One of the many takeaways from new Browns special teams coordinator Mike Priefer’s engaging press conference during the second week of OTAs was a sound bite he dropped about using starters on special teams.
That was something former coach Hue Jackson didn’t like to do. It showed in the results. Under Jackson and deposed special teams coach Amos Jones, the Browns ranked near the bottom in average starting field position allowed on kickoffs and the punt coverage was little better. There were blocked attempts and poor blocking on return units.
Things will be different under Priefer, who has head coach Freddie Kitchens’ blessing to use whatever players he feels he needs to make his special teams units more successful.
“I don’t like to criticize what they did in the past,” Priefer said this week. “I know that they were not allowed to use some of the personnel that were necessary. I think that starts with the head coach, and I know Freddie has done a great job at saying, ‘Hey, Prief, whatever you need and it’s going to help you win. If you need starters on offense, starters on defense to help on some of the phases, then use them and use the backups.’”
Continuity with the reserves can help, too. Backup LB Ray-Ray Armstrong and undrafted rookie CB Tavierre Thomas helped lift the unit once they played more significant roles, particularly Thomas on coverage units.
Priefer understands the importance of the reserves and relays that Kitchens does too.
“Obviously, the backups are going to be on everything. To be honest with you, it starts with the head coach. Freddie has done a great job giving us a time in all three phases to be. We are a lot further ahead than I have ever been at some of the places I have been because of the time that the head coach has given us on special teams. That’s huge.”
