Every aspect of football is being affected by Rodger
Goodell’s widespread rule changes. Offenses are becoming more lethal and
defenses are becoming more confined. But, special teams is often the unit that
is left out when you hear media outlets reporting and discussing rule changes.
In actuality, the changes in rules have hurt special-teams just as much as the
two predominant sides of the ball.
Before we get to the rule changes, let’s introduce the
subject of this column. Mike Westhoff retired as special-teams coordinator of
the New York Jets after the 2012 NFL season, and his units often ranked as one
of the highest in the league. Westhoff coached 15 seasons in Miami (1986-2000)
before going to New York (2001-2012). After Westhoff retired, the Jets hired
Ben Kowitca to lead special-teams for this past NFL season. Ben subsequently
left after the Jets’ 8-8 campaign, leaving Thomas McGaughey, formerly of LSU,
as the third coach in three years at the special-teams position.
Back to Mike. Although he remained in contact with some of
the Jets coaching staff, notably Head Coach Rex Ryan, Westhoff said that
returning to the green and white as a coach was not in his consideration. For
all of the disappointed Jets fans hoping to see another glimpse of Coach
Westhoff, you can blame the new NFL.
“Many people have asked me over the past month if I’d
consider coaching the Jets. I’m not,” said Westhoff in a recent phone
interview. “I wouldn’t be interested with the [rule] changes.”
Rodger Goodell is not only impacting offenses and defenses,
but his “iron fist” is becoming obvious in special teams as well.
“When I was a coordinator,” Westhoff said, “I would
game-plan for 22 punt and kickoff plays a game, not including field goals and
extra points. Now, there’s only about eight to ten such plays.” This limits the
potential creativity from special-teams.
In fact, Mike said that some coordinators don’t know when to
allow their players to run the ball out, and when to take a knee in the end
zone, because the opportunities for runbacks are significantly less. “Most
coordinators have their guys running when they’re deep in the end zone with
they’re protection is forming at the twenty [yard line].” There is no room for
most returners to put together a good run in a situation like the one Westhoff
outlines.
This special-teams struggle can be directly attributed to
the way the NFL has allowed quarterbacks and receivers to thrive, says Mike.
“High-powered offenses means less returns.”
Volume-scoring offenses hurt both sides of the kickoff and
punting game. Less returns are obviously a big problem (worse field position,
first and foremost), but the lack of experience can hurt coverage teams as
well, something that Westhoff noticed from the Denver Broncos.
“The Broncos offense,” said Mike, “is so good offensively
that their special-teams unit rarely gets enough repetitions at returning and
covering punts and kickoffs. That’s why, when Harvin returned his touchdown,
the Broncos weren’t ready.”
Kickoffs and punts aren’t the only area that has suffered
with rule changes from the NFL. Field goals are now becoming even more
impossible to block, Westhoff says, because rule changes don’t allow larger,
gap-stuffing linemen in the middle of the line of scrimmage. “Field goals will
always be made [regardless of the rules],” Westhoff said, “but I can’t do some
of the things I used to.”
For Westhoff, the rules have diminished his intrigue in the
game. But, Mike did say he would be available for new Jets’ coordinator McGaughey,
as the two have a good relationship. In fact, Rex Ryan has contacted Westhoff
about serving as an advisor and even consultant for the team. “I would be more
than willing to help,” was Mike’s reply.
“Yeah, I could still coach,” he said definitively. “But, I
don’t have the desire to adapt to the limited rules. What do they want, for me
to coach touchbacks in the end zone?!”
Blame Goodell, Jets fans. Blame Goodell.
By: Amiri Tulloch
Host of JG Sports Talk; Cohost of the Green and White Show with Joseph Haas; 2013-14 Gameday Reporter for the New York Jets; Kid Reporter and Blogger for Sports Illustrated Kids; @AmiriTulloch on Twitter; AmiriTulloch@Gmail.com.
Want to hear more from Westhoff regarding this matter? Check out the column he wrote for MMQB.com four months ago: http://mmqb.si.com/2013/10/04/mike-westhoff-special-teams/3/
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