espn.go.com
By Kevin Seifert Sep 25 10:55 PM ET
quote:With 1 minute, nine seconds remaining in the game, the Packers called for Tim Masthay to punt toward the left sideline on a fourth-down play at the Bears' 46-yard line. According to receiver/returner Johnny Knox, the Bears "knew he was going to kick it that way because their scheme and what hash they were on."
As a result, Bears special teams coordinator Dave Toub called for a return the team had practiced but obviously not run in a game. Knox, lined up as a "jammer" against Packers "gunner" Jarrett Bush, turned and sprinted down the left sideline at the snap. At the same time, Packers punt returner Devin Hester sprinted toward the right sideline, along with eight Bears blockers.continue
Trick play designed, executed almost perfectly
chicagobears.com
By: Larry Mayer | Last Updated: 9/27/2011 4:28 PM
quote:Several aspects of the deceptive play, which was created by Bears special teams coordinator Dave Toub, had to go exactly as planned for it to work as well as it did.
First, the Packers had to “pooch” punt to their left as they normally have done. The Bears actually tried to run the play while trailing 20-10 late in the third quarter, but Masthay surprised them by punting to his right.
“It works when you know where they’re going to kick the ball,” Toub said. “When they’ve got a consistent tendency of pooching in one direction or the other, then you can try it. That’s why it worked, and that’s why we did it.”
The second element is tricking the gunner on the left side of the formation. It worked to perfection Sunday as Green Bay’s Jarrett Bush peeled off to the right toward Hester.
“The whole key is the deception on the gunner on that side because he’s the one that’s assigned to down the ball,” Toub said. “The punt team is going to cover the returner. So they’re really not looking at the ball at all. They’re going to the returner no matter what. The key was getting Bush tricked.”
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Having a tell like that is inexcusable. This is basic stuff that doesn't happen in 31 other cities. It's way past the point of forgiveness. They're going to let Slocum keep dicking around until it costs them a season with an early playoff exit. MM deserves an absolute grilling from the media at the next presser for his ST Coach letting another embarrassing return happen. We see the results of good coaching all over the field on offense and defense and there's a glaring lack of competence on the special teams.
Maybe they get by with all the other areas of the game excelling but this coaching staff isn't going to remain intact forever. The old saying if you're not getting better you're getting worse doesn't just apply to the players. They need to stop carrying Slocum's dead weight and get someone in there who knows what the heck they're doing for next year. The Packers have assembled a collection of talent that most team's fans don't get to see together in a lifetime. It would be a crying shame if they lose a chance at a title because the head coach is too stubborn to hold a friend accountable for his poor performance. In all my years of watching football I can't remember a single coach doing as poor a job as Slocum. He's simply unfit for the job.
