Yes, but from the season opener they had significant and noticeable blocking problems on the FG unit. Several PAT's and FG's were almost blocked. I think all of that plus the snap/holding issues got in Crosby's head. Just my opinion.
While some teams will draft a return specialist, I doubt a lot of draft resources are used in filling the other roles. It takes a good coach to take a constantly changing, random group of great athletes, which I assume most NFL players are and make them a cohesive group of blockers and tacklers.
A good punter can make covering a lot easier by forcing fair catches or kicking out of bounds...Or booming 80 yarders like Bojo did. Now I get nervouse when Crosby cannot force a touchback. Although we have covered fairly well on kickoffs there are still a number that allowed the other team to set up shop advantageously.
Guys, I take back anything good I had to say about the coverage unit on ST. Last night was a true embarrassment. This is the worst ST in NFL history.
It is rather comical and I won't go back and take down names, but there were some "of you", that were talking about how special teams had improved and that XP and FG's were our only real problem. Well....that group was the lone bright spot last night in that Mason, Bojo, Wirtel and the other 8 guys, had a perfect night.
I wouldn’t say kicking the ball out of bounds qualifies as a perfect night… Frankly, I’ve been thinking for a long time now that we need a kickoff specialist if Crosby is going to kick the FGs and extra points. I just don’t think he has a big enough leg for the kick offs.It is rather comical and I won't go back and take down names, but there were some "of you", that were talking about how special teams had improved and that XP and FG's were our only real problem. Well....that group was the lone bright spot last night in that Mason, Bojo, Wirtel and the other 8 guys, had a perfect night.
I don't know if that was fully a miskick on Mason's part or because of the previous returns, he was told to kick it away from their return man and it just got away from him. As it turned out, it was probably better just to give them the ball at the 40, instead of letting them run it back.
yeah… Our consistently bad coverage on kickoffs is why I’d prefer a kicker that can just kick it out of the back of the end zone… Crosby can’t.
Which is why I would be just fine with JJ Molson being activated specifically to kickoff and if needed, try that 55+ yard kick that Mason might not have the leg for. I just don't know how big of a leg or how consistent Molson is either.
I think the NFL would rather that, too, to minimize head-to-head full-speed crashes... but they didn't want to insult everyone by moving the kick-off line to the 50.
As a few people have pointed out, there can be an advantage to kicking them short (between the goal line and 5 yard line) to force a return. Heck, I would do that every time when playing the Packers. However, that strategy does not work, when your coverage unit continues to fail to cover.I think the NFL would rather that, too, to minimize head-to-head full-speed crashes... but they didn't want to insult everyone by moving the kick-off line to the 50.
What was really ugly was seeing Bojo put one deep that most players let go in the end zone. But Grant plays it on the 3. And most coaches would be irate. The truth is that it looked like we had the dude swarmed inside the 10 and he slips away. Crosby's opening kickoff was very returnable but the Bear just let it go in for the touchback. I think the next several times around the Bears realized that our ST is pretty bad so let's play return.It is rather comical and I won't go back and take down names, but there were some "of you", that were talking about how special teams had improved and that XP and FG's were our only real problem. Well....that group was the lone bright spot last night in that Mason, Bojo, Wirtel and the other 8 guys, had a perfect night.
I totally agree with your entire post, but I think the entire NFL is on to the fact that our special teams absolutely suck and the Bears were fully aware of that before last night.
I think Crosby has always had problems kicking the ball out of the end zone. But he has always had the strong leg for a long field goal attempt. Counterintuitive but seems to be the case.
Which as you already know, not that many kickers consistently do, including Crosby. Probably best to discuss how to try and fix things under the current parameters and we pretty much know, cutting Crosby is probably not a part of that.
Yeah, I don't know how GB cold affects these stats but he does have a strong field goal leg. He can do it. Not saying he will do it. When did Minihaha get a dome?
I never said that Crosby was good at forcing a touchback, go back and read my post. You seem hell bent on getting rid of Crosby and I just don't think its happening right now, so I am trying to chat about dealing with the current situation and the parameters as they are presented. Everything else is just noise. Which is why I brought up activating Molson if he can consistently kick it out of the endzone AND the Packers feel the need to do that, given the way the special teams is playing.
This stat is only valid if the objective is to kick it out of the end zone on every kick. Otherwise it is meaningless. If, for instance, they want a return so they can try to get the tackle inside the 20 instead of an automatic start at the 25. You know, how most other teams view the Packers returners.
...but for the Packers kicking off that should've been the objective for the last 10 years, every time!!
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