Special Teams

[Duckjake]

I have a feeling that one of the biggest improvements in the Cardinals this fall will be on Special Teams.

Just look at who has been added. Now not all of them may stick but it sure gives an indication that the current staff takes the kicking game seriously.

Karl Williams WR - Punt returner

Robert Tate DB - Kickoff returner

Adrian Mayes S - "could go down as one of most productive special teams players in (LSU) history."*

Riall Johnson DE - "played in 32 games for the Bengals, primarily on special teams."*

Mayes is the only rookie.

*quotes are from Cards website

 

[seesred]

I hope you are right. The biggest improvment has to bne the coach, the last couple of years our Special teams coach was awfull.

GBR
40

 

[maddogkf]

Our ST can't get much worse.

It would be nice to see someone race downfield & make a tackle before the other teams returned gets 35 yards.

 

[arthurracoon]

what about that FB...Obafaemi.

 

[azdad1978]

Last years ST was hard to watch. Guys missing tackles and not opening enough holes for the PR. Hopefully this year is different.

 

[Goldfield]

You beat me to this thread DuckJake...

I was about to start a Special Teams thread.


Hopefully it will be MUCH improved. We were real bad, I cant believe we didnt get killed even more than we did on special teams.

 

[slanidrac16]

Totally agree.

Our special teams should be better when you consider the offense will put us in better field position. Sometimes all you need for a successful drive are a couple of 1st downs to make it a longer playing field for the opposition.
How many times did we see our defense force our opponent to punt from their 45yd line only for us to go 3 and out and punt it right back?
When you think about it, this team really didn't excel in any phase of the game.

 

[ajcardfan]

When you think about it, this team really didn't excel in any phase of the game.

We flat out stunk in all three areas. Only Player could be considered up to par last year on our special teams. It just goes to show how much parity there is in the NFL when, as bad as our team was, we won four games and had narrow defeats in 2 or 3 more.

 

[slanidrac16]

We flat out stunk in all three areas. Only Player could be considered up to par last year on our special teams. It just goes to show how much parity there is in the NFL when, as bad as our team was, we won four games and had narrow defeats in 2 or 3 more.

You are absolutely right. Thats why I feel so optimistic, which is not an easy thing to be with this team. Every new coach gets a 1 year honeymoon, so it's kind of hard to say what the definition of a "successful " season will be. I have said and still believe just about every player on this team got 15 to 20% better when Dennis Green was named head coach. That being said, will that be enough to make the playoffs? Probably not. We will need to stay healthy. We will need a few key players to step up, and we will need a few other teams to have a bad luck type of season for us to make the playoffs.
An 8-8 season, to me, would be a very solid season.

 

[joeshmo]

what about that FB...Obafaemi.

That is exactly why he was brought here. He was a special teams demon for Miami last year with 12 tackles. Anything over 10 tackles on special teams only, is great.

 

[Duckjake]

You beat me to this thread DuckJake...

I was about to start a Special Teams thread.


Hopefully it will be MUCH improved. We were real bad, I cant believe we didnt get killed even more than we did on special teams.

We sure need to improve on Punt returns. The Cards have averaged less than 6.5 yards per return the last two years. Vai Sikahema averaged 11.2 yards per return for his CAREER!

 

[azdad1978]

Vai Sikahema averaged 11.2 yards per return for his CAREER!

Who???

 

[40yearfan]

Who???

A kick returner for the Cardinals in the late 1980's.

 

[CardShark]

A kick returner for the Cardinals in the late 1980's.

One of the best they had.

 

[Duckjake]

Who???

Man, you need to learn some Cardinal history especially since Vai played 3 seasons in Arizona.

Vai Sikahema, 10th round 1986 from BYU, was the all-time best Cardinal punt returner. Played with the Lomax and Green teams 1986-1990. Voted to the Pro Bowl as a rookie PR. Little guy who made it on heart and hard work. Played a lot like Larry Centers.

 

[azdad1978]

Man, you need to learn some Cardinal history especially since Vai played 3 seasons in Arizona.

I was being a smart ass. I know my Cardinal history thank you very much Mr know it all