Special Teams, No Excuses

Spent some time this weekend trying to analyze our football team and what I thought were our +’s and -’s.

The one thought that kept coming back was field position and why in so many games we were left on the short side of the stick.

At the beginning of the 2011 season, one of our strengths was rated by most on this board and across the media as very good “special teams”. Guess most of us know that the special teams were not special in some or most of our games. Games that depended on our kicking game and the players covering the punts and kickoffs.

Probably the biggest supporter of Walsh on this board was Buc from the beginning, having watched some of his history in high school and from a couple of folks that I know down this way. It however does not start and end there. Blair is one person of eleven and Butler is one person of eleven that are on those teams. What happened in several games, and we can discuss this point, to a supposed team strength that for the most part was a weakness. Good Special Teams and solid Defense are just as important as the Offensive side of the ball. I still wonder about our recruiting for "flash".

I think that someone took their eyes off of the “whole” team layout. This poster will never accept the fact that we will get “better” next year as an excuse. From the quotes I have seen thus far, and there have been few coming from our coaching staff, why were we lax on Special Teams. What happened from being one of the best in college football to less than that?

Think that I read somewhere recently that in 2012 we would spend more time improving our Special Teams play. Does that mean, and I don’t mean to be too critical, that Special Teams would be coached to play football during a sixty minute football game? I don't blame the players, think it falls in the overall concept of playing SEC football. Some like myself call it field position.

Some in the media asked the question about hiring a coach to make sure the Special Teams were up to expectations. The only answer that I saw coming from Athens was, no new hire and the head coach would be stepping in. OK, will watch Special Teams in 2012 and hope that we get back to where Belin had us prior to leaving for the NFL.

I am a great believer in line play, know that football starts there. All well and good for the backs that get the “press” . . . . has always been the case. Some don’t look at that block by the tight end or fullback or the gaping hole created between the guard and tackle that allowed the fleet footed back to grab all of the press the next day. Or, the center that puts hours into study to get all of the offensive line set for the formation that he sees, that in turn allowed that big play to materialize.

Think most of us would be surprised, especially with our schedule in 2012 if we did not show improvement in two critical areas. Special Teams and Offensive Line. Taking for granted that our Defense will be “all that”. Too many mishaps, errors, or excuses will not work for me with the schedule that I see for 2012. 2012, this coaching staff should not and will not have an “excuse”.

Go Special Teams . . . . Somebody coach’em up. Belin is gone, next man standing. . . .

I agree with you Buc on everything.

And I was wondering with Walsh coming undone this past season as a kicker, could it been avoided if Georgia had a special teams coach helping the kid? Well we'll never know for sure, but I bet it wouldn't been bad if we had one.

Heck not just him but all the players on special teams could had some one on one help with a special teams coach.

Tampa, one thing I heard regarding Walsh was that he and his girlfriend broke up right before the season started. If that is true, no amount of special attention from a football coach would have helped. He needed a psychiatrist!

Didn't know that OoltewahDawg. Yeah breakups have that effect on some people that they need professional help. If that's the case I hope he gets better.

Just look Saban and Miles they make it a point that it is a previlage to play own special teams not Rshirt and 2 team.They let the best play so why don't we do the same.