A Scout’s Take on the 2024 Chicago Bears Specialists
A Scout’s Take on the 2024 Chicago Bears Specialists
Special Teams don't get as much notoriety as they probably should, but with the new kickoff rules, maybe they will now. With the changes in the kickoff rule, kickoff returns are back to being a reality of the game. For years, the strong-legged kickoff men have had the power to kick touchbacks a high percentage of the time, and the kickoff as we used to know it has gone away.
The new rule, adopted from the XFL rule used in the 2020 and 2023 XFL seasons, will now determine how we will view kickoffs to start the game and after touchdowns. After working in the XFL in 2020, I know the rule first-hand and love it.
The kicking team can kick the ball into the endzone for a touchback, but by doing so, they give their opponent the ball at the 30-yard line. A good kick coverage unit can give the defense better field position, but on the reverse side, strong blocking can create a long return.
With the new rule, the big collisions that kickoffs provided have been taken away. The reason for this is no one has that long running start before making contact. Now the return team lines up a returner deep, and then a row of 10 blockers line up along the 30-yard line. The kicker is kicking from his 30-yard line, but the cover team is at their opponent's 35-yard line, which is just five yards away from the blockers. Neither the blockers nor the coverage can move until the return man has touched the ball.
Good special teams' coordinators can create innovative blocking schemes to open up a seam. The advantage for the rerun team is they only have one line of defense to break through in order toget a long return. On the other hand, the coverage unit is much closer to the ball when the return starts. If the coverage team can get a couple of defenders to evade a block, they can make a tackle after a short return.
The kicker cannot kick the ball into the endzone, or his team is penalized by giving the return team the ball at the 30-yard line. The ideal kick is a low line drive that lands between the 15 and 5-yard line, and the return man has to return it. The kicking team would prefer that the ball hits the ground and rolls a little, as that can be an advantage to the coverage unit. The kicking team also wants to directional kick and place the ball in a corner of the field, not the middle. That makes for easier coverage. Leg strength is no longer imperative for the kickoff man but rather the skill to be able to direct and control the kick.
The return team needs a quick, elusive return man who can make one or two defenders miss. The team that has that type of returner can get a long return if the blocking is set up well.
The Chicago Bears feel they have that person in third-year man Velus Jones. While Jones has struggled as a receiver his first two years in the League, he has done a good job with kickoffs. The new rule may play into his skill set very well.
The Bears also recently signed De'Andre Carter to return kicks. Given that Carter received a $75,000 signing bonus and the first $300,000.00 is guaranteed, it is expected that Carter will make the team. At this stage of the off-season, I doubt the Bears would guarantee that much money unless the plan was to keep Carter.
Carter is a dual returner, so he can do kickoffs and punt returns, as well as play as a slot receiver. He could be a valuable addition to the team.
The Bears' placekicker will be Cairo Santos, who has been the best kicker the Bears have had since Robbie Gould. He is almost automatic with kicks under 50 yards, and his percentage of made kicks over 50 yards is also good. Since there are no other placekickers on the roster, Santos' job is safe as it should be because of his consistency.
Rookie long snapper Cameron Lyons is in camp, but he's probably just there for a quick look, as this should be Patrick Scales' job to lose.
The punter will be rookie fourth-round pick Tory Taylor from Iowa. Taylor is a former Australian rules football player who was recruited by and signed with Iowa in 2020. He has excellent leg strength to go with outstanding hang time. What makes him more interesting is his ability to spin the ball like a golfer spins an approach shot with a wedge. He is able to get a side spin or backspin on kicks, which helps him avoid kicking too many touchbacks. That skill set can be a huge advantage for the defense as it could give the opposing offense a long field.
With all the notoriety that Taylor has gotten, he may not be the best rookie punter in the League.
Two years ago, the Buffalo Bills drafted former San Diego St. punter Matt Araiza. He led the NCAA in punting with an average of over 50 yards per kick. During training camp in 2022, Araiza was the talk of camp with his daily booming kicks that were seldom returnable. Because of an off-field incident, the Bills were forced to release Araiza before the start of the season. Matt has since been cleared of that incident and the Kansas City Chiefs signed him to be their punter this year. Like he was in the Bill training camp, Araiza was the talk of the Chiefs off-season program.
In comparing Taylor to Araiza, Araiza may have a slightly stronger leg, but he isn't able to get the spin on the ball that Taylor gets. That ability to put spin on the ball may be the difference between the two punters when comparing their rookie seasons. Regardless of who performs at a higher level, Taylor is the type of weapon the Bears have never had. It will be very interesting to watch him punt.