Skinny
11-17-2007, 10:09 AM
Special teams coach pleased with unit's turnaround
BY PAT GRAHAM
11/17/07
Scott O'brien has been a special teams coach far too long to fret.
So he wasn't that worried when the Broncos struggled early and were near the bottom in virtually every special teams category.
O'Brien, who was brought in this season to overhaul the Broncos' special teams units, knew his squad would turn it around. They just needed time.
Now, his patience is being rewarded. The Broncos have been a vastly improved special teams unit since the bye week Oct. 14.
Over the last four games, Denver's punt coverage unit is giving up an average of 5.4 yards per return. Before the bye week, the squad was allowing 20.5 yards.
On kickoff coverage, Denver was giving up 25.8 yards before the bye and 18.3 after.
"What I do I believe in," said O'Brien, who's handled special teams duties throughout his NFL tenure, which began in 1991 with the Cleveland Browns. "It was just a matter of getting the guys to believe in that and in themselves. They know how important it is. It's not an easy job, but everybody looks for them to get that done for us."
Denver brought in free agent special teams player Jordan Beck in October to help bolster the squad. Beck had 13 special-teams tackles with Atlanta last season.
Although he's played in just four games, Beck is already tied with Steve Cargile and Champ Bailey with five stops on special teams.
"I'm just happy to contribute," Beck said. "We've got good energy as a unit and we're making some plays. We're hyped up and ready to go. You have to be full tilt and all out on every play for special teams. If you hesitate, that's when you get in trouble."
Punter Todd Sauerbrun is having one of the best seasons of his career. He's averaging a career-best 48.5 yards per punt, fourth in the NFL. He's also pinned opponents inside their 20 yard line 11 times this season.
"He's done a very good job for us," O'Brien said.
However, Sauerbrun did have a kick blocked out of the back of the end zone for a safety against Kansas City.
"We've shored it up," Beck said. "It was definitely correctable."
Although the Broncos' special teams units have made remarkable progress lately, O'Brien said there's plenty of work left to do.
"It doesn't get any easier from here, it gets harder," O'Brien said. "But they've been great. They've been one of the best groups I've been around. It just takes time."
Not to mention a little patience.
http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007711170350Couple things that stood out to me was just how much our punt return coverage has improved and this kid Beck is making a splash ... good to hear.
BY PAT GRAHAM
11/17/07
Scott O'brien has been a special teams coach far too long to fret.
So he wasn't that worried when the Broncos struggled early and were near the bottom in virtually every special teams category.
O'Brien, who was brought in this season to overhaul the Broncos' special teams units, knew his squad would turn it around. They just needed time.
Now, his patience is being rewarded. The Broncos have been a vastly improved special teams unit since the bye week Oct. 14.
Over the last four games, Denver's punt coverage unit is giving up an average of 5.4 yards per return. Before the bye week, the squad was allowing 20.5 yards.
On kickoff coverage, Denver was giving up 25.8 yards before the bye and 18.3 after.
"What I do I believe in," said O'Brien, who's handled special teams duties throughout his NFL tenure, which began in 1991 with the Cleveland Browns. "It was just a matter of getting the guys to believe in that and in themselves. They know how important it is. It's not an easy job, but everybody looks for them to get that done for us."
Denver brought in free agent special teams player Jordan Beck in October to help bolster the squad. Beck had 13 special-teams tackles with Atlanta last season.
Although he's played in just four games, Beck is already tied with Steve Cargile and Champ Bailey with five stops on special teams.
"I'm just happy to contribute," Beck said. "We've got good energy as a unit and we're making some plays. We're hyped up and ready to go. You have to be full tilt and all out on every play for special teams. If you hesitate, that's when you get in trouble."
Punter Todd Sauerbrun is having one of the best seasons of his career. He's averaging a career-best 48.5 yards per punt, fourth in the NFL. He's also pinned opponents inside their 20 yard line 11 times this season.
"He's done a very good job for us," O'Brien said.
However, Sauerbrun did have a kick blocked out of the back of the end zone for a safety against Kansas City.
"We've shored it up," Beck said. "It was definitely correctable."
Although the Broncos' special teams units have made remarkable progress lately, O'Brien said there's plenty of work left to do.
"It doesn't get any easier from here, it gets harder," O'Brien said. "But they've been great. They've been one of the best groups I've been around. It just takes time."
Not to mention a little patience.
http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007711170350Couple things that stood out to me was just how much our punt return coverage has improved and this kid Beck is making a splash ... good to hear.