Oakland Raiders: Special teams underrated key to success

January 30, 2:11 AMOakland Raiders ExaminerPatrick Patterson

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Ekejiuba (50) and Scott (91) were key to ST play
Photo by Patrick A. Patterson/TFDSsports.com

When evaluating a player or a team, it is easy to look at offense and defense to find the strengths and weaknesses. However, what is often lost in the shuffle is the importance of special teams to the result of a game. The special teams unit shined for the Raiders in 2008 by scoring 5 touchdowns on returns, and putting opposing teams in bad field position. 

The Raiders have an incredible kicking tandem in Sebastian Janikowski and Shane Lechler. Janikowski twice set the record for the longest field goal by a Raider during the 2008 season and was perfect from inside of 40 yards. He only had two misses of less than 50 yards, and no miss more spectacular than when Lane Kiffin sent him out for a mind boggling 76 yard try. However, he has overcome his early inconsistency to become one of the best kickers in the league. On kickoffs, he is always among the league leaders in touchbacks. On one kickoff last season, the Raiders had to kick off from their own 15 because of an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty so Janikowski kicked it 85 yards in the air and it still landed on the goal line. Lechler is the All-Pro punter, as well as the punter on the AFC Pro Bowl squad. He has established himself as the best punter in the league now, and the heir apparent to Ray Guy.

Johnnie Lee Higgins and Justin Miller took the spotlight with their combined five touchdown returns for touchdowns. However, what was not noticed by fans was the fact that the Raiders special teams cleared the way for these guys to have their spectacular runs. Isaiah Ekejiuba was noticed by the league, however, as he was made a Pro Bowl alternate as the Special Tams position.

Not lost in the praise is the Raiders coverage teams. They had one let up against New England which went for six on a kickoff return, but otherwise they were money in the bank. Every time a Raider kicker put the ball in the air, there was Ekejiuba, Trevor Scott, or Hiram Eugene ensuring that the return man was stopped in his tracks.

Thee are two concerns for the Special Teams this offseason. The first is resigning Shane Lechler as he is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent when the league year resets on March first. Lechler is a rare punter in that he can boom punts that would turn Ray Guy green with envy, and has developed his own unique finesse style to pin opponents deep when he has to do a punt from close in. The other concern is the departure of Special Teams coordinator Brian Schneider to USC. This season, they were able to overcome the retirement of Special Teams captain Jarrod Cooper, so hopefully they can continue to make plays for the Silver and Black

SEE ALSO:

• Special Teams Raiders SIlver Lining
• Unsung Raider Spotlight: Isaiah Ekejiuba
• Janikowski and Lechler special
• The Asomugha Lechler Conundrum

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