In the real world, the closest profession to a special-teams coverage man would be a ditch-digger.
Digging holes is what both jobs are all about, and the Bears’ special-teams players have been masterful so far at the shoveling game. Heading into Thursday’s game with Detroit, the Bears have allowed the lowest kick-return average (16.1 yards) and punt-return average (4.2) in the league.
“We know if we get down there and get our defense some good field position, it’s going to be real hard for the other team’s offense,” said special-teams standout Maurice Douglass.
After leading the Bears last year with 19 special-teams tackles, Douglass is again atop the hit list with eight. His primary duty, however, is to energize the coverage teams and lead them downfield into the scrum.
“I try to get the whole corps of special-teams guys jacked up,” Douglass said. “(Special-teams coach) Danny Abramowicz came to me this year and said, `Hey, get the guys going a little bit.’ If we can get ’em jacked from the beginning, then we’re going to have success.”
“It’s all a type of attitude,” added Markus Paul. “It’s not something that we shoot for anymore. It’s expected. We’re expected to go down and keep people inside the 20 on kickoff coverage. It’s just a pride thing.”
Punt coverage has been near-perfect at times. Last Sunday in Kansas City, the Chiefs started out drives on their 8, 17, 12 and 26 following Chris Gardocki’s four punts, none of which were returned. Kansas City had been averaging 10.4 yards per punt return, but poor field position haunted the Chiefs throughout their 19-17 loss.
Coach Dave Wannstedt has increased the daily allotment of time spent on special teams from 10 minutes to almost an hour, Douglass said. Each practice includes a 30-minute walk-through followed by a special-teams meeting.
“You really can’t simulate the blocking schemes full-tilt, because guys would get killed out there,” he said. “But we’re getting in a lot more work than in the past, and it’s paid off.”
Gardocki’s hang time and corner kicking have been two of the key factors in holding down opposing punt returners. Despite a mediocre 38.5 average on his punts, 26th in the NFL, Gardocki has kicked a league-high 21 inside the 20. Only 12 of his 53 punts have been returned.
The Bears’ coverage teams don’t just consist of reserves earning their only playing time. Starting linebackers Vinson Smith, Ron Cox and Joe Cain have all contributed to the mix.
“They put a lot of people on the team that have character,” said ex-Cowboy Smith. “They’re not afraid to use starting players. They just want people out there with special abilities and the `want’ to do it. That’s what’s made a difference here, and in Dallas, too. It got me in the league, and it has kept me in the league.”
The Bears will not see Lions return ace Mel Gray. Third in the NFL with a 26.6-yard kickoff-return average, Gray is out with an ankle injury. He has been a Bear-killer in recent years, with kickoff returns of 45 and 49 yards against them the last two years.
But Vernon Turner, Gray’s replacement on both kickoffs and punts, is also dangerous. A free agent who played with the Rams last year, Turner ranks right behind Gray in NFC kickoff-return average at 22.8. With a 25.4 average, Detroit is third in the league behind Atlanta (25.8) and Green Bay (25.6).
Douglass, Gray’s teammate at Coffeyville Junior College in Kansas, is one of the rare Bears who wishes Gray were able to play.
“Mel is the best,” Douglass said. “But this guy they have back there now, Turner, is pretty dang good. He’s only a shade or two below Mel, as far as being elusive.”
