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Vikings' Harvin Will Test Kick Coverage
Rob Phillips
IRVING, Texas - There's no rest for the Cowboys' special teams this Sunday.
Up next for the kickoff coverage unit: Minnesota's dynamic Percy Harvin, who ranks only 17th in return average (23.2) through four games but made last year's Pro Bowl with two touchdown returns (101, 88 yards).
Containment will be key for Joe DeCamillis' young group after a fourth-quarter breakdown last Sunday. The game tied 24-24, Tennessee's Marc Mariani ripped off a 73-yard return to the Dallas 5 (after a David Buehler facemask penalty) that set up Chris Johnson's winning 1-yard touchdown three plays later.
Buehler had to kick off from his own 15 following an excessive celebration penalty on Cowboys offensive tackle Marc Colombo, and the ball sailed to Mariani at the 16 instead of the 1. But the ball had good hang time and direction, and the Titans' rookie still found a crack on the coverage's left side.
"To let that out at that stage of the game is really sickening," DeCamillis said. "I haven't been a part of that very often, so we've got to try to get that squared away as quickly as possible."
It was a setback for a group that had shown marked improvement to that point of the game. Prior to Mariani's return, the Titans' average drive start was their 21.6-yard line, thanks in part to Buehler's first three touchbacks of the season.
Entering last Sunday, the Cowboys ranked 24th in kickoff coverage, with opponents' average drive start at the 29.1-yard line. Skewed by the 73-yard run, they've dropped to 29th (30.8-yard line).
"It's making sure you're telling them the right things," DeCamillis said. "Making sure the message is reaching them. Making sure that you have the right people there, that they understand the urgency of that (particular) play.
"There're a lot of things that go in, but we will get that corrected. I guarantee that."
DeCamillis' track record speaks for itself. Widely respected around the league, he's been successful at four other NFL stops since 1988. And aided by Buehler's league-high 29 touchbacks, the Cowboys improved from 20th in 2008 (29.3) to second (22.8) in DeCamillis' first year as coordinator.
He demands consistent execution this year, too, despite the fact that he's directing a relatively inexperienced group filled with first- and second-year players.
Continuity is not afforded to many special teams coaches, simply because many of their players are reserves with tenuous grips on roster spots. This year, the Cowboys parted with four of last year's top seven special teams tacklers (Pat Watkins, Deon Anderson, Steve Octavien and Bobby Carpenter).
One adjustment for young players is the increased speed from the collegiate ranks to the pros. Linebacker Victor Butler noticed the difference last year as a rookie.
"Way faster than college," he said. "Guys on special teams play 110 miles an hour all game, even faster than some offensive and defensive guys because these are guys on the borderline trying to make a team, trying to get a position, fighting for time."
But DeCamillis has seen progress from rookies like Danny McCray, Barry Church and Akwasi Owusu-Ansah.
"And the other thing is they were playing defense along with playing special teams during the preseason," he said. "You can't play them every rep during the preseason. They're getting every rep now. So hopefully if you've got the right guys, you're going to get better as the year goes on."
One veteran holdover is wide receiver Sam Hurd, who had a team-high 19 stops in 2009, and has since assumed a captain's role for DeCamillis as he continues to evaluate his lineup.
"I've got to be a better leader, be (more) vocal for the guys because they're looking for me to step up and take charge," Hurd said last week. "I had guys that were older than me, so I could look up at them. Now it's my turn to play their role. I'm ready."
Harvin and the Vikings await.
Rob Phillips
IRVING, Texas - There's no rest for the Cowboys' special teams this Sunday.
Up next for the kickoff coverage unit: Minnesota's dynamic Percy Harvin, who ranks only 17th in return average (23.2) through four games but made last year's Pro Bowl with two touchdown returns (101, 88 yards).
Containment will be key for Joe DeCamillis' young group after a fourth-quarter breakdown last Sunday. The game tied 24-24, Tennessee's Marc Mariani ripped off a 73-yard return to the Dallas 5 (after a David Buehler facemask penalty) that set up Chris Johnson's winning 1-yard touchdown three plays later.
Buehler had to kick off from his own 15 following an excessive celebration penalty on Cowboys offensive tackle Marc Colombo, and the ball sailed to Mariani at the 16 instead of the 1. But the ball had good hang time and direction, and the Titans' rookie still found a crack on the coverage's left side.
"To let that out at that stage of the game is really sickening," DeCamillis said. "I haven't been a part of that very often, so we've got to try to get that squared away as quickly as possible."
It was a setback for a group that had shown marked improvement to that point of the game. Prior to Mariani's return, the Titans' average drive start was their 21.6-yard line, thanks in part to Buehler's first three touchbacks of the season.
Entering last Sunday, the Cowboys ranked 24th in kickoff coverage, with opponents' average drive start at the 29.1-yard line. Skewed by the 73-yard run, they've dropped to 29th (30.8-yard line).
"It's making sure you're telling them the right things," DeCamillis said. "Making sure the message is reaching them. Making sure that you have the right people there, that they understand the urgency of that (particular) play.
"There're a lot of things that go in, but we will get that corrected. I guarantee that."
DeCamillis' track record speaks for itself. Widely respected around the league, he's been successful at four other NFL stops since 1988. And aided by Buehler's league-high 29 touchbacks, the Cowboys improved from 20th in 2008 (29.3) to second (22.8) in DeCamillis' first year as coordinator.
He demands consistent execution this year, too, despite the fact that he's directing a relatively inexperienced group filled with first- and second-year players.
Continuity is not afforded to many special teams coaches, simply because many of their players are reserves with tenuous grips on roster spots. This year, the Cowboys parted with four of last year's top seven special teams tacklers (Pat Watkins, Deon Anderson, Steve Octavien and Bobby Carpenter).
One adjustment for young players is the increased speed from the collegiate ranks to the pros. Linebacker Victor Butler noticed the difference last year as a rookie.
"Way faster than college," he said. "Guys on special teams play 110 miles an hour all game, even faster than some offensive and defensive guys because these are guys on the borderline trying to make a team, trying to get a position, fighting for time."
But DeCamillis has seen progress from rookies like Danny McCray, Barry Church and Akwasi Owusu-Ansah.
"And the other thing is they were playing defense along with playing special teams during the preseason," he said. "You can't play them every rep during the preseason. They're getting every rep now. So hopefully if you've got the right guys, you're going to get better as the year goes on."
One veteran holdover is wide receiver Sam Hurd, who had a team-high 19 stops in 2009, and has since assumed a captain's role for DeCamillis as he continues to evaluate his lineup.
"I've got to be a better leader, be (more) vocal for the guys because they're looking for me to step up and take charge," Hurd said last week. "I had guys that were older than me, so I could look up at them. Now it's my turn to play their role. I'm ready."
Harvin and the Vikings await.
