Cards’ special teams seek consistency

The Cardinals’ special teams haven’t been especially special this season. True, they have made some great plays, including a block and two deflections of punts plus a punt return for a touchdown.

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But the coverages too often have been ineffective. And their punting stats are near the league’s bottom.

In the sort of hair-raising close games they have routinely been involved in, such deficiencies can be fatal.

During the bye-week break, coach Ken Whisenhunt called his special teams’ play “inconsistent.”

“We’ve had some very good things. … Obviously we’ve had some big returns but we’ve given up some big returns.

“That’s the biggest thing we have to do over the second half: establish more consistency from our special teams.”

The Cardinals’ most recent game, a narrow loss at Washington, was a great example.

On the one hand, Matt Ware deflected a punt; it went for just 3 yards. And — in a play that might have won them the game had Neil Rackers converted a 55-yard field goal try — the Cards recovered an onside kick.

But on the downside, they gave up an 80-yard kickoff return to start the second half.

And punter Mike Barr missed all three of his chances to bury the Redskins inside their 20-yard line on punts from 50-plus yards out.

Two kicks went into the end zone, while another bounced backward just outside the 20.

“That’s three balls on the 20 that should be inside the 20,” Barr said, adding, “I’m going to get after it this week.”

The Cardinals also want to improve their kick-return game, which ranks 21st, to give their offense better starting points.

Kevin Spencer, the special-teams coach, said Whisenhunt “was teasing me” about punt return coverage recently, reminding him the Cardinals were giving up “16.1 yards a pop” (30th in the league).

Take away two punt returns, and the Cardinals are giving up fewer than 10 yards per return.

“But that’s excuse making,” Spencer said. “You got to factor in those two.”

Usually, “The coverage is going to be affected by how well you punt.

“If Mike punts it efficiently, then our coverage guys will be good. I think it’s something we’ll continue to clean up. If he punts well, we’ve got guys who can run … But you have to give them a decent ball to cover.”

On the plus side, rookie kick returner Steve Breaston looks like a keeper.

Thanks to Breaston, the Cardinals are averaging 11.6 yards per return, No. 7 in the league.

Though Breaston hasn’t been as effective on kickoffs, Spencer said, “You have 11 guys out there. You watch the film and say, ‘Everybody did their job except one guy.’ That’s usually why it broke down.”

Overall, Spencer is “really happy” with Breaston.

“When the other 10 guys do their job reasonably well, then Steven is going to shine. He has a lot of courage. He’s got good speed.

“He’s done a good job of managing that part of the game for a young guy.”

The Cardinals are hoping the return to good health of special-teams players Sean Morey and Aaron Francisco will help with the problems.

Said Morey, who missed the Redskins game with a concussion, “It’s important for everybody to pay attention to detail, know our assignments, and just execute.

“Special teams has the ability to put our offense on a short field and score. … Especially in close, tight games, the games we’ve been in, field position plays such a critical role.

“The special teams give us that opportunity to win those close games.”