A Bit More on Crossman

[Rick Cartman]

Heard the Tom Brady podcast the other day in which he explains that changes in the rules driven by player safety concerns have made Special Teams progressively less and less significant. Bear in mind that in New England, Belichick had a super strong emphasis on ST and that was the environment where Brady evolved. It was interesting to hear him basically say that ST are now a relative non-issue. Yes, sometimes big plays occur (like the long TD Buffalo killed us in Miami), but they are the exception, not the norm.
I get the impression that McDaniel would concur with TB12. He'd like a more from Special Teams. Jason Sanders had a good season as a reliable kicker and he seems to like Crossman on his coaching staff. However, another poor season will probably see Crossman fired.

Kickoffs have been neutralized, but punting and FGs are still pretty much the same.
Giving up a kickoff TD in the modern NFL is a remarkably bad feat when you can kick it out of the endzone everytime unless it's a strong wind.

 

[Rick Cartman]

Hate to be a Melvin, but I feel like we're heading for a 2010 Patriots special teams meltdown game at some point.

 

[royalshank]

Could be wrong but I remember discussions around the 2021 and 2022 rosters about the number of ST specialists we were carrying.

Guys like:
- Fejedelem
- Crossen
- Sherfield
- Carter

It doesn’t seem like we were a lot better in those years … but does seem like we had fewer ST specialists last year

Don’t forget Bethel

 

[Sherif]

I thought it was the kickers and punters but Sanders is 11th in touchback %. Bailey was 29th in punting yards AND Net punting yards after returns indicating he was the problem and the coverage units didn't help. Bailey averaged only 45.7 yards per punt when Stonehouse for Tenn. avg. 7.4 yds per punt more. So was it punting or coverage teams primarily responsible for the Dolphins ST and arguably season failure. The video would indicate it was ST coverage 20 Justin Bethel who was responsible for the away playoff game.

Deonte Harty with a Spectacular Punt Return Touchdown vs. Miami Dolphins, 01/07/2024

House call! Deonte Harty with a spectacular punt return touchdown | Bills at Dolphins

Deonte Harty with a Spectacular Punt Return Touchdown vs. Miami Dolphins, 01/07/2024. Harty's 96-yard return is a team record.

www.buffalobills.com

 

[royalshank]

Makes you almost miss Jakeem Grant. Almost. Ty Hill returned kicks for the Chiefs in 2018. Why cannot Waddle in 2024? Because he’s fragile. He was terrific at it in college.

I do miss Grant. Here’s why. During Grant’s 4.5 year tenure, he had 5 punt / kickoff return TDs. During that same tenure we also got a KO return TD from Kenyan Drake and a punt return TD from Jarvis Landry. So 7 return TDs in those 4.5 years. In the last 2.5 years we’ve had ZERO (0) / Zilch / Nada in the way of scores from our ST unit + our coverage has sucked ass w tons of big returns against. Add in Harty’s game-changing / seed no 2 grabbing PR that banished us to the wildcard and frozen KC and I think we were better pre Danny Crossman. Call me crazy. In fact, we’ve had precisely one (1) big return in the Crossman era - last year WC game at Buffalo when Ced Wilson took a punt inside the 5 that set up a FG during our rally. That’s a good time to have a big play (playoff game) but not enough. Fire Danny Crossman. Instead, we hire him as assistant to help him. Idk sounds weak to me.

 

[Atila]

I do miss Grant. Here’s why. During Grant’s 4.5 year tenure, he had 5 punt / kickoff return TDs. During that same tenure we also got a KO return TD from Kenyan Drake and a punt return TD from Jarvis Landry. So 7 return TDs in those 4.5 years. In the last 2.5 years we’ve had ZERO (0) / Zilch / Nada in the way of scores from our ST unit + our coverage has sucked ass w tons of big returns against. Add in Harty’s game-changing / seed no 2 grabbing PR that banished us to the wildcard and frozen KC and I think we were better pre Danny Crossman. Call me crazy. In fact, we’ve had precisely one (1) big return in the Crossman era - last year WC game at Buffalo when Ced Wilson took a punt inside the 5 that set up a FG during our rally. That’s a good time to have a big play (playoff game) but not enough. Fire Danny Crossman. Instead, we hire him as assistant to help him. Idk sounds weak to me.

I don’t miss Jakeem Grant. He muffed a punt seemingly every 2-3 weeks. Especially now that kickoffs are neutralized there goes half his usage.

Our coverage is more of an issue than our returns. Our blocking on FGs and little things. Berrios was fine

 

[gofins60]

Our coverage is more of an issue than our returns. Our blocking on FGs and little things. Berrios was fine

This would explain why Berrios did better as a return man when playing the Dolphins than he did as a Dolphin. In fact, he also did better as a slot WR when playing Miami than he did with Miami. This just proves that Miami has a problem with coverage and tackling, both on Special Teams and Defense.

 

[teemu7]

At no point has crossman demonstrated any success as a special teams coach whatsoever. This excuse from the coach is just sideways speak.

Our special teams tops out at below average and lives in league worst. It's just a unit that completely lacks coherence or passion. But hey Danny really knows how to stretch guys out so let's give him year 3.

 

[royalshank]

I don’t miss Jakeem Grant. He muffed a punt seemingly every 2-3 weeks. Especially now that kickoffs are neutralized there goes half his usage.

Our coverage is more of an issue than our returns. Our blocking on FGs and little things. Berrios was fine

It’s more that during the time he was on the team we scored about 2x per year on returns. Now we don’t get big plays. On the flip side, both Wilson Jr and Berrios were really sure handed

 

[Beach Bum]

Not a fan of Crossman, but to be fair injuries have a trickle-down effect and can hurt special teams. In the end, all I care about is we get better.

 

[TheMageGandalf]

Could be wrong but I remember discussions around the 2021 and 2022 rosters about the number of ST specialists we were carrying.

Guys like:
- Fejedelem
- Crossen
- Sherfield
- Carter

It doesn’t seem like we were a lot better in those years … but does seem like we had fewer ST specialists last year

Sherfield I liked and he was missed imho....I thought he was playing better than Wilson (both look to me like the same type of WR)...he helped mess us up when we played Buffalo

 

[dreamblk]

He believes in his ability to call plays also. I hope gets better at it.

 

[IMAWriter]

I do miss Grant. Here’s why. During Grant’s 4.5 year tenure, he had 5 punt / kickoff return TDs. During that same tenure we also got a KO return TD from Kenyan Drake and a punt return TD from Jarvis Landry. So 7 return TDs in those 4.5 years. In the last 2.5 years we’ve had ZERO (0) / Zilch / Nada in the way of scores from our ST unit + our coverage has sucked ass w tons of big returns against. Add in Harty’s game-changing / seed no 2 grabbing PR that banished us to the wildcard and frozen KC and I think we were better pre Danny Crossman. Call me crazy. In fact, we’ve had precisely one (1) big return in the Crossman era - last year WC game at Buffalo when Ced Wilson took a punt inside the 5 that set up a FG during our rally. That’s a good time to have a big play (playoff game) but not enough. Fire Danny Crossman. Instead, we hire him as assistant to help him. Idk sounds weak to me.

Indisputable facts. Good work.

 

[Ray R]

I thought it was the kickers and punters but Sanders is 11th in touchback %. Bailey was 29th in punting yards AND Net punting yards after returns indicating he was the problem and the coverage units didn't help. Bailey averaged only 45.7 yards per punt when Stonehouse for Tenn. avg. 7.4 yds per punt more. So was it punting or coverage teams primarily responsible for the Dolphins ST and arguably season failure. The video would indicate it was ST coverage 20 Justin Bethel who was responsible for the away playoff game.

Deonte Harty with a Spectacular Punt Return Touchdown vs. Miami Dolphins, 01/07/2024

House call! Deonte Harty with a spectacular punt return touchdown | Bills at Dolphins

Deonte Harty with a Spectacular Punt Return Touchdown vs. Miami Dolphins, 01/07/2024. Harty's 96-yard return is a team record.

www.buffalobills.com

What were the punters hang times?

 

[EPBro]

As is Mostert over the course of his career. Still, it’s hard not to pull for this guy. Gives you everything he’s got every play, and a terrific person to boot.

*in a boot