Comments on: Vikings want to copy Bears special teams, lack key ingredient

By: Frazier28/7

Frazier28/7 — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 18:58:08 +0000

Percy Harvin is our No. 1 kick returner, and he’s one of the best in the game. Jarius Wright, Josh Robinson and Devin Armashadu are pretty good to at KR/PR.

By: comeonnowguys

comeonnowguys — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 13:49:42 +0000

I think one of the things that would make the vikings better is not not pick up Bear retreads. It used to be limited to WRs, but Bowman?

And it’s both Dave Toub and Lovie Smith. @lilmiddle is spot on. If you’re not starting, you better be contributing on special teams, or you are not making the team. Period. Not the biggest Lovie fan (also I’m not a hater), but that doesn’t happen without active support from the head coach.

Sure, Hester’s a once-in-a-generation returner, and should be the first kick returner in the Hall of Fame, but he owes Toub and his schemes some credit.

By: bobnelsonjr

bobnelsonjr — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 07:12:31 +0000

Maybe he can imitate another team. Everyone knows the vikings will never figure it out on their own.

By: esplife03

esplife03 — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 04:51:09 +0000

I’m not a Lovie Smith hater, but if we get rid of him and can’t hire Bill Cowher after this season I wouldn’t be upset if Dave Toub was coaching this team. The guy has consistently run the best special teams unit in the league and now teams in our own division are publicly admitting that they can’t figure it out. Special Teams has aspects of both offense and defense, so it’s not THAT easy of a job. Anyone remember that “fake” punt return TD from Knox last year that got called back? Even the camera couldn’t figure out what the hell was going on, it was awesome.

By: lilmiddle78

lilmiddle78 — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 03:29:20 +0000

Almost every coach in the league talks about the three phases of the game, putting equal importance unto special teams, but Lovie Smith is the only head coach that dedicates the time in every practice to make sure the Bears special teams are better than the other guys!! Dave Toub does an amazing job and keeps his special teamers inspired, but it starts at the top!! In Chicago nobody is exempt from special teams, that’s why you’ll see Julius Peppers and DJ Moore blocking kicks and Briggs & Urlacher making huge blocks on punt returns from time to time!!

As a Bears fan, I love knowing that the other team is just as nervous as I am excited whenever that ball is kicked!!!

By: justanotherdummy

justanotherdummy — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 20:39:38 +0000

Priefer is a good guy, he was my squad leader during plebe summer at Annapolis. Go Navy!

By: bla bla bla

bla bla bla — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 19:57:54 +0000

As a Packers fan I wish the Pack had Special Teams units as good as the Bears.

I hate the Bears… absolutely hate ‘em… but I have to give credit where credit is due. The Bears ALWAYS play exceptionally well on Special Teams.

It isn’t Hester, or Toub, or any one person or group of persons… it’s everyone from top to bottom.

By: stavreafavre

stavreafavre — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 19:50:34 +0000

Their kick-off return and punt teams should have plenty of opportunities to fine-tune.

By: fwippel

fwippel — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 19:47:07 +0000

The missing ingredient? Sorry, but since 2009, I’d take Percy Harvin as a return man over Devin Hester. I believe Harvin has four kickoff returns for TDs in the past three season, plus a non-scoring 104 yard effort.

I can understand the Vikings not wanting to use Harvin on punt returns, but I’d love to see him do it at least part time.

By: thankheavenfornumberseven

thankheavenfornumberseven — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 19:25:54 +0000

I was hoping our special teams coach might already have an idea how to have good special teams.

By: historicfacepalm

historicfacepalm — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 19:24:11 +0000

The key ingredient is Dave Toub, not Hester. Hester is a once a generation talent no doubt, but the Bears have had success in all phases and with other kick returners as well, don’t forget that Knox was a pro-bowl alternate and D. Manning was pretty good too.

By: scoops1

scoops1 — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 19:18:53 +0000

If the Vikings could they would copy on how to run an organization properly from The Packers

By: frankrizzo51

frankrizzo51 — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 19:16:21 +0000

Bears special teams lost a lot when Ayanbedejo signed with the Ravens. They’ve improved some since then but I still think they were much better with him. While Maynard was good, they upgraded at the right time with Podlesh.

And the trick return against Green Bay, although called back, was one of the best plays I’ve seen.

Bears special teams are smart, fast and tackle well.

That’s all.

P.S. Don’t forget Robbie Gould either.

By: bombacim

bombacim — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 19:03:30 +0000

They also have this guy named Dave Toub, that doesn’t panic when they lose guys like Daniel Manning, Brendan Ayenbadejo, and the above mentioned Zach Bowman. He knows how to coach. Apparently unlike this guy in Minnesota wondering how they got so good rather than knowing already.

By: tjacks7

tjacks7 — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 19:00:08 +0000

Wrong. You know exactly where Percy Harvin head is at during the game. That guy is tuned in and can flat out play.