Trusting Danny Smith in DC

What is up with the Redskins special teams unit this season?
There are a few things to comment here about.  Punting wise, it has been a disaster, which ultimately led to the release of rookie Punter Durant Brooks, despite being the 2007 Ray Guy Award winner and the Redskins 6th round draft pick.
Brooks fate was formally sealed yesterday when he cleared waivers and the Redskins elected to not place him on injured reserve and let him go.  Blame scouting?  How?  This was the nation’s best Punter in college football for 2007.  I don’t.  I simply blame it on a streak of special teams bad luck.
Brooks was awful, injured or not.  His punts were short, averaging under 36 yards per punt.  But, even worse yet, his punts were low, crippling the punt return coverage unit.  That caused long returns including one for a TD, that likely cost the Redskins the game.
How about punt returning?  WR Antwaan randle El’s dancing side to side and gaining 2 to 3 yards per return was getting real old.  He has lifted his return average to 6.9 yard per return, still pretty damn weak, but at least he is gaining positive yardage.  Running forward helps.  But even at that, when looking at the punt return unit as a whole, where the hell is Randle El’s blocking?  Does it not seem that by the time Randle El receives the ball, there are at least two, most of the time three, opposing coverage guys coming right at him?  The blocking punt returns has been atrocious and all the blame should not lie at the feet of Randle El.  Danny
Smith needs to make some corrections and get some guys on the field that can block.
Shaun Shuisham missed a simple 36 yarder against Cleveland.  That kick is made, the last Cleveland field goal attempt means nothing.  Missing kicks over 45, well, it happens, under 40, that’s a different story.  From my view point, couldn’t really tell if it was all Shuisham or whether it was the fact there was a new holder (P Ryan Plackemeier) and Shuisham and Plackemeier just aren’t in sync yet.  Whatever.  But, throwing Shuisham overboard for one kick is kind of absurd.  Shuisham has been pretty consistent this year and his kickoffs have been pretty strong, compared to last season.  he is getting the ball deep.  Shuisham is 3 for 4 from 40-49 and 1-2 over 49, not bad.  Fact is, whether a missed shot or a hold, kick screwup, calling for Shuisham’s head is pretty far reaching and Shuisham retains my full support.
Then there is the Rock.  The kick return unit again, year after year, seems to be the strong point of special teams.   The blocking is decent and Cartwright is a hard runner that tends to gains some yards out of the piles.  He is averaging 25.9 yards per return, 11th overall int he NFL.
That being said — there seems to be alot of criticism levied at STC Danny Smith.  There should be, it is his unit.  If the offensive lien was playing poorly, criticism would turn to Joe Bugel.  That’s the life of a position coach.  But, the fact there are fans out there calling for Smith’s dismissal is not only far fetched, but completely absurd.  Smith has proven , not just in a rather lengthy NFL resume, but here in Washington DC for over 5 years.  In those 5 years, the Redskins have had pretty strong special teams unit, especially coverages.
I trust Danny Smith to get this all straightened out and the addition of Ryan Plackemeier was the start.  Not punting for a terrific average on Sunday was not a problem for Plackemeier because he has some short punting to do, and did it well, getting nice placement inside the ten yard line twice.   The relationship between Shuisham, the kicker, and Plackemeier, the holder, will solidify this week in practice.  Smith is an excellent coach, i think one of the best special teams coaches out there, and the fact there are fans out their calling for his head, reminds me that, even in Redskins Nation, there is stupidity that reigns at times.
Now Coach, please fix the punt return blocking.