Latest news with #specialteams
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Jets Carving New Role With 4th-Round Speedster
Jets Carving New Role With 4th-Round Speedster originally appeared on Athlon Sports. When the New York Jets drafted Arian Smith with the fourth-round selection during the 2025 NFL Draft, some of the fan base recoiled. Advertisement Why? Despite leading Georgia in receiving categories last year, he also had one of the highest drop rates in college football. Add in a rough injury history, and many people thought New York reached for Smith. Through the first month of practices at the team facility, though, Smith has been anything but a reach. He has utilized his speed well, and also has made strong strides in catching the football. It is clear that the Jets may have something in the fourth-round project. And they are going to do everything they can to get him on the field as often as possible. Special-teams coordinator Chris Banjo explained exactly how. Advertisement Banjo, himself a former special-teams star, explained that the team was working Smith as a potential punt returner on Thursday. It is, physically, a fit. While Smith is not guaranteed a role in that regard, the fact that he has been willing to work in any capacity shows that the Jets drafted a player committed to the task at hand for the team. ... And someone who may have some hidden gifts that can make him a commodity for New York in 2025. Our bet? The Jets are going to carve out a role for Smith, almost no matter what. And the fact he has started to work on special teams is evidence of that and also shows that he's willing to do whatever he can to see the field. Related: Jets Fans Named Among Worst In NFL Related: Justin Fields Shines At Jets OTAs This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Washington Post
28-05-2025
- General
- Washington Post
49ers make a switch at punter, signing Thomas Morstead and cutting Mitch Wishnowsky
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers made a switch at punter on Wednesday, signing veteran Thomas Morstead and cutting Mitch Wishnowsky after six seasons in the role. The switch at punter is one of several made this offseason by the 49ers to overhaul a special teams unit that struggled last season, leading to the firing of coordinator Brian Schneider.
National Post
23-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Edmonton Oilers' counterpunch better be up to the task against Stars
Special teams can be hit or miss. Sometimes goalies can steal a game. Other times a team can get a lead and then lock the door on defence. Article content Article content This is the playoffs and anything can happen. It's point-counterpoint for head coaches once they get behind the bench to square off in what might as well be a chess battle on ice. Article content But one thing a team can't live without is ever-present physicality. No if they want to keep progressing down their playoff path, at least. Article content Leave that factor out of the equation and the math starts adding up the wrong way. Really fast. Article content After all, there is no point to the whole point-counterpoint thing if the other guys are going to answer back with punch-counterpunch. Article content It doesn't matter how well your power play has been doing if you all of a sudden find yourself lying down, looking up at the other team's penalty kill. Or the other way around, as the case may be. Article content And even if special teams or other areas of your game aren't exactly clipping along as expected, throwing the body around might just open up some much-needed ice to get things back on track. Article content Exhibit No. 1: The Edmonton Oilers went without Evander Kane for the entire regular season, with the intent of getting him surgically repaired and back to full health in time for a big playoff push. Article content And push he has through the first two rounds, looking like a carefree youngster with a spring in his step as he launched into opposing players who have already endured 82 regular-season games and are reaching deeper into the tank to try and last the post-season. Article content Article content 'It's good to feel good, obviously,' said Kane, who was playing through a sports hernia in last year's playoffs, to the point where he had to take a seat three games into the Stanley Cup Final. Article content So, things didn't exactly begin all that smoothly early on against the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference final. The best-of-seven series gives the Edmonton Oilers another chance to push back. Article content There is a reason, after all, they play best-of-seven series. And there's also a reason it's called pushing back. Article content 'Regardless of what the other team's doing in any facet of the game, when it comes to physicality we want to be just as physical as we normally are,' Kane said. 'And I think as the series goes on, I'm sure it will continue to ramp up. You saw it a little bit at the end of the last game, but they're a team that obviously is using their power play to their advantage right now and it won them Game 1.' Article content Of course, there is a fine line when it comes to physicality and pushing the pedal to the metal in the playoffs. Cross it, and you can wind up in the penalty box, which can prove nothing short of a death sentence against a team like Dallas.
Forbes
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
5 Things We Learned From Packers Special Teams Coordinator Rich Bisaccia
Green Bay Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia has been coaching football for more than ... More four decades. When we last saw the Green Bay Packers — a 22-10 loss to Philadelphia in the NFC wild card round — special teams were an issue. Keisean Nixon fumbled away the opening kickoff when he was leveled by ex-Packer Oren Burks. Philadelphia's Jeremiah Trotter Jr. recovered at Green Bay's 28, and three plays later the Eagles scored. Packers kicker Brandon McManus — who entered the game 20-of-21 on field goals (95.3%) — missed a 38-yard field goal in the second quarter. And Nixon later received an unnecessary roughness penalty. For the first time since that January game, Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia met the media. Here are five things we learned from Bisaccia Monday afternoon. After last year ended, Packers cornerback/return man Keisean Nixon said, 'I want to be CB1. CB1 is not doing kick returns. That's just what it is.' Bisaccia said Monday that Nixon still might be a big part of Green Bay's return games. 'I think him and I both, as well as other players, were not in very good mood after that particular game (Philadelphia), and going into that press conference, we've had conversations,' Bisaccia said. 'So in in my mind, he's always going to be in the mix, and we'll see how it works out.' Nixon was an All-Pro kickoff returner in both 2022 and 2023, then averaged 29.3 yards per return last season. The Packers signed linebacker Isaiah Simmons on April 29 and Bisaccia believes he could provide help to a special teams unit that certainly could use it. Simmons was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2020 draft by Arizona, then went to the New York Giants in 2023. In 84 career games with the Giants and Cardinals, Simmons has 308 tackles (211 solo), 21 passes defensed, 15 tackles for a loss, 13 quarterback hits, eight forced fumbles, 8.5 sacks, five interceptions, including touchdown returns of 56 and 54 yards, and two fumble recoveries. He's also registered a blocked field goal, 15 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on special teams. 'We're excited about getting him,' Bisaccia said of Simmons. 'I loved him coming out of school (at Clemson). Think a lot of us did. We followed his career a little bit. He's a big, fast, physical guy that can run, and he's made plays before, so we're hoping to put him in position to help him help us. So we're excited about having him.' Bisaccia, who spent the 2018-2021 seasons with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders, helped bring Keisean Nixon to Green Bay back in 2022. This offseason, Bisaccia played a role in the Packers signing free agent cornerback Nate Hobbs. Bisaccia coached both Nixon and Hobbs during his time with the Raiders. 'He's a really talented football player,' Bisaccia said of Hobbs. 'He's a lot bigger than you think, until you get up there and shake his hand. He can really run. He's a physical player. He's got great length, and you know, he's played multiple positions. 'He's played in the slot, he's played outside, a force in kicking game his rookie year. So all that being said, what we've seen of him on defense, we've seen some of those in the kicking game, as well. I just think we're getting a really good guy that loves football and loves the opportunity to compete.' In addition to being Green Bay's special teams coordinator, Bisaccia holds the title of assistant head coach. Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur often consults with Bisaccia during games and uses him as a sounding board. That won't change in 2025, as Bisaccia and LaFleur have developed a certain kinship. 'I think we've grown together better as time has gone on, as the seasons have gone on and so hopefully this year we'll have a chance to, you know, be our best in that matter,' Bisaccia said. 'He's got a lot going on calling the plays and having a pulse of what's going on in the game and defensively and all that. So I think our relationship has gotten much better over the three seasons, and I expect it to keep growing in that direction as well.' Bisaccia, who turns 65 in June, said he briefly contemplated retiring after last season. After more than four decades of coaching football, though, including the last 24 in the NFL, Bisaccia said he knew he wasn't finished yet. 'A lot more people seem to know about my age than I do,' Bisaccia said. 'You know, coming to work and seeing the players fills my cup. And, you know, I always say this, I say that the number one job an assistant coach is to serve the head coach, serve the players, teach the players how to serve each other. 'When I don't feel that way in the morning about coming to work, I'm just not going to go. But I don't, I don't get that sense. I don't. I just, all I think about is coming to work and being around players, you know?'
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Instant reactions to Eagles' selection of Nebraska DT Ty Robinson
The Eagles Found A STEAL In The Draft Who Will SURPRISE Everyone... The 2025 NFL Draft was quite interesting for the Eagles. In the 4th round, they drafted a DT named Ty Robinson. Robinson is already putting Eagles fans on notice at rookie minicamp with his size and attitude. Does he have a chance to play from Day 1? In other news, Jeff Lurie wants the Eagles to have a fullback next season. Lastly, a longtime scouting director and special teams specialist are heading elsewhere. Today, RB discusses all of this and more!
