Special Teams 2014

Great thread !!!

Anyone heard or saw something about the possibility that Ellington might get a look as a gunner ?
Did he do it in college at some point ?
I know most look at him as a returner but with LJ McCray and Hunter could this be another possibility for Ellington to get on the field ?

Same goes for Dontae Johnson. With Brock, Culliver, Ward etc. it could be tough for him to get on the field. Anyone has some insight

Both are fast, fierce competitors, and not afraid of contact.

How about our other rookies ? Ward, McCray, Acker, Greene.... any possible Gunners ?


Just some thoughts that crossed my mind.

Originally posted by DeUh:

Great thread !!!

Anyone heard or saw something about the possibility that Ellington might get a look as a gunner ?
Did he do it in college at some point ?
I know most look at him as a returner but with LJ McCray and Hunter could this be another possibility for Ellington to get on the field ?

Same goes for Dontae Johnson. With Brock, Culliver, Ward etc. it could be tough for him to get on the field. Anyone has some insight

Both are fast, fierce competitors, and not afraid of contact.

How about our other rookies ? Ward, McCray, Acker, Greene.... any possible Gunners ?


Just some thoughts that crossed my mind.

I have looked for stats and information about what our rookies did on special teams in college.

I could not find anything about individual play on special team coverage units---nothing, nada, zip.

The information might be out there, but I have not found it yet.

As someone who has followed the South Carolina Gamecocks for years and watched all of the games I could, I do not recall ever seeing Bruce on any part of special teams other than as a returner. I may be wrong, but as I said, not that I can recall. I'm not sure if that is something he (or the coaches) would want, however. Why get an excellent, speedy receiver with good hands banged up running down the field on ST? At least that's my .02 for whatever it's worth :)

holy god damn hell,, this is sort of special teams,, i just read a article where it said skuta played last year with a torn whatever it is in his foot?? holy s**t,, i remember rumph had that and his year was over,. this guy played and played well with that severe injury. holy s**t.. he deserves a contract extension. what a great example to the kids he set on the team last year. i could not believe it when i saw that article!

Originally posted by cciowa:

holy god damn hell,, this is sort of special teams,, i just read a article where it said skuta played last year with a torn whatever it is in his foot?? holy s**t,, i remember rumph had that and his year was over,. this guy played and played well with that severe injury. holy s**t.. he deserves a contract extension. what a great example to the kids he set on the team last year. i could not believe it when i saw that article!

Good back up and core special team player with a great attitude

After he managed to hobble through the end of the Week 10 loss at Carolina, Skuta knew he'd finish the season in pain instead of street clothes.

"I came back and played in the same game when I got injured," Skuta said. "So in my head I was always thinking 'This is going to suck, but I'm going to do what I can to keep going.' Shoot, I was getting more time than I ever had in my career last year, so I wasn't going to end it early."

"I'm excited to build on what I did last year and just keep getting better," Skuta said. "Last year was really the first year I really played any outside backer. I got that first year under my belt and I'm excited to see what I can do this year and do even better."




http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2014/06/13/his-left-foot-lb-skuta-healthy-after-pain-filled-2013/

Skuta is a badass. Him and Lemonier worked well replacing Aldon last year.

That is impressive, really impressive. Don't know if it was a great idea medically, but it sure as heck was gutsy. Wow!

from the first day of mini-camp.

LaMichael James and Perrish Cox handled punt-return duties, though Colton Schmidt struggled to offer up field-able punts.

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers/2014/06/17/minicamp-day-1-recap-davis-boone-veer-off-49er-way-wright-retires-incompletions-plentiful/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+49ersHotRead+%2849ers+Hot+Read%29

from Matt Barrows

The defensive player of the day? It may have been undrafted safety James McCray from tiny Catawba College. McCray, a big-bodied safety at 210 pounds, broke up a couple of passes during red-zone drills, then nearly made a diving interception during 11-on-11 drills.

He's certainly a longshot to make the squad, but he has some ability as a special teams coverage specialist as well.


Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/06/17/6491427/mini-notes-lattimore-more-explosive.html#storylink=cpy

He did a good job returning kicks in college. Now, he apparently has some return coverage skills and is showing some ball skills in mini-camp.

Just remembered an article about Ventrones play on Special Teams from last year.

This is why Seely vouched for Ventrone over the summer, when Jim Harbaugh and Co. sought a replacement for another Seely disciple from the Browns, Blake Costanzo, whom the Chicago Bears signed away last offseason.
"I remember when we were signing Costanzo, who is a great special teams player, was a great special teams player for us" in 2011, Harbaugh said earlier this month. "We were looking at the tape, game tape, practice tape, and it's like, 'Was that our guy there with the long hair? Is that our guy? Because he's pretty darn good too.'"

So with Costanzo back on the squad could this mean that Ventrone is a likely cut candidate ? Or that only 1 of the two will make the 53 ?

Here is the whole article http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/Ventrone-Most-Dangerous-on-49ers-Special-Teams/64c864f5-8678-4e14-b9bb-372e32f099a6

from MM

LaMichael James and Perrish Cox were the only two players back deep fielding punts.

Ellington and Quinton Patton got work on the outside as gunners, which could be key to their bids to suit up among the 46 active players in the regular season.


http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/minicamp-day-1-49ers-new-look-offense

Originally posted by buck:
from MM

LaMichael James and Perrish Cox were the only two players back deep fielding punts.

Ellington and Quinton Patton got work on the outside as gunners, which could be key to their bids to suit up among the 46 active players in the regular season.


http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/minicamp-day-1-49ers-new-look-offense

Originally posted by DeUh:

Just remembered an article about Ventrones play on Special Teams from last year.

This is why Seely vouched for Ventrone over the summer, when Jim Harbaugh and Co. sought a replacement for another Seely disciple from the Browns, Blake Costanzo, whom the Chicago Bears signed away last offseason.
"I remember when we were signing Costanzo, who is a great special teams player, was a great special teams player for us" in 2011, Harbaugh said earlier this month. "We were looking at the tape, game tape, practice tape, and it's like, 'Was that our guy there with the long hair? Is that our guy? Because he's pretty darn good too.'"

So with Costanzo back on the squad could this mean that Ventrone is a likely cut candidate ? Or that only 1 of the two will make the 53 ?

Here is the whole article http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/Ventrone-Most-Dangerous-on-49ers-Special-Teams/64c864f5-8678-4e14-b9bb-372e32f099a6

Great memory and even better article.

day 2 notes

Ellington also looked smooth on kickoff-return duties, where Hyde, Lattimore and Devon Wylie also saw action alongside regulars LaMichael James and Kendall Hunter


http://blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers/2014/06/18/minicamp-day-2-notes-interceptions-pass-rush-lead-defensive-dominance-rookies-ellington-hyde-fare-well/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+49ersHotRead+%2849ers+Hot+Read%29

Originally posted by buck:

day 2 notes

Ellington also looked smooth on kickoff-return duties, where Hyde, Lattimore and Devon Wylie also saw action alongside regulars LaMichael James and Kendall Hunter


http://blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers/2014/06/18/minicamp-day-2-notes-interceptions-pass-rush-lead-defensive-dominance-rookies-ellington-hyde-fare-well/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+49ersHotRead+%2849ers+Hot+Read%29

I like what I'm reading from Ellington. Gotta find a way to get him on the 46 active squad!