Special teams right on target

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This article was published 22/07/2011 (5222 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO — Once again, with the Toronto Argonauts in sight, the focus for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers returns to one player on special teams.

Returner Chad Owens is a well-deserved bullet point, of course, given his explosive track record. Who could forget those three returns for touchdowns (one punt, two missed field goals) he had against the Blue and Gold last year?

This season, however, the Bombers appear to have figured out the Argos’ special teams riddle (which in turn, neuters Toronto’s field position game) and the talented Mr. Owens has yet to light the fuse.

Fumbling

It’s just one game, but in the meeting with the Bombers two weeks ago Owens managed just 19 yards on five punt returns, fumbling the ball three times (losing one). He wasn’t a concern for the Bombers in that 22-16 home win and on the eve of the rematch at Rogers Centre Saturday (3 p.m., TSN CJOB), his name hasn’t been a hot topic around Canad Inns Stadium, either.

Here’s the reason: Winnipeg special teams coverage unit — much maligned in 2010 like only a group that allowed six TDs against can be — has found its target.

“It’s really just teamwork now,” Pierre-Luc Labbe said after practice Thursday.

Labbe is Winnipeg’s special teams captain, so he spends most of his game minutes chasing down kicks. He saw first-hand the poor work turned in a year ago and insists his “teamwork” answer isn’t just a throwaway cliché.

“Maybe we were a little too selfish last year and were trying to make more plays instead of just staying in our lanes,” he offered. “Guys have bonuses (in their contracts), right? Guys sometimes will try to make a little more when they can.

“I’m seeing less of that this time around, which is probably why we’re having success. Guys are growing up.”

Here’s how effective the Bombers kick coverage has been through the first three games of the 2011 schedule:

— The league average for kickoff returns is 20.6 yards. For punt returns, the average comes in at 10.3 yards.

— Bomber opponents are averaging 17.1 yards per kickoff return and just 4.5 yards per punt return.

That punt total is an incredible number, and when you consider Winnipeg has faced the likes of Owens, Hamilton’s Marcus Thigpen, and Calgary Larry Taylor — three of the more dangerous men in open field with the football — it speaks volumes to how effective this group can be when everyone is pulling on the same rope.

“Without a doubt, we’re being more disciplined in our coverage lanes,” said special teams coach Kyle Walters. “You can see it on film each week. But I would like to attribute our strong showing thus far to just putting in the time needed to be successful. We’re working at it more, and the guys are growing more comfortable in the system.”

Give credit where credit is due: Walters took a lot of heat during his first year with the club, with many fans calling for his head following for the 2010 season. Management stuck with him, though, and that continuity has produced results for the Bombers.

Walters says the players trust the system now. It doesn’t hurt to have one of the better directional punters (Mike Renaud) delivering the ball into areas on the field and scheming four different looks on kickoffs — including the short pooch boot that has left returners baffled on when to let the ball bounce or when come up and catch it on the fly.

Then there’s the embarrassment factor.

After blowing up time and time again last season, Walters also says some pride has come into special teams equation this year.

“Guys weren’t happy with how things went last season,” he said. “None of us were.”

adam.wazny@freepress.mb.ca