Atlanta Falcons special teams preview

By Ken Sugiura

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

FLOWERY BRANCH — After practice Wednesday, Eric Weems had one field to himself as he fielded punts. On another, special-teams coordinator Keith Armstrong tutored rookie Lawrence Sidbury on the finer points of blocking for the field-goal unit.

“I don’t think the hay is ever in the barn,” Armstrong said. “It’s always something different.”

Last season, in his first run with the Falcons’ special teams, Armstrong managed to deliver a fair amount of hay into the barn. Kicker Jason Elam had the best season of his 16-year career. The Falcons’ punt-coverage team set an NFL record for fewest return yards allowed. Jerious Norwood finished fourth in the NFC in kickoff-return average.

“I thought that there were times where we could have played better,” Armstrong said. “But for the most part, we were a good unit and we made plays that had an impact on the game.”

That ought to continue. Most of the key pieces, such as Elam, Norwood, punter and kickoff specialist Michael Koenen, long snapper Mike Schneck and special-teams aces Jason Snelling and Coy Wire are still on the roster.

“I think that we’ve got some things done with the foundation, and we’re building on it again this year,” Armstrong said.

While Koenen’s punting unit set the return-yardage record, it tied for 15th in net punting average.

“There’s always things you can work on,” Koenen said, citing examples such as landing more balls inside the 20-yard line and closer to the sidelines, increasing hang time and improving net average.

Norwood, who averaged 25.7 yards per return in 2008, will have to adjust to a new rule that bans the use of wedges made up of more than two players. The team has devoted considerable time to that unit in weeks leading to Sunday’s season opener against the Dolphins. The Falcons had only four kickoff returns of 40 or more yards — 11 teams had more — and haven’t returned a kickoff for a touchdown since 2002.

Improvement will be in the details. For instance, Norwood has a habit of catching the kick before bursting upfield, rather than leaning forward into the catch to get a head start.

“It gives you just one more step, but that might be the step that might get you through the hole,” Armstrong said.

Weems is the most significant new piece on special teams, having won the punt-return job in the preseason. He replaces Harry Douglas, who took over the punt-return duties midway through last season and finished with an 11.9 yards per return average, but was lost for the 2009 season in training camp with a torn knee ligament. Weems’ first punt return Sunday will be the first of his pro career.

“I know I’m going to have good plays, and I’m going to have bad plays,” Weems said. “I’m just trying to make more good than bad.”

Elam won’t have an easy time improving on his 2008 form. He missed only two of his 31 field-goal tries, and his 93.5 percent accuracy rate was the best of his career.

“I’ve never been 100 percent for a season, so there’s still plenty I can work on,” said Elam, a Brookwood High grad. “There’s always room to get better.”