The Eagles special teams should be outstanding this year because they are overloaded with outstanding returners.
Andy Reid said that DeSean Jackson will continue being the top punt returner and Quintin Demps will continue being the top kickoff returner until the new guys gain his confidence.
Rookie wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was an outstanding kickoff and punt returner in college, while veteran cornerback Ellis Hobbs is one of the best kickoff returners in the league.
It should give the Birds a great deal of depth and allow them to give Jackson and Demps a break if both of them are starting.
David Akers had a comeback year in 2008 and punter Sav Rocca is getting better every year.
As for the special teams units, new special teams coach Ted Daisher says they going to get the special teams back to the level they were at under former Eagles special teams coach John Harbaugh.
He had been an Eagles assistant under Harbaugh for a couple of year in 2004 and 2005.
Daisher didn’t do it intentionally, but with that statement he was trashing the job done by last year’s special teams coach and this year’s defensive line coach, Rory Segrest.
Personally, I don’t see any thing on Segrest’s resume to make him a legitimate defensive line coach and hadn’t seen anything on his resume last year to make a special teams coach.
Hopefully he doesn’t screw up the defensive line like he did the special teams. As far I’m concerned I wouldn’t want the guy anywhere near my football team.
As you would expect, Daisher has a great deal of respect for Harbaugh.
“A great deal. I was here before in ‘04 and ’05 when John Harbaugh was the special teams coordinator. He is a very, very good special teams coach. He’s a friend, he’s got a lot of knowledge, he’s obviously done quite well, and has taught me a great deal about special teams. A lot of little things, how to attack schemes, a lot more than just that and you have to learn how to deal with people.
