The Bears’ special teams, giving away points as well as yards and depleted by injuries, are considering moving some defensive starters onto coverage units to help stop the hemorrhaging.
“It looks like we may have to go that avenue, with the injuries,” special-teams coach Keith Armstrong said Sunday. “It could solidify some things, and maybe that’s an answer.”
Starters such as Marty Carter, Barry Minter and others have played special teams in the past. An 83-yard touchdown punt return by Deion Sanders and 150 yards of total return yardage again left the Bears looking for answers in an area of their game that has provided few.
A kicking consultant brought in last week apparently didn’t provide any for punter Todd Sauerbrun.
“Obviously, it didn’t help,” a disgusted Sauerbrun said. “I’m out there trying different things. I need to just go do the things I do best. I can’t be experimenting in the middle of the season like this, and that’s what I’ve been doing.”
But Sauerbrun did not blame the coaching, the coverage or anyone else for his problems. On Sanders’ return, he got off a 50-yard punt that, with a hang time of only 4.2 seconds, gave Sanders his opportunity.
“I’m not hitting the ball worth a (darn),” he said.
