Redskins Insider: Lack of coverage

Antwaan Randle El has been criticized for his struggles in the punt-return game this year, and his ineffectiveness forced the Washington Redskins to put Santana Moss back for an attempt last week against the Cleveland Browns.

But things aren’t going any better for the Redskins when they punt.

A punt-coverage team that ranked among the league’s top eight the last three years ranks 29th in the NFL, and the Redskins are one of only two teams to allow multiple touchdowns.

Yes, the punting has been lousy; draft pick Durant Brooks was jettisoned after six games, and Ryan Plackemeier was serviceable in his debut. But the coverage must improve regardless of the hang time or placement of the punts.

And the special teams veterans on the Redskins know it.

“We’ve given up more than we should,” Khary Campbell said. “In years past, we’ve always been tops and took pride in that. There hasn’t been the consistency this year, and without that, it’s hard to get perfect coverage.”

Even throwing out the two touchdowns - a 55-yard score by New Orleans’ Reggie Bush and a 68-yarder by Philadelphia’s DeSean Jackson - the Redskins still would rank 13th, allowing 8 yards a return.

The Redskins ranked 26th in 2004 but then rose to second, eighth and sixth from 2005 to 2007.

But there seems to be a philosophical change within the organization this year when it comes to special teams.

Starters, for the most part, play offense and defense.

Reserves play special teams.

The punter already has been switched, but maybe a bigger part of the solution is putting big hitters like LaRon Landry and Rocky McIntosh on the coverage unit.

Against Cleveland, only two starters - safety Chris Horton and fullback Mike Sellers - played punt coverage. Only five of the 22 regular starters have played frequently on special teams this season: Randle El, Landry and Carlos Rogers on punt returns, Sellers and Horton on punt coverage and kickoff returns and Sellers on kickoff coverage.

On the punt-coverage team last week were Plackemeier, Horton, Sellers, Campbell, Kareem Moore, Todd Yoder, H.B. Blades, Rock Cartwright, James Thrash, Leigh Torrence and snapper Ethan Albright.

When Thrash started at receiver in Philadelphia (2001-03), he played special teams and served as the team’s primary kickoff returner in 2003.

“It varies from team to team,” Thrash said. “Some teams don’t want any starters on special teams; other teams want starters on the field wherever they can play. Special teams have always been a priority here, and we put our best tacklers - starters or not - on the field for coverage.”

Special teams consultant Gary Zauner, who coached for Minnesota, Baltimore and Arizona, said things have changed compared with the 1990s.

When Zauner coached for Dennis Green in Minnesota, he had freedom to use starters on special teams except for the quarterbacks and receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss. In Baltimore, Ed Reed played on punt returns and on punt coverage, and Zauner used Adalius Thomas and Will Demps. Zauner used starting linebackers and safeties on punt coverage instead of kickoff coverage because there was no wedge to collide with.

“Our philosophy was pretty much get everybody involved and everybody had to play two special teams or least be the first backup and know the [scheme],” he said Tuesday. “It all comes down to the head coach. It doesn’t matter what the special teams coach thinks even though you win with good special teams.

“Joe Gibbs is from the old school, and winning on special teams was his thing. Coaches like him and Bill Parcells and Jimmy Johnson and Bill Belichick - they don’t want to screw up punt coverage. Jimmy would use four to five defensive starters. The one part that all special teams coaches want the best guys for is punt coverage.”

Zauner said the transition from Brooks to Plackemeier shouldn’t be that severe since both are right-footed kickers, but the Redskins hope Plackemeier’s hang time - he averaged 4.11 seconds on eight kicks against Cleveland - and better tackling can improve the coverage.

“Everybody is still jelling,” Yoder said. “As we get the same unit and same punter together and keep it together, we’ll improve as we go.”