Special Teams Coordinator Byron Storer (11.5.26)
Know anything about their kicker (Charlie Smyth)?
“I do. Yeah, I remember him. He tried out at the combine. He was an IPP (International Pathway Program) tryout player at the combine, I want to say two, three years ago. And I thought he showed some promise back then, and I know he’s put in the work, and I think he has all the traits to be a really good kicker in the NFL.”
We talked to KC (Concepcion Jr.) this week, and he mentioned, like, he’s heard from opposing punters that are just avoiding him at this point. Like, I mean, this is like a dumb question probably. Is there anything you can do when you’re just avoiding a guy like that actively?
“Yeah, like I’ve said in the past, I think that, you know, just trying to slow down their gunners outside, and then also maybe put a little more pressure on the punter to get the ball off a little quicker. Those two things are things that could get you an opportunity. So, we are trying, but sooner or later it’s going to happen. We got one last week, got a 21-yard return, but we had to bring in our corners to do it. So, we ended up getting in a tight punt situation and then double-vicing their gunners and then being able to get a little bit of a return. I know KC was excited about it.”
What does it say about him? A lot of young guys might press in that moment or maybe try some returns that they shouldn’t. So, what does it say about him that he’s so patient and just kind of waiting for that opportunity?
“I think one of the reasons why we liked him as a returner was because he was a good decision maker, and that’s who he is. And so, we trust him back there. We trust him to make really good decisions, and he’s just waiting patiently for his opportunity, and sooner or later it’s going to come.”
What can you guys do to get more out of your kick return?
“So, we’re trying some different returners back there. We’ve kind of mixed and matched a little bit over the last couple, last game, and we need to block better in the setup zone. We need to, set up our blocking better. We need to make sure that we stay with our man longer without holding. There’s a lot that goes into it. We’ve been drilling it and trying to get better, and it’s a matchup-based play as well. You know, it’s very much like, you have to make sure you have the right people in the right spots. And so, we’re just continuing to learn and improve each and every week, and hopefully we’ll see some progress there soon.”
We saw what happened to Jared (Verse) when he jumps up and then gets dumped on his head on the kick. And I’ve seen some offensive linemen say that’s what they’re taught if a guy jumps in a situation like that, you’re supposed to take him down. So how do you guys deal with that situation?
“Oh, we don’t teach a guy to take his legs out and slam him to the ground. I mean, there’s no way we would discuss that. And that’s not what we’re about and it’s about the NFL is…we’re going out there and battling each other each and every week, but we’re not trying to hurt anybody. So, to me, it’s a fine line there between, you know, preventing somebody from going to make a block and then intentionally trying to hurt somebody in that situation. So, I don’t agree with that, the way that play went down. I think that we got to be careful there. And, you know, I think that play should be penalized.”
What about the fact that Jared was kind of upset that none of his teammates backed him up or defended him in that moment? I watched it again just now. It looked like almost everyone else’s back was to the play and didn’t see it in real time, but he was a little upset about that. He said he talked to his guys, and he also owned his part in it. But what do you make of that part?
“I think you’re right. I think I agree that I don’t think they saw it in the moment. And I really, to tell you the truth, didn’t really see it either. I didn’t see the severity of it until after the game. And watching it on film, you’re like, ‘whoa.’ I didn’t see that happen in real time. So, I think it’s just a case of the guys didn’t see it, and so they were – they didn’t know exactly what was going on in the moment.”
When the new kickoff system was put into place, there was some talk about some weird plays coming out of it, cross-field laterals. The other league did it. Why has that not happened?
“You know, the first time we implemented these rules, I spent the entire summer drawing up every different possible thing you could do in this new return, kickoff and kickoff return rules. But, you know, the more you try things in practice, the more you realize simpler works a little bit better. You know, and not to say there’s not room for creativity. There is. You can see it throughout the league. But, I guess somebody’s just got to go out there and do it. But, what I’ve learned is that, keeping it simpler is usually more effective than trying to, you know, get exotic.”
It’s worked in the UFL, or wherever it came from. Why wouldn’t it work in the NFL?
“You know, I guess I have to see the plays you’re talking about.”
Corey Bojorquez is supporting the Greater Cleveland Food Bank with his punting initiative, inside the 20, where every punt inside the 20 is a donation for them, he did it last year with another cause. When you have a player kind of tying their game to something that means something to them, what does that mean to you as a coach? Is there a way to get a little extra juice, to be excited when you see him kind of succeed and excel in each game getting that?
“That’s the first time I’ve heard that. So that makes me excited for him. And so, any extra motivation to get the ball pinned inside the 20, I’m all for that. And so that’s Corey right there. I mean, he’s a great person on and off the field. So no, that’s the first time I’ve heard that. So, I’ll have to talk to him about that.”
What do you see when you look at the Saints’ return game? Is that like a fast track? It feels like, at least when the Browns have gone down there, there’s a bunch of stuff that happens. There’s kind of high-scoring games in that dome.
“Oh, yeah. When you go indoors, the speed definitely picks up. And, you know, from their return perspective, about them, them is they’re fast. Now, number 19 back there, Barion Brown, got great speed, and he’s a rookie and he’s an ascending player. So, on that turf in the dome, it’ll be fast track.”
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