Macho Time on kickoffs
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Macho Time on kickoffs
Daily News staff
The Eagles are ranked 30th in the NFL in kick returns, averaging 20.1 yards per return. Only Tennessee and Oakland have a lower average.
The Birds are expected to turn to Macho Harris over Jeremy Maclin for Sunday night's game against Chicago, with Ellis Hobbs out following season-ending spinal surgery and Quintin Demps sidelined with a high ankle sprain.
“I like [Macho]," special teams coordinator Ted Daisher said. "He’s very aggressive. He hits it up in there north and south, very decisive with the ball in his hands. He has some toughness. He has a good feel on how to run the ball.
"I think Jeremy has potential to be a good returner and if we did a little better job blocking I think he would get the same results.”
The Eagles have had a significant numbers of penalties on special teams, which helps account for their poor resuls statistically, Daisher said.
“Statistically we may be down there, but if you’re an opponent playing us I think you need prepare very hard to play our kickoff return unit and our return game," Daisher said. "We have some excellent returners. I think the penalties have played a role. Obviously we would be ranked much higher if those things weren’t involved. We’re making progress. Are we where I’d like us to be right now? No, but I think we’re going in the right direction.”
On the other side of the field, the marquee name is Devin Hester, who is no longer returning kickoffs but remains the punt returner. He has returned 17 this season with a 9.9-yard average and a long of 33 yards.
“We have tremendous respect for Devin Hester," Daisher said. "I’ve watched him over the last several years; he’s obviously as good a punt returner as there has ever been, in my opinion. We have to do a good job of being disciplined, staying in our lanes and executing because if you have any problems at all with your coverage, he’ll exploit it.”
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I don't care what the stats show -- we have the absolute worst special teams in the NFL. Ted Daisher does not do a good enough job of gettin these guys prepared. Makes you really appreciate how good John Harbaugh was when he was around...— grales- Comment removed.
I'm not gonna be too interested in another Wild Card berth and a fool's-gold run that comes up short in the playoffs. It seems like this year the Eagles are in between what they were and what they're going to be. I will be pleasantly surprised if anything comes of this transition year.- Macho was a beast at VT returning kicks. I still see a big future in green for him - the guys heart is in the right place. Team first, hustle and play smart.— RodeoJones
- Say goodbye to McNabb if you want a superbowl.— phillybruce
- If HE'S so freakin' GOOD.....where's he been hiding? Right now I suggest Daisher run 'em back. That way we could get a new coach for next game.— TBear
- There will be no PO's this season. I want to see them at least break even. 8-8. Or even 9-7 but frankly, I doubt their ability with all the injuries and playcalling et al being in flux. Who knows? Perhaps they can score big again on draft day.— KGKoons
- Are we where I’d like us to be right now? No, but I think we’re going in the right direction.”... That's a great comment to make when you're 30th out of 32!!!— my3cents
- Without D McNubb and AR we'd be 7-2 or 8-1......— Mark1npt
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- DESEAN CANT DO BOTH? DONT GET IT!— socalbirdsfan
- Having a defensive player returning kicks is a sure fire way to give away at least one fumble on a kick off. They are not as familiar with tucking the ball away to protect it.— Bobphxville
- macho time is joke time.— JACK V
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- Are only women allowed to post on this site? Seems like just women comment here...lol!!— brickhead
- If you really think that without McNabb this team would be 8-1, you are out of your mind. How many yards would Kolb have thrown for to lead them over the Chargers? 700? It's hardly McNabb's fault that the team has no short yardage running game for about the 10th consecutive year. Is it McNabb's fault that the entire linebacking corps got injured as well?— JGT
- Why does it seem that people who post comments on this site WANT the Eagles to lose? What would make most of you happy? If they lose all their games and Reid and McNabb never get to work in the NFL again or if at the end of every season the two of them are hoisting the Lombardi tropthy every year? Honestly, those are your only two choices which do all of you prefer?— Eilex826
- Maclin might be fast, but he is the worst kick returner in the history of the franchise. He has NO CLUE what to do once he catches the ball, and he seems to be running at 3/4 speed until he gets nailed inside the 20!— The Cunning Runt
Can't do any worse than the job he did at FS...........— Earl J- This is where Vermeil would have guys try out and he's come up This would be better thawith 'some guy' who'd fit. Like Vince Papale(?) n we have right now. And so much more interesting.— bossrjc
- You all wanna know who should return kicks? I say kick returner by committee, Jeff Sydner and Gizmo Williams.— youpeoplehaveissues
- Let Macho return kickoffs— shaggyross
- Let Macho return kickoffs— shaggyross
- I was thinking the same thing, Bobphxville. I expect at least one fumble recovery returned for a touchdown by Chicago. This year's over for the birds.— essell
- Maybe it's his "nitch" he has to be good at something, right!!!— DJ
- I have an absolutely crazy idea! Ready for this? GO OUT AND GET A PUNT RETURNER!!! Thats right. Someone whos job is to return punts. Not taking a player from another position and making them return punts. You have all those millions of dollars not being used, tons of draft picks each year. Why not use a draft pick on a punt returner! Or sign a free agent. Maybe David Hester will be available at some point.— philliekev04
