One of Chip Kelly’s major tasks as he takes over the Eagles will be to fix the team’s floundering special teams. It doesn’t take detailed analysis to conclude the Eagles special teams were woeful in 2012, but just in case you weren’t sure, well, now we have some proof.

Rick Gosselin of The Dallas Morning News analyzed the special teams performances of each of the league’s 32 based on 22 different categories.

So just how are important are special teams? Four of the top five teams made the playoffs and another four finished in the top 15.

As for the Eagles, the only surprise is that they didn’t finish last. They ranked 28th overall, ahead of Oakland, Detroit, Washington and Carolina.

So perhaps it’s also unsurprising that April won’t be back in Philadelphia next season. Once a much-heralded special teams guru with Buffalo, April was a disaster in Philadelphia.

Also unsurprising? The Raiders hired April to coach special teams last week.

Here, of course, is April’s signature failure with the Eagles.

Defensive tackle Jeff Owens blocks a soccer ball as special teams coordinator Bobby April looks on. (Photo: Ryan Messick)

It’s just another normal afternoon practice for the Eagles in the Lehigh Valley.  On a special teams play, Jeff Owens bursts around an offensive lineman, lunges forward with his hands in the air and blocks… a soccer ball?  That’s just one of the creative ways special teams coordinator Bobby April is changing how the Eagles practice this season.

While there were no vuvuzelas being used (thankfully), the Birds have grown accustomed to  different equipment – like soccer balls and a mechanical leg.  “It’s just a little bit easier, you can go a little bit faster, you just put it on the ground. With a football… you have to set it on a tee, or somebody has to hold it and it just delays it,” said April.

The special teams coordinator mentioned that safety was a concern as well, as the soccer ball is more comfortable to block.  That’s the same reason for the mechanical leg, to prevent injury from someone running into the punter.

April’s creativity and enthusiasm make him a catch for the Eagles, according to head coach Andy Reid. “Bobby comes in as one of, if not the top special teams coach in the National Football League. He’s a heck of a special teams coach,” Reid said.  “The real good ones are able to teach angles. There’s no place that you’ve got to cover more field than on special teams.”

April came to the Eagles from the Bills, where he spent the last six seasons running their special teams, before the entire staff was released in the offseason.  The New Orleans native was twice honored as the special teams coordinator of the year, in 2004 and 2008.  April’s units in Buffalo finished atop the league three times according to the rankings compiled by Rick Goselin, a columnist for the Dallas Morning News.

Special teams coordinator Bobby April during practice. (Photo: Ryan Messick)

April’s success goes well beyond his use of soccer balls and mechanical legs.  Observing the 57-year-old during a special teams practice is educational and entertaining.  April demands high intensity from his players, frequently stops drills to teach the finer points of special teams and he’s often got a smile on his face.

Even when April is urging his players to put more effort into the practice, it’s not done with anger.  It’s loud, sure, but it’s often followed by a smile and a funny phrase emphasizing the point.  Over the weekend, April got on his players to push themselves harder, then waved his arm over his head like a lasso and yelled “Cowboy up!”

Head coach Andy Reid hopes his special teams squad does just that this season, under the tutelage of one of the best coordinators in the league.

Training Camp Coverage

ITI’s Ryan Messick will be back at Lehigh University next Thursday, when the Eagles have a mock game scheduled for 10:30 A.M.

DeSean Jackson prepares to field a punt during practice on August 7, 2010.

It looks as though the Eagles are preparing Avant as the emergency return man. “You never know how this roster is going to play out, and if your top two guys are injured, you’ve got to have some contingency plan. I thought he was the best one,” said April.

April also said he doesn’t know whether or not Jackson or Maclin will be available to return punts this season. “Andy and I have not talked. We’ve talked in general, but not specifically about what he’ll want to do,” said April. “Like I said last time we had this press conference, whatever he decides, it’s going to be a tough decision, because that’s an offensive player.”

Notes

David Akers spent some time in the trainer’s tent after injuring his heel on a kickoff. The veteran took a few minuets to walk it off and was able to get back onto the field to work on onside kicks.

Ken Parrish has worked as both a kicker and punter in camp, and April says he’s got a shot at making the team. “His numbers are better than last year, and he’s been kicking off, and he’s been holding. So that’s a valuable guy. It’ll be a tough decision [whether] to let him go, because he’s talented,” April said. Both Parrish and Rocca drew continued praise from April throughout his morning press conference. April said that Rocca holds the lead on the position, but Parrish still has a shot.

Training Camp Coverage

Check back tomorrow morning for a video recap of this weekend’s action at training camp. ITI will also be back at Lehigh University next Thursday, when the Eagles have a mock game scheduled for 10:30 A.M.

Upcoming Articles

Tomorrow check out ITI to learn more about Bobby April and some of the creative things he’s done in practice with the special teams units.

Tuesday you’ll have a chance to learn more about Ken Parrish, a local product with an interesting background.