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omac
11-28-2007, 04:49 AM
This article sheds some light on what the ST tried to do, and some of the breakdowns.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/nov/26/failing-grade-for-special-teams/


Failing grade for special teams
Hester's returns, blocked punt are costly to Broncos
By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Monday, November 26, 2007


Ridiculous.

The sign on the south side of Solider Field showed duel images of Devin Hester with the accompanying one-word description.

Some in Denver might be uttering similar adjectives to describe the Broncos' decisions to kick to Hester in the first place after the Pro Bowl returner brought back a kickoff and punt for touchdowns Sunday.

It's the first time in Broncos history the club has allowed two runbacks for scores in the same game, never mind the same quarter. Hester's touchdowns tied the score both times, giving Chicago hope on a day there shouldn't have been much.

Add in a blocked punt in the fourth quarter, and the Broncos' special-teams performance was rendered a total disaster as the Bears completed a 37-34 overtime comeback.

"We didn't help, that's the most disappointing part about it," said safety Nick Ferguson, who prevented things from being even worse with two fumble recoveries on special teams. "The offense was moving the ball. The defense was holding. That third wheel on the tricycle was flat. It was just really flat."

Hester had been kept under wraps in the first half, with angled punts and squibbed kickoffs. The returner even gave away a fumble on a misplayed one-hopped punt.

Then the ridiculousness started.

His 75-yard punt return tied the score in the third quarter.

His 88-yard kickoff return gave him even more distance from Gale Sayers in the Chicago record book with his 10th scoring return in his second NFL season. Hester is three from Brian Mitchell's NFL record.

"I don't think the league has ever seen anything like this guy," Broncos safety John Lynch marveled.

The Broncos had watched him all week.

Todd Sauerbrun, the Broncos' kickoff specialist/punter, even came out strongly publicly, saying in so many words it would be cowardly to avoid Hester. Sauerbrun was on the ground twice as Hester ran by, and over, him for the two touchdowns.

It left Sauerbrun, a Chicago resident, to joke afterward he's going to sell his house.

"Hey, Devin did an awesome job, he won the game for them," Sauerbrun said. "It was our fault we let him loose."

But special-teams coach Scott O'Brien insisted the team didn't necessarily "challenge" Hester as much as miss assignments and fail to get off blocks.

The plan of attack was varied with the squibs and angled kicks, even if the execution didn't necessarily pan out.

Coach Mike Shanahan blamed, in part, an inability to get air on punts and length on kickoffs as contributing factors.

"We weren't trying to go after him," O'Brien explained. "We were trying to buy time and do certain situational stuff. . . . We had everything going good in the first half and it kind of worked the way we planned it. And the one early in the second half got it going the other way."

But even with all of Hester's heroics, the Broncos still were holding a 14-point lead as Sauerbrun dropped back to punt from the Chicago 41 late in the fourth quarter. An illegal-formation penalty wiped out Hester's muffed punt the Bears recovered at their 18. And on the rekick, a communication problem led to a crucial turnaround.

O'Brien attempted to signal to the personal protector to get the gunner onto the line of scrimmage, but the message never got through.

It left Broncos safety Steve Cargile, playing right end, in no- man's land, because he isn't supposed to stay on the call once the protection scheme is put in place.

"I knew we'd be in trouble when nobody came in," he said.

Cargile blocked down and cornerback Charles Tillman arrived at Sauerbrun untouched, swatting the ball with this right hand.

"We were punting the ball out of bounds on that one," Sauerbrun said.

Chicago took over at Denver's 18 and scored within four plays, beginning a 17-point, game-ending run.

"We should have gotten our gunner in," O'Brien said. "He never saw the signal and that's my fault. The guy should have been able to see it. It shouldn't have been a problem."

The Broncos' sloppy special- teams effort was somewhat stunning considering the group seemingly had turned the corner.

Before the Broncos' Oct. 14 bye, they were ranked 24th in the NFL with a 25.8-yard kickoff average allowance and 31st in punt return average (20.5). Those numbers had dropped to 19.5 and 6.1 the past five games, sixth place since in both categories.

Hester finished with 282 return yards.

"I don't know if we were too cocky kicking to him or if it was the right thing or wrong thing to do," mused receiver Brandon Marshall, who isn't on the special- teams units. "All I know is a guy like that with the ball in his hands, all you're asking for is something crazy to happen."

Or, say, ridiculous.

For all the spin, sounds to me like they weren't all that interested in punting away from Hester, and Todd became the scapegoat.

Tned
11-28-2007, 08:04 AM
This article sheds some light on what the ST tried to do, and some of the breakdowns.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/nov/26/failing-grade-for-special-teams/



For all the spin, sounds to me like they weren't all that interested in punting away from Hester, and Todd became the scapegoat.

Yep, they did things to "buy time". I guess some of that was the short, bounced kicks and punts. Regardless of what there plan was, it didn't work. Knowing he was the singlle, most dangerous weapon Chicago had, they should have had some plan to minimize the damage.

TXBRONC
11-28-2007, 08:16 AM
It was a ridiculous thing to do. Hester is the most dangerous return specialist in the game right now. You the kick off is actually somewhat forgivable to a degree because directional kicking is very difficult at best.

Lonestar
11-28-2007, 12:16 PM
Always thought there was a game plan in effect, sounds to me like they got a little cocky after holding him in check most of the game..

omac
11-28-2007, 12:33 PM
Always thought there was a game plan in effect, sounds to me like they got a little cocky after holding him in check most of the game..

You don't keep throwing strikes to a homerun hitter; he may miss a lot, but eventually, he's gonna hit one out of the park.