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Don’t forget about special teams
Posted: Friday January 15, 1999 09:26 PM
When teams get this far into the playoffs, as the talent level evens out, special teams are all the more crucial to success. It's no surprise then that the four remaining teams have perhaps the four finest kickers in the NFL-strong, accurate legs that have almost gone unnoticed in many cases. In New York, Bill Parcells has kicker John Hall, who may have the strongest leg in the NFL. He kicked a 51-yarder last weekend, and serves as a double threat on special teams. After he's booted one through the uprights, he punishes his opponents by booming kickoffs into the end zone, neutralizing the threat of the opposing kickoff return specialist. A quiet force in Atlanta's incredible 14-2 season is veteran kicker Morten Andersen, who's been among the best in the league for 15 years. He's absolutely one of the main reasons the Falcons are playing in the NFC Championship game-last week, he did all the second-half scoring in Atlanta's 20-18 win over San Francisco. I think it's no coincidence that since he left New Orleans, the Falcons have soared and the Saints have been mired in mediocrity. The other two kickers have gotten some publicity this season, and rightfully so. Denver's Jason Elam tied Tom Dempsey's NFL record with a 63-yard field goal earlier this season. Naysayers will point out that he kicks in Mile High Stadium, where the altitude is a real plus, but Elam also kicks off grass, which is tougher than the indoor folks have it. What he's done this season is quite an accomplishment.
It's hard to do much better than Minnesota's Gary Anderson has this year. Not only does Anderson have the first perfect season in NFL history -- he hasn't missed a single field goal or extra point -- he also set a single-season scoring record along the way. Everyone points to the Vikings offense when they mention Minnesota as the highest scoring team in league history, but the dependable Anderson and the Vikings' opportunistic defense are major contributors on the scoreboard every week. If you're not convinced that strong special teams can win games, at least concede that poor special teams play can lose them. Last week, the 49ers were doomed by their special teams-rookie return man R.W. McQuarters brought two kicks out of the end zone he had no right to, then clinched the game in the final minute. With 40 seconds left and the 49ers in desperation lining up for a punt block, giving McQuarters little help for a return, the rookie not only fielded a punt on the 10-yard line, but managed to lose 7 yards and chew up valuable seconds, pinning the 49ers on their own 3-yard line. San Francisco's rookie kicker, Wade Richey, sent a late kickoff out of bounds, putting the Falcons in great field position. The Jaguars, too, were doomed by big-game snafus-that ridiculous lateral from Chris Hudson cost Jacksonville points, and then rookie Donovin Darius decided a little too late to run his late interception out of the end zone, putting the Jaguars on their own 1 instead of the 20, where they should have started, but never got to in the end. You see plays like that in the postseason-the finality of the playoffs, with the loser going home for the year, makes everyone want to be a hero and forces them to try to make big plays, which often wind up simply as big mistakes. All four teams would be wise to take a special interest in special teams this weekend. Whether it be young return men like Atlanta's Tim Dwight or battling veteran kickers like the NFC's Anderson vs. Andersen, special teams will make a difference in who's in the Super Bowl and who's at home watching. CNN/SI NFL analyst Ron Meyer, who spent eight years as a head coach in the NFL, offers up his weekly column every Friday, exclusively on CNNSI.com.
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