2078 Pre-training camp report: special teams
Traditionally, I have strived to have an above average punter and kicker, supported by top5 talent at long snapper and kick holder. Additionally, I want above average to top5 talent at both punt returning and kickoff returning. Given all that, it becomes slightly harder to find a good number of other players with above average to very good special teams skills. I strive to have at least 2 excellent guys, but it's no guarantee. Depth at other positions can come with their sacrifices. We lost our long time long snapper to retirement in the off-season and found a decent enough replacement in Chris Bertolone as a free agent. Let's take a look at the scouting report:
| cur/fut | pos | name | age | notes
|
| 67/67 | P | Tito Hornsby | 30 | top10 talent punter
|
| 57/57 | K | Dave Eiermann | 24 | top10 talent kicker
|
| 20/20 | LS | Chris Bertolone | 29 | top10 talent long snapper
|
| QB | Jamie Holmes | 22 | top5 talent kick holding
|
| RB | Dean Meadows | 28 | top10 punt returner, top10 kickoff returner
|
| WR | Brody Stevens | 28 | top35 kickoff returner
|
| CB | Amari Lavelli | 23 | top20 punt returner
|
| CB | Bart Lahnum | 27 | top10 kickoff returner
|
| CB | Tyrus Kirkpatrick | 25 | top15 kickoff returner
|
This collective comes close to what I desire. I'm undecided on whom to assign the starting roles in the return specialist roles. Meadows has fumbled a bit more than I'd like to see him do. Lavelli has been even worse (sample size be damned) fumbling 2 times on 4 returns. Lahnum and Kirkpatrick have been without fumbles so far. Kirkpatrick was an end of season signing.
In the 'other' department, we have a mixed bag of players capable to play special teams:
90+ LB Turner, S McIndoe
80+ WR Stevens, RB Connell, LB Foster, DE Morrish
70+ LB Nason, TE Elliott
60+ RB Curie, S Kornbluth, WR Allen, CB Kirkpatrick
50+ DT Stevens, DT Stiegler, FB Latschaw, FB Taliancich, RB Blair