Don James, the Dog Father, spent a third of every practice on special teams. When asked why by a sportwriter, he said " because special teams are a third of the game." Under James the Huskies had great STs. Nuff said.
He also had a chart made before each game with Y/N answers about calls for unusual situations such as going for a 4th down conversion ( considering distance, score, time on clock), taking a FG or pressing for TD, etc. He wanted the decisions to be rational not emotional in the heat of the moment. I’m sure his decisions would be slightly different under modern analytics, but the principal would still apply.
He was a way more organized nuts and bolts coach than PC, but PC was a better motivator. Figure out how to combine the two and you might have the perfect coach!
Great video, I learned a lot about ST strategy from watching it.
About Witherspoon—I wonder if MM hasn’t quite figured out how to use him yet? He has the talent to be a game-wrecker but at the moment is being mostly dedicated to coverage with the occasional blitz.
Pete compared him to Troy Hairdo, and in some games last year that was an apt comparison. But we haven’t seen that this year.
This may be a dumb thought, but I wonder if the Hawks have a long range offensive development process in which they are initially focused on developing pass protection in the first third of the season with the belief that with better pass protection, they can then refocus on the run game, helping K9 explode and Charbs grind to maximum effect. Might that be their long range path to a balanced offense?
Hopefully! If it was "the plan all along" to save wear-and-tear on the RBs by passing a lot early, and it results in a bunch of wins later, then great! I am skeptical, however. The NFL is a league that requires more balance for our defense to be rested than at UW. I sure hope they are not just oblivious.
I'm pretty sure Rayshawn read my comment and was like, "you don't like how I'm playin'? Fine! Lemme take a seat for the next four weeks and see how you like me!"
I'm sorry Rayshawn. I don't actually think we're better off without you. Please get well soon.
I keep wondering about Dickson. He’s still banging punts about 50 yards a pop, but his return yards are highest ever, % inside the 20 lowest ever, and touchback % highest ever. The touchbacks affect return yards (right?), but otherwise, has his hang time changed? That always seemed to be a strength. Or are our coverage guys not getting there as fast?
His best year in 2020, he averaged barely 3 yards/return. If I’m correct that every touchback adds 20 yards to the return numbers, then he had 79 total return yards on the other 55 punts in 2020. This year, after subtracting 4 touchbacks, he has 58 return yards on 21 punts, so about double the return average compared to 2020.
It would be interesting to see a “bad punts” stat- which might be touchbacks + returns>10yds + distance<40 unless downed inside 20 . . . or something like that. Anyway, I’d be interested if others have thoughts on what’s changed for him.
I think it’s hard to evaluate the kickers stats. There’s so many variables. It can depend on where he’s kicking from for instance. It has seemed to me that he has been kicking a lot from deep in our own territory which necessitates him having to kick longer, and when going for distance, this likely causes less hang time. Also, a couple of the touchbacks have been unlucky where the players have only just missed out on getting to the ball before it goes into the end zone. I’m not convinced he’s playing any worse. It could be just a matter of circumstances and luck.
Full disclosure note: I also could have bias given I’m an Aussie too.
I have wondered the same, about whether he’s been punting from deep more often so far. Seems like we’ve been pinned back on a 4-and-out quite a few times. Also, great to have the Aussie perspective here too - keeps us more cheerful, I think!
I’ve noticed a little tune change about DLine. As you say we all learn from each other. Good answer on Williams question. And we got some depth help coming which should keep the big guys fresher. Watching Hankins triple team tells me offensive coaches know what’s he’s capable of when rested and strong. Love the ST comments especially about giving Dee some slack. They at least recognized the new kickoff situation and went after Sheinault and speed of Dee. Really further adds to the ST as 3rd phase. Long snapper Kicker Punter returners now worth more than just sending the 4th string RB back there.
I’m wondering if the opposing defenses are basically daring the Hawks to beat them through the air. I’ve read or heard that each call has a run or pass option and Geno checks into the one most appropriate for what the defense shows. I have know way of knowing if the coaches agree with his assessments, but I assume they review it each week. If Geno is usually reading it right then the other team must be influencing the type of plays the Hawks run.
Of course, getting into an early hole influences that also, but I often feel like teams give up on the run game too soon. Being down 14 in the first quarter shouldn’t be panic time, too many fluke plays can happen. One or two good runs or receptions can get you right back in it. For example just look at the loss to SF, despite an off night for Geno, the real difference makers were the early 70 yard TD followed by the 70ish rush when Hawks had closed to a one score deficit.
I’m just not too worried yet. I knew we had a brand new HC and a new OC with zero NFL experience so there were bound to be growing pains. What I really want to see is how well they learn from their mistakes.
FYI in regards to Jenkins, a former one time safety was recently let go by his team. Do we want him back? (On a side note, since he’s still on our books, would we have to pay him more ???? lol)
Thanks for answering my question. The one area not covered that I should have made clear that I was most concerned about was the kick and punt return coverage teams as they seem to be giving up much more yardage than they should in my opinion. If I get time I will try and look that up
Reading between the lines from Mike MacDonald press conferences, he thinks the d-line is playing pretty well, it's what's going on with the LB's and Safety's that's more of the problem. So I would assume there is a general issue there with assignment soundness, not just a Jenkins problem.
This week will be an excellent litmus test. How does the team respond to back-to-back-to-back losses with extra time (finally!) to assess and adjust? I really hope we see improvements, but I'm worried if both Woolen and Brown are not able to play.
I think you could replace Jenkins' name with Baker and/or Dodson and have a good case for the exact same criticisms. Hopefully we'll see improvement from all three as they get more time and experience with MM and his schemes. Busted coverages and run fits are one thing, however, and bad pursuit angles and tackling are another.
Great responses. I’m glad you presented facts to show that my suspicions were false with Williams. I think the Jenkins issues at safety show the league how good Kyle Hamilton really is. We might need an elite strong safety/rover on defense to make this scheme run like Baltimore’s did. I think Mac’s still going to need to refine the roster this next offseason. Better LB and strong safety on defense with guard, tackle and receiver on offense. All of that says Schneider might be picking round five guards again to the chagrin of the fan base.
Don James, the Dog Father, spent a third of every practice on special teams. When asked why by a sportwriter, he said " because special teams are a third of the game." Under James the Huskies had great STs. Nuff said.
He also had a chart made before each game with Y/N answers about calls for unusual situations such as going for a 4th down conversion ( considering distance, score, time on clock), taking a FG or pressing for TD, etc. He wanted the decisions to be rational not emotional in the heat of the moment. I’m sure his decisions would be slightly different under modern analytics, but the principal would still apply.
He was a way more organized nuts and bolts coach than PC, but PC was a better motivator. Figure out how to combine the two and you might have the perfect coach!
Great video, I learned a lot about ST strategy from watching it.
About Witherspoon—I wonder if MM hasn’t quite figured out how to use him yet? He has the talent to be a game-wrecker but at the moment is being mostly dedicated to coverage with the occasional blitz.
Pete compared him to Troy Hairdo, and in some games last year that was an apt comparison. But we haven’t seen that this year.
'Troy Hairdo' lol.
I had Polamalu’s name there but I knew I had spelled it incorrectly, and was on my phone so looking it up was a PITA lol.
This may be a dumb thought, but I wonder if the Hawks have a long range offensive development process in which they are initially focused on developing pass protection in the first third of the season with the belief that with better pass protection, they can then refocus on the run game, helping K9 explode and Charbs grind to maximum effect. Might that be their long range path to a balanced offense?
Hopefully! If it was "the plan all along" to save wear-and-tear on the RBs by passing a lot early, and it results in a bunch of wins later, then great! I am skeptical, however. The NFL is a league that requires more balance for our defense to be rested than at UW. I sure hope they are not just oblivious.
I'm pretty sure Rayshawn read my comment and was like, "you don't like how I'm playin'? Fine! Lemme take a seat for the next four weeks and see how you like me!"
I'm sorry Rayshawn. I don't actually think we're better off without you. Please get well soon.
Seems Jenkins is our only Defender to put 6 points on the board. Give him time.
I keep wondering about Dickson. He’s still banging punts about 50 yards a pop, but his return yards are highest ever, % inside the 20 lowest ever, and touchback % highest ever. The touchbacks affect return yards (right?), but otherwise, has his hang time changed? That always seemed to be a strength. Or are our coverage guys not getting there as fast?
His best year in 2020, he averaged barely 3 yards/return. If I’m correct that every touchback adds 20 yards to the return numbers, then he had 79 total return yards on the other 55 punts in 2020. This year, after subtracting 4 touchbacks, he has 58 return yards on 21 punts, so about double the return average compared to 2020.
It would be interesting to see a “bad punts” stat- which might be touchbacks + returns>10yds + distance<40 unless downed inside 20 . . . or something like that. Anyway, I’d be interested if others have thoughts on what’s changed for him.
I think it’s hard to evaluate the kickers stats. There’s so many variables. It can depend on where he’s kicking from for instance. It has seemed to me that he has been kicking a lot from deep in our own territory which necessitates him having to kick longer, and when going for distance, this likely causes less hang time. Also, a couple of the touchbacks have been unlucky where the players have only just missed out on getting to the ball before it goes into the end zone. I’m not convinced he’s playing any worse. It could be just a matter of circumstances and luck.
Full disclosure note: I also could have bias given I’m an Aussie too.
I have wondered the same, about whether he’s been punting from deep more often so far. Seems like we’ve been pinned back on a 4-and-out quite a few times. Also, great to have the Aussie perspective here too - keeps us more cheerful, I think!
After seeing the video and the explanation of Seahawk kick returns, I hereby take back my comment from the other day stating I miss Larry Izzo.
I’ve noticed a little tune change about DLine. As you say we all learn from each other. Good answer on Williams question. And we got some depth help coming which should keep the big guys fresher. Watching Hankins triple team tells me offensive coaches know what’s he’s capable of when rested and strong. Love the ST comments especially about giving Dee some slack. They at least recognized the new kickoff situation and went after Sheinault and speed of Dee. Really further adds to the ST as 3rd phase. Long snapper Kicker Punter returners now worth more than just sending the 4th string RB back there.
I’m wondering if the opposing defenses are basically daring the Hawks to beat them through the air. I’ve read or heard that each call has a run or pass option and Geno checks into the one most appropriate for what the defense shows. I have know way of knowing if the coaches agree with his assessments, but I assume they review it each week. If Geno is usually reading it right then the other team must be influencing the type of plays the Hawks run.
Of course, getting into an early hole influences that also, but I often feel like teams give up on the run game too soon. Being down 14 in the first quarter shouldn’t be panic time, too many fluke plays can happen. One or two good runs or receptions can get you right back in it. For example just look at the loss to SF, despite an off night for Geno, the real difference makers were the early 70 yard TD followed by the 70ish rush when Hawks had closed to a one score deficit.
I’m just not too worried yet. I knew we had a brand new HC and a new OC with zero NFL experience so there were bound to be growing pains. What I really want to see is how well they learn from their mistakes.
FYI in regards to Jenkins, a former one time safety was recently let go by his team. Do we want him back? (On a side note, since he’s still on our books, would we have to pay him more ???? lol)
Thanks for answering my question. The one area not covered that I should have made clear that I was most concerned about was the kick and punt return coverage teams as they seem to be giving up much more yardage than they should in my opinion. If I get time I will try and look that up
Reading between the lines from Mike MacDonald press conferences, he thinks the d-line is playing pretty well, it's what's going on with the LB's and Safety's that's more of the problem. So I would assume there is a general issue there with assignment soundness, not just a Jenkins problem.
This week will be an excellent litmus test. How does the team respond to back-to-back-to-back losses with extra time (finally!) to assess and adjust? I really hope we see improvements, but I'm worried if both Woolen and Brown are not able to play.
I think you could replace Jenkins' name with Baker and/or Dodson and have a good case for the exact same criticisms. Hopefully we'll see improvement from all three as they get more time and experience with MM and his schemes. Busted coverages and run fits are one thing, however, and bad pursuit angles and tackling are another.
Great responses. I’m glad you presented facts to show that my suspicions were false with Williams. I think the Jenkins issues at safety show the league how good Kyle Hamilton really is. We might need an elite strong safety/rover on defense to make this scheme run like Baltimore’s did. I think Mac’s still going to need to refine the roster this next offseason. Better LB and strong safety on defense with guard, tackle and receiver on offense. All of that says Schneider might be picking round five guards again to the chagrin of the fan base.