If you're a big football fan, probably one of the
most frustrating things you can watch in a game is when two teams are
going at it, head to head, evenly matched, no score, both defenses
doing their job and then suddenly a kick off is returned 100 yards for
a touchdown because a guy on special teams missed an easy tackle. The
game is lost because of somebody who is on the field maybe a total of 2
minutes in a 60 minute contest. It's enough to make you pull your hair
out of your head.
The truth is, special teams don't get the
recognition they deserve. They aren't glamorous like a high powered
offense with a star quarterback like a John Elway. They aren't in the
spotlight like a famous defense led by somebody like Lawrence Taylor
who was probably one of the greatest middle linebackers to ever play
the game, with all his drug problems. No, special teams don't get all
the glory like the other guys do, but they sure get all the blame when
a kick off is returned for a touchdown, or they fumble on their own
kickoff return. Special teams are under such a microscope that their
coaches often lose their jobs because of big blunders on the field.
Special
teams have a lot of duties to perform. They return kick offs and punts
and on the other end of the spectrum, they kick off after they score
and punt the ball when they don't. So many kickers have had careers
ruined because of a missed field goal attempt or a blocked punt. Just
recently in the playoffs a kicker missed 3 easy field goals that would
have given his team the victory. Instead they went down to a bitter
defeat.
Everybody has their theories as to why special teams are
sometimes so dreadfully awful. One theory is that enough attention
isn't given to them during training and practices. Another theory is
that they just don't get enough playing time during a game and therefor
don't have enough time to really get their heads and bodies into the
game. Still another theory is that these guys really aren't that good.
That's why they're on special teams. If they were better players they'd
be on the starting offense or defense.
The truth, if there is a
truth to this problem, is that it's probably a combination of all three
things. Let's face it, the offense and defense is what drives each team
so much more time has to be given to them. Plus, since special teams
aren't on the field as much, you wouldn't give as much attention to
them. As for their heads being in the game, there is no denying that
these guys don't get to play as much. It's kind of like a pinch hitter
coming off the bench in baseball. It's not an easy thing to do. And as
far as special teams players not being the best on the field, while it
is true that some players double on offense and special teams, this is
the exception and not the rule. Sadly, your special teams players are
not your top players.
Whatever the reason, there is no denying
that many a game is lost because of special teams play. But isn't it
great to watch when a special teams player wins a game for you?
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