Special Teams

I don't really understand how special team coaching works, so I can't explain the technique or strategy, except to say that our guys are whiffing on tackles and committing their body position too soon.

From a personnel standpoint, we were at our strongest last year when rookies Patrick Bailey and Donovan Woods joined with veterans Anthony Madison and Keyaron Fox. We cut Madison in training camp, which some guy for the Trib said was going to undo everything. We also had Woods playing on the practice squad. Patrick Bailey (who had been our team rookie of the year in 2008) turned into a total non-factor, while Keyaron Fox found his duties split between special teams (where he was a captain) and our starting defensive unit when Timmons couldn't play.

The Madison thing may have come back to bite us. Maybe not.

He went on to play for the Browns special teams (which, to be fair, is a tough unit to make, considering they have, at any given time, 50 special team players on their roster). He was cut from Cleveland. The Browns also cut Cory Ivy (who, like Madison is listed as a CB, but is pretty much just good for kick coverage). Then the Colts gave Madison a try, eventually cutting him.

We signed Ivy last week. Nothing happened. We cut him. And just recently, re-signed Anthony Madison.

I have no idea if having him back will make the difference. I mean, if he's so valuable, you'd think he wouldn't have gotten cut three times this season. Then again, James Harrison got cut three times. It's a weird league.

I think the reason we're not seeing Keisel on special teams isn't that he can't play on the coverage team (he and Harrison were the fastest guys who couldn't be blocked when they were on the unit in 2005), but rather because we can't afford to risk a D-lineman. Right now big Brett is playing as well as ever before, and we pretty much need every snap at the line of scrimmage that he'll give us.

Wish I had more to tell you. Keep hoping we kick it out of bounds.