Coverage plan flawed

New England kickoff unit struggling

The last two weeks, the Patriots have been scorched badly in kickoff coverage.

Against the Bills and Leodis McKelvin, Buffalo had three returns for a total of 138 yards, an astounding average of 46 yards per kick return that included an 85-yarder that nearly went for a touchdown. Last Thursday against the Jets, it was more of the same — New York had six returns for 189 yards, an average of 32 yards a return. The killer was a 92-yard touchdown return midway through the second quarter by Leon Washington.

To be fair, Washington (29.6 yards a return, 2nd in the NFL) and McKelvin (29 yards a return, 3rd in the NFL) are two of the three best kick returners in the league. But at the same time, Patriots coach Bill Belichick acknowledges the work of the kickoff coverage team has been substandard over the last two weeks.

“We have to do a better job of covering the kicks and the overall coordination of our coverage units,” Belichick said of his team, which has allowed 327 kick return yards the last two weeks. “From the kicker, to the contain guys, to the inside leverage players, to the safety to the whole works.”

“The last two returners we’ve faced have been very talented,” said special teams captain Larry Izzo, who’s part of New England’s kick coverage. “It was as much as we didn’t do as what it was they did do. We just have to play better.”

Through most of the season, New England’s kick coverage has been good, thanks in large part to the fact that they haven’t had to do a whole lot most of the time — kicker Stephen Gostkowski is third in the league in touchbacks with 15. (Patriots’ opponents have an average starting field position of the 27-yard line, which aligns perfectly with the AFC average.) But even with Gostkowski’s success rate, the recent breakdowns have occurred with alarming regularity.

“We have to do a better job across the board or everybody winning the one-on-ones, making the plays we should make and playing good, disciplined coverage,” Izzo said.

The Patriots should get a break this week, as Miami is one of the worst special teams’ units in the league. Their net punting average is 34.4 yards per kick, the kickoff coverage unit is allowing returns averaging 27.3 and their kickoff return average is 19.5. When it comes to kick returns, youngsters Ted Ginn, Jr and Davone Bess split duties. Despite the bad numbers, they’ve had some good moments — earlier in the season against Seattle, Ginn had a 100-yard return called back because of a holding penalty. Ginn has handled the bulk of the kick returns the last five weeks, including three returns for a total of 53 yards but no touchdowns last week against the Raiders.

According to Izzo, they have two different return styles.

“Ginn has exceptional speed, whereas Bess is also fast, but a little quicker, a bit more of an upfield returner. Ginn is more of a run to daylight guy who gets to the edge,” Izzo said. “We’ve seen Ginn take it up the middle for big yardage as well.”

Izzo says even though the numbers are in their favor, the Patriots won’t be taking them lightly.

“Both of them are very talented — they wouldn’t be back there if they weren’t,” Izzo said. “We’ll have our hands full with them, so hopefully, we can get out there and execute better than we have over the last couple of weeks.”