Wednesday, June 12, 2002

'Super' teams must have sound special teams

Bad special-teams units are kryptonite to Super Bowl hopefuls

By Jeff Reynolds, Associate editor

The MVP of the Super Bowl was Brady, who calmly marched the Patriots down the field in the final minute but otherwise did less to lose the game than he did to win it. Yes, Belichick’s defense held the heavily favored Rams to 14 points, beat up regular-season MVP QB Kurt Warner and forced turnovers.

But New England is part of history because of the right leg of PK Adam Vinatieri and its special teams. Vinatieri broke the 17-17 tie in the waning moments of regulation with a 48-yard field goal. It was Vinatieri’s leg that won New England’s playoff opener in the snow, when the Pats edged Oakland. In the Super Bowl, WR-RS Troy Brown helped the Patriots outgain the Rams in return yards 181-88. Field position was in the Patriots' favor for the duration of the game.

Yes, Brady and Belichick deserve some credit. No Super Bowl champion has been crowned without some degree of symmetry between its offense and defense. But the third cog in the wheel, and maybe the most important, is special teams. They are what get you to the Super Bowl.

Scuffling through the regular season in 2000, the Ravens went without an offensive touchdown for six consecutive games. Their dominant defense wasn’t able to win games on its own, and the offense never truly stopped sputtering. The Ravens stayed afloat because of their defense, but don’t underestimate the contributions of P Kyle Richardson (he punted 10 times for a 43-yard average in Super Bowl XXXV), PK Matt Stover (he led the NFL in scoring) and RS Jermaine Lewis (84-yard kickoff return for a TD in Super Bowl).

Even the Rams, on their mini-run over the last three seasons, have benefited from sound special teams. PK Jeff Wilkins and WR Az-Zahir Hakim, in particular, simplified things and shortened the field for head coach Mike Martz.

Just ask Titans head coach Jeff Fisher how far his team might have gone in 2000 had PK Al Del Greco been able to kick a football through the Panama Canal. Or ask Marv Levy where the Bills might stand in NFL lore had PK Scott Norwood gone a little to the left.

Last season, the Patriots were the direct beneficiaries of the Steelers’ special-teams shortcomings, especially those of PK Kris Brown (now of the Texans). Brown missed more field goals than any kicker in the league and most of them at home, when the advantage is usually said to be the greatest.

Several fringe teams will use quality special teams to move up in the NFL pecking order this season. My guess? Jon Gruden’s Buccaneers with PK Martin Gramatica will make an extra play or two that makes the difference. He has plenty of athletes to pitch in on coverage teams, and the return game will be better. Rookie WR Marquise Walker has a knack for blocking kicks and punts, a reputation he earned swatting two in a game while playing at Michigan. Now if the Bucs get a score or two out of their extras, it could mean that long-awaited Super Bowl appearance is closer than Tampa Bay thinks.

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