Article on Special Teams

Haven't seen anything on ST in a long time.

Short article from Niner Nation

http://www.ninersnation.com/2015/6/23/8830043/optimism-for-2015-special-teams

Thoughts??

Originally posted by LasVegasWally:
Haven't seen anything on ST in a long time.

Short article from Niner Nation

http://www.ninersnation.com/2015/6/23/8830043/optimism-for-2015-special-teams

Thoughts??

Yeah, last year in my 2014 Team Needs thread, I did my best to highlight all the ST coverage units. We've retained many of these guys and some are aces-in-the-making. Many of these players seriously need to be considered for your 53 man rosters d/t their abilities to be quality starters or backups along with their ST contributions.

Week 2:
Kickoff Coverage Unit (Defensive Team)
We kick off:
25 Ward, Jimmie
96 Lemonier, Corey
46 Carrier, Derek
50 Borland, Chris
14 Osgood, Kassim
09 Dawson, Phil
54 Moody, Nick
22 Cook, Chris
31 McCray, L.J.
43 Dahl, Craig
36 Johnson, Dontae

Kickoff Return Unit (Offensive Team) #1
They kick off: Deep in their territory
10 Ellington, Bruce
49 Miller, Bruce
50 Borland, Chris
14 Osgood, Kassim
54 Moody, Nick
63 Jerod-Eddie, Tony
59 Lynch, Aaron
22 Cook, Chris
43 Dahl, Craig
46 Carrier, Derek
31 McCray, L.J.

Kickoff Return Unit (Offensive Team) #2
They kick off: Deep in our territory
10 Ellington, Bruce
49 Miller, Bruce
50 Borland, Chris
14 Osgood, Kassim
54 Moody, Nick
63 Jerod-Eddie, Tony
43 Dahl, Craig
46 Carrier, Derek
31 McCray, L.J.
89 McDonald, Vance
51 Skuta, Dan

Punt Coverage Unit (Defensive Team)
We punt:
04 Lee, Andy
25 Ward, Jimmie
31 McCray, L.J.
43 Dahl, Craig
49 Miller, Bruce
51 Skuta, Dan
57 Wilhoite, Michael
54 Moody, Nick
86 Nelson, Kyle
96 Lemonier, Corey
14 Osgood, Kassim

Punt Coverage Unit (Offensive Team) #1
They punt: Deep in their territory
10 Ellington, Bruce
14 Osgood, Kassim
25 Ward, Jimmie
28 Hyde, Carlos (22 Cook, Chris)
31 McCray, L.J.
36 Johnson, Dontae
43 Dahl, Craig
46 Carrier, Derek
50 Borland, Chris
54 Moody, Nick
59 Lynch, Aaron

Punt Coverage Unit (Offensive Team) #2
They punt: Deep in our territory
10 Ellington, Bruce
22 Cook, Chris
14 Osgood, Kassim
52 Willis, Patrick
43 Dahl, Craig
95 Williams, Tank
54 Moody, Nick (?)
92 Dial, Quinton
63 Jerod-Eddie, Tony
59 Lynch, Aaron
36 Johnson, Dontae
Read more at http://www.49erswebzone.com/forum/niners/177313-2014-team-needs-updates/#Qt8uyYmZucxuJ3UJ.99

yet another area that needs improvement all the way around. I have high hopes with a new punter who can also make teams start out from the 20 on kickoffs. we have some new blood in regards to coverage units both in terms of free agency and our rookies. All dawson, I assume, has to worry about is making field goals. I think the guys are there but we have got to do better in punt and kickoff returns. and have some good back ups in case of injury. I do not care who the final product is but I will assume we have a good pool of people , a good combo of vets, rookies, guys who did some of it last year and should be better this year

Basically, these were our ST players last year for the most part on coverage units. Who do we need to replace and with who from your 53:

10 Ellington, Bruce
14 Osgood, Kassim
22 Cook, Chris
25 Ward, Jimmie
28 Hyde, Carlos
31 McCray, L.J.
36 Johnson, Dontae
43 Dahl, Craig
46 Carrier, Derek
49 Miller, Bruce
49 Miller, Bruce
50 Borland, Chris
51 Skuta, Dan
52 Willis, Patrick
54 Moody, Nick
57 Wilhoite, Michael
59 Lynch, Aaron
63 Jerod-Eddie, Tony
86 Nelson, Kyle
89 McDonald, Vance
92 Dial, Quinton
95 Williams, Tank
96 Lemonier, Corey

PS: Also keep in mind we'll have some guys who can block FG's as well (AA, Dial, Lemonier, etc. - long-armed guys).

Originally posted by cciowa:
yet another area that needs improvement all the way around. I have high hopes with a new punter who can also make teams start out from the 20 on kickoffs. we have some new blood in regards to coverage units both in terms of free agency and our rookies. All dawson, I assume, has to worry about is making field goals. I think the guys are there but we have got to do better in punt and kickoff returns. and have some good back ups in case of injury. I do not care who the final product is but I will assume we have a good pool of people , a good combo of vets, rookies, guys who did some of it last year and should be better this year

Maybe not having to kickoff will help Dawson's leg??

NOT that we scored so much last season but he isn't a spring chicken either.

Originally posted by LasVegasWally:

Originally posted by cciowa:
yet another area that needs improvement all the way around. I have high hopes with a new punter who can also make teams start out from the 20 on kickoffs. we have some new blood in regards to coverage units both in terms of free agency and our rookies. All dawson, I assume, has to worry about is making field goals. I think the guys are there but we have got to do better in punt and kickoff returns. and have some good back ups in case of injury. I do not care who the final product is but I will assume we have a good pool of people , a good combo of vets, rookies, guys who did some of it last year and should be better this year

Maybe not having to kickoff will help Dawson's leg??

NOT that we scored so much last season but he isn't a spring chicken either.

Well we could have used Pinion's legs to start the second half of the Superbowl, eh?

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by LasVegasWally:

Originally posted by cciowa:
yet another area that needs improvement all the way around. I have high hopes with a new punter who can also make teams start out from the 20 on kickoffs. we have some new blood in regards to coverage units both in terms of free agency and our rookies. All dawson, I assume, has to worry about is making field goals. I think the guys are there but we have got to do better in punt and kickoff returns. and have some good back ups in case of injury. I do not care who the final product is but I will assume we have a good pool of people , a good combo of vets, rookies, guys who did some of it last year and should be better this year

Maybe not having to kickoff will help Dawson's leg??

NOT that we scored so much last season but he isn't a spring chicken either.

Well we could have used Pinion's legs to start the second half of the Superbowl, eh?

Man - that STILL hurts!

Originally posted by LasVegasWally:
Man - that STILL hurts!

It sure does!

Originally posted by NCommand:

Originally posted by LasVegasWally:
Man - that STILL hurts!

It sure does!

it should. it is disgraceful for our franchise to lose a super bowl

http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/Thomas-McGaughey-Jr-Touches-on-all-Things-49ers-Special-Teams/8c2ca7b3-464b-4ed8-b0cf-d2c1f5958595

For an update on all things regarding the San Francisco 49ers special teams, we went straight to the man who is an expert on the topic, coordinator Thomas McGaughey Jr.The 49ers special teams guru joined the San Francisco coaching staff after spending the 2013 season with the New York Jets under the same title. The three seasons before that, McGaughey ran the special teams group at LSU.

Let's dive into the 49ers special teams notes, broken down by position.

Kick Return Job

McGaughey said that it's an open competition. Wide receiver DeAndrew White, running back Jarryd Hayne and running back Reggie Bush have been the most common names, but not the only names to get reps during practice. Wide receiverBruce Ellington will likely join that mix once healthy.

"We're trying to see who's going to step up and take the job," McGaughey said. "We won't know until someone takes the first hit. It's one of those deals where we put the scheme in and everyone understands the scheme. Now it's about executing that scheme."

White impressed throughout the offseason program as a wideout, but the undrafted receiver also showed plenty of burst in the kick return game as well. White's vision in the open field combined with his top-end speed brought back shades of his high school track days.

You can color McGaughey impressed by White's performance thus far.

"He's very, very fast. He was a Texas state-champion in the 200 meters in high school," McGaughey said. "I coached against him when he was at Alabama and I was at LSU. I know everything about the kid. If you can make it five years at Alabama and they can't out-recruit you, you're pretty good.

"He's not afraid of anything. He ain't afraid of competition. He goes out there everyday and works his tail off. You can't ask for much more from a rookie free agent. I think he's on his way."

Punt Return Job

This position has been a bit more focused. Throughout the offseason program, Hayne and Bush have accounted for nearly 100% of the reps at punt returner.

Let's start with Hayne, the 49ers Australian import who signed with the team during the offseason after dominating in the National Rugby League for years.

"Jarryd Hayne is a really good fielder of the ball with his Australian rugby league background. Tracking the ball is real natural to him," McGaughey said.

Hayne mentioned himself that he's already feelingmore comfortable both as a running back as well as returning punts. McGaughey echoed those sentiments.

"From day one to right now, absolutely," the coach said. "He's one of those guys that has natural ability. As with anyone, there's a maturation process just like any other young player in the league. Without ever playing the game, there's a learning curve there. It's going to be another learning curve when he gets hit in the mouth. That's a whole different deal."

You can also add McGaughey to the list of players and coaches who have ravedabout Bush this offseason.

"Reggie is one of those guys who you have to pull back. He's still got it; you just have to make sure to keep him healthy," McGaughey said. "Reggie is the first guy in the building and one of the last to leave."

When the 49ers special teams coach first started, he would get in at 6:00 a.m. to workout. As McGaughey got done with the gym, Bush would already be in the cold tub getting ready for the day's workouts.

"He still has the hunger and the desire to be the best. He doesn't talk about it, he just shows you," McGaughey said. "He's an unbelievable worker. I can't wait to sit back and watch him catch punts in the regular season."

Bush has returned 109 punts (playoffs included) in his career for 916 yards and five touchdowns. Most of those numbers, however, came during his five seasons with the New Orleans Saints. Bush hasn't returned a punt since 2011, when he returned just six with the Miami Dolphins that season.

Figuring to be a major part of the 49ers running back by committee with Carlos Hyde and Kendall Hunter, Bush is ready to show the football world that he still has the explosion that made him the second overall pick in 2006.

"I think that's one of the reasons he wants to return punts, to let everyone know, 'Look, I'm still Reggie Bush. The only reason I wasn't returning punts was because I chose not to.' Now he wants to put that back in his game to show he has the ability to still be a big playmaker," McGaughey said.

Similarly to the kick return job, Ellington will likely join the punt return mix as well when he's healthy.

Kicking Game

Following the Andy Lee trade, 2015 fourth-round pick Bradley Pinion now assumes the 49ers punting duties. What is yet to be determined is who will handle kickoffs between Pinion and Phil Dawson.

McGaughey said Pinion has a "high upside" and kickoff duties will be open for competition in training camp. The special team's coach also indicated that it could be a situational thing during games with both specialists sharing the job.

Evidently, at this time Bush is the leading candidate for returning punts.

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Niners-Bush-Could-be-Impact-Player-on-Punt-Returns-311213191.html

Originally posted by crake49:
Evidently, at this time Bush is the leading candidate for returning punts.

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Niners-Bush-Could-be-Impact-Player-on-Punt-Returns-311213191.html

Nice! Lots of competition there too.

Yet for now, according to special teams coach Thomas McGaughey Jr., it appears the frontrunners for the punt return duties are veteran running back Reggie Bush and rookie Jarryd Hayne, the former Australian rugby standout. Those two fielded all the punts during organized team activities (OTAs) and the recent three-day minicamp.

...crowded competition with a group that includes Bush, Carlos Hyde, Kendall Hunter and rookie Mike Davis.

From what McGaughey says, it seems Bush is the man to beat for the punt-return duties. Hayne and Ellington, however, will get their chances.



I also though DeAndrew White also was taking snaps and looking good as well?

Originally posted by NCommand:
Who do we need to replace and with who from your 53:

Week 1 Projection Jul 7, 2015


Kick Off Coverage Unit

L5 J.Ward
L4 C.Cook
L3 E.Harold
L2 C.Dah
lL1 N.Bellore
K B.Pinion
R1 P.Wheeler
R2 T.Millard
R3 A.Lynch
R4 D.Johnson
R5 J.Tartt

Punt Coverage Unit

Line E.Reid / P.Wheeler / N.Bellore / K.Nelson / E.Harold / A.Lynch / T.Millard
Gunner J.Tartt / J.Ward
Personal Protector C.Dahl
Punter B.Pinion

Originally posted by DeUh:

Originally posted by NCommand:
Who do we need to replace and with who from your 53:

Week 1 Projection Jul 7, 2015


Kick Off Coverage Unit

L5 J.Ward
L4 C.Cook
L3 E.Harold
L2 C.Dahl
L1 N.Bellore
K B.Pinion
R1 P.Wheeler
R2 T.Millard
R3 A.Lynch
R4 D.Johnson
R5 J.Tartt

Punt Coverage Unit

Line E.Reid / P.Wheeler / N.Bellore / K.Nelson / E.Harold / A.Lynch / T.Millard
Gunner J.Tartt / J.Ward
Personal Protector C.Dahl
Punter B.Pinion

I hope fans appreciate this right here...when picking your 53 you need to look HARD at key ST roles. They are a bigger factor than most realize.

And a healthy, speedy Ward and Tartt as your gunners? Someone is getting decapitated!

Another one to consider at Gunner is Reaser for Ward with his electric speed and ability to tackle. Also, with Pinion, many of these players from this unit will be down there waiting for the fair catch or with plenty of time to get set and pin the ball deep up against the goal line (on punts).

Originally posted by NCommand:

And a healthy, speedy Ward and Tartt as your gunners? Someone is getting decapitated!

Ryan Sakamoto

49ers Rookie Jaquiski Tartt On Playing Gunner: "That's The Plan !"