Seely pushing special teams

06.21.2009

The Browns' special teams units have been among the league's best - both in terms of statistics and in quality of personnel - over the last several years.

Long snapper Ryan Pontbriand has been to two straight Pro Bowls. Joshua Cribbs was the first Pro Bowl alternate as both the return specialist and cover man last season; he's led the Browns in special teams tackles the last four years while breaking several franchise return records. Kicker Phil Dawson and punter Dave Zastudil are reliable veterans coming off outstanding seasons as well.

Now that new special teams coordinator and assistant head coach Brad Seely is overseeing the special teams units, it's one of his challenges to make those players even better. And among the first things Seely has done is tell his core players that he expects just that - improvement - in 2009.

"Nobody is the best at everything," Seely said. "This team on special teams has been very solid. It's been a team that I've played against before and felt like they gave you some real difficulties because of the players.

"I think you can always improve that by maybe a change of the scheme, maybe a change of how you are going to get these guys motivated to play a little bit differently or a little harder, or somewhat come across with a different message of how we are going to be successful."

With every new season comes new challenges. Dawson and Zastudil never know what weather they may encounter kicking in Cleveland, and the Browns will play four December home games this season. Cribbs may have an expanded role on offense - and possibly even defense - and will now return kicks without the benefit of a full "wedge" of blockers after a spring rule change limited the number of blockers who form that wedge to two. And the coaching changes will lead to new roles and new players filling those roles on every special teams unit.

"I think it always comes down to players," Seely said. "There will be some change in our roster I am sure, and some of that will be reflected on special teams.

"There is always a learning time where we have got to figure out what is the best that these guys do, where can we put them in the best spots, how can they be successful I think it takes a while. We've started a phase of it already with the OTAs and the minicamps, but we are out there practicing in pajamas, so we don't know anything until somebody puts their pads on."

Browns coach Eric Mangini joked earlier this month that, three months before the Browns will play a game, Seely was already campaigning for as many special teams players as possible to be active on the team's 45-man gameday roster.

And Seely -- a 21-year NFL coaching veteran who spent the last 10 years with the Patriots -- hinted that may be true.

"I like to think I have some influence," he said. "The thing about Coach Mangini, which is one of the reasons I work here, is because I think he knows the importance of special teams. He knows how important those players are. I think the back end of your roster, the guys that are really going to be your core special teams players, it's always going to be a battle.

"The offense has their guys, the defense has their guys. We've just got to find a balance there. It's always a balance, get the best players you can for the most spots you can. That's always a battle at every training camp."