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Cowboys need more from special teams, too
Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas -- Just about everything has been difficult for the Dallas Cowboys this season.
Their inconsistencies in the running game have been well-documented. Their inability to take the ball away on defense is up to three straight games.
The lack of big plays on offense and defense carries over to special teams, too.
Through five games the Cowboys have just two kickoff returns of more than 30 yards and one punt return of more than 10 yards. Through five games last year, they already had five of what they would call "explosive returns."
“I don’t really think we’re playing very good anywhere right now, to be honest with you,” assistant head coach/special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia said.
The Cowboys saw Dwayne Harris, their top returner the last two years, sign a larger-than-expected contract with the New York Giants that included $7.1 million guaranteed. The Cowboys put that kind of money into their third receiver, Cole Beasley, and weren’t going to give Harris a similar deal, no matter how well he returned kicks.
Lance Dunbar has the Cowboys' only two kick returns of more than 30 yards and he is out for the season with a knee injury. Beasley has handled the bulk of the punt return duties this season but has yet to break out a return longer than 12 yards.
The loss of Dunbar has affected the offense and special teams.
“Lance has got a little bit of a heartbeat to him, team aspect-wise,” Bisaccia said. “He does so many things for us offensively, in the kicking game, and he’s a guy that can really cover. He was really our top flier coming into the season, not only on kickoff returns but he became a punt returner for us. Losing Lance hurts the whole team. But everyone knows the mantra. It’s next man up and let’s get prepared to play the next game.”
Before the return game gets too scrutinized, the Cowboys haven’t had many opportunities with just 10 kick returns and eight punt returns on the season. They have played against some of the better kickers and punters already.
Stephen Gostkowski of the New England Patriots is tied for the NFL lead with 30 touchbacks. He had six against the Cowboys. Atlanta Falcons kickoff specialist Matt Bosher is tied for second with 26. He had five against the Cowboys. Josh Brown of the New York Giants has had six of his kick returns remain inside the 20, which is tied for third.
“It’s not always the return guy,” Bisaccia said. “I’ve said that for years. In the past we’ve had a good group of guys blocking in front and certainly a dynamic returner, and now we’re getting comfortable with the returns that we’ve used and getting a little bit better blocking up front.”
Rookie receiver Lucky Whitehead took over the kick return duties from Dunbar against the Patriots and also returned on punts.
“I think we’ve done a good job of tasking him, and now we’ve put him in position to trust him,” Bisaccia said. “I thought he played well the other night. The one decision to take it out -- it was a big hang. But if you don’t get in a game and feel what it’s like to get a 4.4 (second) hang, you’re just five yards deep. It’s hard to explain that to him. I think it’s a lesson learned for him, and we didn’t do a very good job of blocking for him on that particular play.”
Todd Archer, ESPN Staff Writer
IRVING, Texas -- Just about everything has been difficult for the Dallas Cowboys this season.
Their inconsistencies in the running game have been well-documented. Their inability to take the ball away on defense is up to three straight games.
The lack of big plays on offense and defense carries over to special teams, too.
Through five games the Cowboys have just two kickoff returns of more than 30 yards and one punt return of more than 10 yards. Through five games last year, they already had five of what they would call "explosive returns."
“I don’t really think we’re playing very good anywhere right now, to be honest with you,” assistant head coach/special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia said.
The Cowboys saw Dwayne Harris, their top returner the last two years, sign a larger-than-expected contract with the New York Giants that included $7.1 million guaranteed. The Cowboys put that kind of money into their third receiver, Cole Beasley, and weren’t going to give Harris a similar deal, no matter how well he returned kicks.
Lance Dunbar has the Cowboys' only two kick returns of more than 30 yards and he is out for the season with a knee injury. Beasley has handled the bulk of the punt return duties this season but has yet to break out a return longer than 12 yards.
The loss of Dunbar has affected the offense and special teams.
“Lance has got a little bit of a heartbeat to him, team aspect-wise,” Bisaccia said. “He does so many things for us offensively, in the kicking game, and he’s a guy that can really cover. He was really our top flier coming into the season, not only on kickoff returns but he became a punt returner for us. Losing Lance hurts the whole team. But everyone knows the mantra. It’s next man up and let’s get prepared to play the next game.”
Before the return game gets too scrutinized, the Cowboys haven’t had many opportunities with just 10 kick returns and eight punt returns on the season. They have played against some of the better kickers and punters already.
Stephen Gostkowski of the New England Patriots is tied for the NFL lead with 30 touchbacks. He had six against the Cowboys. Atlanta Falcons kickoff specialist Matt Bosher is tied for second with 26. He had five against the Cowboys. Josh Brown of the New York Giants has had six of his kick returns remain inside the 20, which is tied for third.
“It’s not always the return guy,” Bisaccia said. “I’ve said that for years. In the past we’ve had a good group of guys blocking in front and certainly a dynamic returner, and now we’re getting comfortable with the returns that we’ve used and getting a little bit better blocking up front.”
Rookie receiver Lucky Whitehead took over the kick return duties from Dunbar against the Patriots and also returned on punts.
“I think we’ve done a good job of tasking him, and now we’ve put him in position to trust him,” Bisaccia said. “I thought he played well the other night. The one decision to take it out -- it was a big hang. But if you don’t get in a game and feel what it’s like to get a 4.4 (second) hang, you’re just five yards deep. It’s hard to explain that to him. I think it’s a lesson learned for him, and we didn’t do a very good job of blocking for him on that particular play.”
