…”good hands” and if he’s a problem don’t worry “greg lewis been taking reps”. Then he plugged a safety back there and he fumbled..forget his name. I remember losing close games for the same weakness we all seen before the season started. famous quotes…”we don’t need receivers” – “linebackers are not that important in our defensive scheme for we put more emphasis on the big guys up front and the corner position”. Newsflash -ELLIS HOBBS IS OUR STARTING CORNER!!!! he’s getting toasted in practice so keep your eyes him this season.
More -” We use fullbacks differently in our form of he WCO” – Let’s plug a Denfensive tackle in there…He’ll work.
“We use the pass to set up the run” – it don’t work when the opponents know you are a pass first team….Now every team plays with a nickel on 1st down …and because you draft O lineman for the pass…..you can’t exploit the Nickel on 1st and 2nd Down.
Blow it up and bring in Bill Cowher…..Then we can talk about rebuilding.with a run first concept….He can bring Rothlisberger with him along with his defensive coaches from Pittsburgh if they’re available. Let Lurie stay in his office and attempt to pry the wallet from banner’s grubby little hands.
I do think the eagles will beat the packers but all the analyst will have the packers winning.
I see a close one, won by a FG or less. ST is going to be really improved this year IMO. Coach April, one of the best, has to be salavating at the weapons he has on ST. I also like his approach to ST that he thinks, and this is his quote from a previous interview, that KO returns and Punt returns should be played with the intensity that they are the frist offensive play of the series. I know that’s stating the obvious but some players might not look at it quite that way.
Packers will kill our squad…..remember….Ellis Hobbs and the safety position……
I’ll draft Rogers for the 1st week….he’s going to rack up nearly 400 yards.
Is Hobbs better than Sheldon Brown?
The Key to the Packers game is simple, what team’s Offensive Line plays better and provides time for their QB’s to run their offense and who makes plays down the field.. Packers O/Line was horrible at the beginning of last season and made adjustments as the Season went on, most of the same unit is back, but their Def Secondary is hurting right now with injuries to starting Safety Atigbe and CB Al Harris . It gets down to who wins the battle in the trenches, like it often does, and I like the Eagles chances to wratched up the Pressure on Rodgers and get some turnovers….
I wonder what happens when the Greenbay front 7 murders our squad?
I wonder where we will point the fingers and when it happens I’m going to sit here and read the comment board and see how many people excuse this coach ignoring the offensive was supposed to protect this young inexperienced quarterback.
If every team was against the Kansas City Chiefs – you could get Kolb’s bust ready for Canton.
This kid will get murdered behind this O-Line…WATCH
REID WILL TRY AN ONSIDES KICK IF EAGLES LOSE THE TOSS.