Antonio Allen got a concussion yesterday playing on special teams. Earlier in the preseason, Calvin Pryor experienced the same thing. I understand that Rex values special team play, but I think it's time to stop playing quality starters on special team coverage. Some people say that injuries are just a part of football, but I just want to make a few points. First, by playing guys like Pryor and Allen on defense AND on special teams, you are increasing their chance of injury just by increasing the number of plays they participate in. Second, while we need guys like this with their special skillsets and abilities on defense, we don't really gain that much by playing them over someone like Salim Hakim or Clyde Gates. Sure, every once in a hundred plays, having Pryor out there instead of Gates might lead to a more favorable play, but most times, you can make do with dedicated special teamers/second tier players. So you are exposing these guys to a lot of risk for very minimal gain. Some people might say these guys gain experience from playing special teams, but they would gain that experience playing normal defensive snaps too, and that experience would be more relevant to their position. Finally, while defensive plays might be slow or fast, special teams plays almost always happen at high speed, leading to a higher risk of injuries.
I saw the play where Allen got hurt and it wasn't special teams. The broadcaster got it wrong. That said, agree with the gist of your argument.
Allen got hurt on a defensive play. Otherwise, I do get your point although it loses the only case you have. I still think (unfortunately) Bill B said it best. You tell me when a player will get hurt, and I won't play them that play. Otherwise starters/important players will play special teams and there will be a risk to having them injured.
We're talking about 10 more snaps at the very most for the starters.If it means more big plays(This team's longtime downfall) I'm all for it. Injuries happen
Last year we had lousy Special Teams, outside of our field goal unit. Everything else was a horrorshow. So this year they want to add more starters to the special teams squads to get better performance out of it- maybe block some punts, maybe return some punts or kickoffs for TDs. The downside is that maybe some starters could get hurt. I think if we want to make the playoffs, it's a risk we have to be willing to take- we would likely need that edge in some closer games to maybe eke out one or two wins we wouldn't otherwise have. I'm fine with it.
Many defensive players play on special teams. That's just the way it is. It happens all around the league. Darrelle friggin Revis played special teams for us. Sure we could take all starters off ST, including Kerley, but it's silly to do that because of paranoia, and in reality it's a poor argument. Injuries happen, you shouldn't play the game scared of getting hurt. It's like saying that if somebody gets hurt playing defense, they shouldn't play defense.
Players are more likely to get hurt playing Defense, so we should move all of our stars to STs where they can dominate and leave playing Defense to the backups. If one of them gets hurt is no biggie. Same logic and works for me!
agreed with the rest that you have to play some starters on special teams. i think most people don't realize your FG unit is almost all starters. people don't realize, and then only complain when someone gets hurt, ala Gronk. Safeties in particular play on most ST. All of ours do with exception of Landry. Allen and Pryor (as well as Bush, Jarrett and Miles) have been out there with most of the starting ST units. Pryor looks quite good at it. and no one complained last season when Allen had the blocked punt/TD against Oak. you need some impact plays on ST, and having some starters out there increase that likelihood.
If it were that easy to not play any starters on special teams that would mean the rosters were extended. It's hard enough to keep every guy on offense and defense insured with a backup let alone have entire special teams units without starters.
Last year Antonio Allen blocked 2 punts, including one that he recovered himself for a touchdown. I want him on special teams.
When the other team is expected to kick an on-sides-kick, Coach will put his 'Hands Team' up front. 'Hands Team' being all your starting WRs (except Hill obviously).
