With NFL games often decided by a couple of key plays, special teams take on great importance as potential game changers. A big kickoff return or punt return and a made or missed field goal or extra point can make or break a game and a season.
After reviewing my offensive and defensive story lines the past two weeks, here are my top special teams story lines that I’m closely watching at camp and in preseason games starting Friday night in New Orleans:
1.Will Dan Bailey return to his Pro Bowl form? Bailey is a former Pro Bowl kicker in his Cowboys years who was inconsistent for his standards last season (21 of 28 in field goals including just 4 of 9 from 40-49 yards for 44% efficiency when his career mark at that range going into last season was 88%). He had the disadvantage of coming aboard in Week 3, so he now has a full offseason and training camp to work with his snapper (either vet incumbent Kevin McDermott or seventh rounder Austin Cutting), holder (punter Matt Wile), new special teams coach Marwan Maalouf and kicking consultant/former NFL kicker Nate Kaeding. Bailey made six of eight field goals in a recent practice including an impressive 53-yarder against the wind. The Vikings need stability and reliability at this key position and they’re hoping Bailey can provide it.
2. Who are the kickoff and punt returners? Long-time Vikings returner Marcus Sherels is now a Saint so the jobs are open and early on it looks as if backup running backs Ameer Abdullah (who handled kickoff returns most of last season) or rookie Alexander Mattison will be the main kickoff returner while super quick receiver Chad Beebe appears to be the favorite to be the punt returner with Brandon Zylstra in the mix after he had a few punt returns last season. This is an area to watch in preseason games to see if these players are indeed the returners come regular season or if another player emerges in these roles.
3. Impact of new special teams coach Marwan Maalouf. He comes to the Vikings from Miami where he was assistant special teams coach for the NFL’s fourth ranked special teams last season. He’s noted for his work in the area of blocked punts and also helped Miami’s punter to become one of the league’s best in punts inside the 20. Minnesota’s special teams were up and down last season with the field goal kicking the biggest issue. We’ll see if Maalouf can help in all areas of special teams and with Kaeding’s assistance, get Bailey back among the league’s elite kickers.
4. Snapper competition. Seven year vet McDermott vs. less expensive rookie Cutting. For a team tight against the cap, if Cutting shows he can do the job, don’t be surprised if he wins the job. But if there’s any doubt, the team will go with the proven vet.
Preseason opener story lines: If this was a regular season matchup, the main story lines would involve the quarterbacks: future Hall of Famer Drew Brees of the Saints and Kirk Cousins in his second season with the Vikings. Since it’s the preseason opener, Brees and Cousins will likely play one or two series and the other starters probably one quarter at the most. So here are some other things I’ll be watching:
1.The Minnesota running game and the offensive line performance in the new zone blocking scheme. And how does the revamped Vikings offensive line under new O-line coach Rick Dennison’s guidance match up against a strong Saints pass rush. This is first round pick Garrett Bradbury’s first start at center and Pat Elflein has moved to left guard. I’ll be checking out their play along with Josh Kline, the free agent signee at right guard. But the Vikings need improvement from their backup linemen in case of injury so that also will be a preseason focal point to see if draftees Dru Samia at guard and Oli Udoh at tackle along with the other linemen in camp such as Rashod Hill (in his third season after a shaky first couple years) can turn into reliable backups and perhaps future starters.
Third round back Alexander Mattison should get a lot of play time as Dalvin Cook is likely to exit early to safeguard him for regular season. Mattison has looked good rushing and receiving in camp so it will be interesting to watch him in a game, even if it’s just preseason.
The competition for the third, fourth and fifth wide receiver spots is a key story line in training camp and preseason as Chad Beebe, Brandon Zylstra, Laquon Treadwell, Bisi Johnson and Jordan Taylor battle for play time and roster spots. The tight end competition also is fierce with great depth at the spot behind the top two of Kyle Rudolph and Irv Smith Jr. (and Tyler Conklin in his second season appears to be ready for a bigger role).
2.Will Zimmer show his any of his cards of defense? Defensively, there’s been a lot of talk by Coach Mike Zimmer of the tweaks he has made to his highly rated defense in order to match up against high flying offenses such as the Saints and Rams in the NFC. Don’t expect Zimmer to show many of his changes in preseason but there may be a few hints of things to come.
Last year’s top pick Mike Hughes is getting closer to returning from his ACL injury and then we’ll see what role he plays this season as the top three corners in the opener Sept. 8 against Atlanta will almost certainly be Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander, who all have looked good in camp. Meanwhile we’ll watch recently signed vet corner Bene Benwikere and young players such as seventh rounder Kris Boyd battle for jobs in the secondary.
I’ll also be watching the defensive line rotation and competition for play time. It was a good sign that starting defensive tackles Linval Joseph Shamar Stephen returned to the practice field this week although they’re still being held out of team drills as they recover from injuries and won’t play in the preseason opener. So Jaleel Johnson and Jaleel Johnson will start in New Orleans and have a good opportunity to prove they can be good relievers for Joseph and Stephen come regular season. Young Hercules Mata’afa also will be interesting to watch in preseason to see how he progresses.
3. Who makes the team? Special teams play is a critical factor for backup players looking to make the team, so watch for the players who are doing the best job covering kickoffs and punts. And of course, all eyes are on kicker Dan Bailey and his level of consistency.
Around the NFL Observations:
Ryan Fitzpatrick is ahead of Josh Rosen so far in the quarterback derby in Miami. I think it would be a big mistake if new Dolphins Coach Brian Flores makes Fitzpatrick the starter in early regular season. We know his track record and he throws too many costly interceptions. There’s a reason that Miami is his eighth NFL team. He’s a smart, gutty player but it never ends well for him as he has not played in a single postseason game in his 15 year career. The only shot that Miami has for a winning season is if Rosen takes the reins and plays well. Rosen was a top 10 pick last year in Arizona before the Cards drafted Kyler Murray and traded Rosen to the Dolphins. So he’s got talent. Now Flores and his offensive staff have to coach him up.