49ers’ special teams should improve in ‘08

By Jeff Dickinson  |   Tuesday, July 15, 2008  |  Comments( 6 )

San Francisco 49ers
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In the kicking area of special teams, the San Francisco 49ers were pretty good in 2007. Punter Andy Lee and kicker Joe Nedney performed solidly all season for a team that didn’t. As far as returns, however, the 49ers didn’t fare as well.

San Francisco didn’t run back any punts or kickoffs for a touchdown, and the punt return tandem of Michael Lewis and Nate Clements only averaged 8.6 yards per attempt. Things should be better for the 49ers in 2008, though, after the offseason signing of veteran return man Allen Rossum.

Rossum, who is officially listed as a defensive back, has been a return specialist for most of his career. Speed has been a big part of Rossum’s game ever since he set the state high school track record in the 100-meter event in Texas. Rossum continued to cement his reputation as a speed burner when he won the NFL’s “Fastest Man” competition at the 2005 Pro Bowl in Hawaii. In the 2004 playoffs versus the St. Louis Rams, Rossum set the NFL record for punt return yardage (152) while with the Atlanta Falcons. He gained that yardage on only three returns.

Lee was one of the top punters in the league last season with an average of 47.3 yards per kick. He also had an impressive 42 punts that landed inside the opposing 20-yard line. While having one of your players lead the league in a category is usually good, Lee’s statistics are also a little bittersweet. Having 42 punts land inside the 20 means two things: Firstly, Lee is accurate; secondly, he was forced to punt a lot because of San Francisco’s inept offense.

Nedney has been very consistent during his time with the 49ers and over his 12-year career. While he doesn’t possess the leg that he once had, Nedney is still a very accurate kicker. Nedney connected on all 16 of his field goal attempts inside 50 yards last season, which was quite impressive. Understandably, he wasn’t as successful from beyond 50 yards, only hitting one of three.

With Rossum’s speed and experience in the return department, Lee’s strong and accurate leg and Nedney's consistency, the 49ers should be much improved in the special teams department in ‘08. Of course, whether the offense will hold up its end of the bargain remains to be seen.
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About Jeff Dickinson

I have been writing and editing professionally for 18 years. I spent the first three years of my career as a sportswriter for a daily newspaper in Alabama and got to cover sports and get paid for it! It was great until I got married and then it wasn't too much fun being away from my wife every...
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