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Redskins Hire New Special Teams Coordinator

Boone

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PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
February 12, 2013

REDSKINS HIRE KEITH BURNS AS SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. – The Washington Redskins announced today that they have hired Keith Burns as Special Teams Coordinator.

Burns, 40, spent the last six seasons as Assistant Special Teams Coach of the Denver Broncos after a 13-year playing career. From 2007-12, Burns worked with a unit that accumulated 10 combined punt and kickoff return touchdowns, tied for most in the AFC and second-most in the NFL. In that time period, the Broncos ranked fourth in the AFC and fifth in the NFL in punt return average (10.5 yards per return).

Last season, several specialists set Broncos franchise records under Burns’ guidance, as kicker Matt Prater set the single-season team record for scoring by a kicker (133 points) and punter Britton Colquitt broke the team record for net punting average for the second consecutive season (40.2 in 2011, 42.1 in 2012). Also, return specialist Trindon Holliday led the NFL with a 32.5-yard kick return average in addition to ranking fifth in the league with a 10.8-yard punt return average after being acquired by the Broncos off waivers on Oct. 11.

During his six seasons with the Broncos, five different players totaled eight AFC Special Teams Player of the Week awards.

As a player, Burns was a key member of the Broncos’ special teams unit in his 11 seasons in Denver, 10 of which were played under current Redskins Executive Vice President/Head Coach Mike Shanahan. In those 11 seasons, Burns led or tied for the team lead in special teams tackles seven times. For his entire NFL career, Burns played 197 games and totaled 231 special teams tackles, 77 defensive stops (50 solo), 1.5 sacks, one interception, three pass breakups and one forced fumble, in addition to helping the Broncos to victories in Super Bowl XXXII and Super Bowl XXXIII.

“Keith was an excellent special teams player and a strong influence in the locker room for two Super Bowl championship teams,” Shanahan said. “I know our players will enjoy playing for him.”

Burns entered the NFL with Denver as a seventh-round choice (210th overall) in the 1994 NFL Draft after playing collegiately at Oklahoma State. Originally a native of Greeleyville, S.C., Burns attended T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Va.

Burns was born on May 16, 1972.
 
TC Williams! A local kid! Gotta hope he was a Redskins' fan growing up!
 
Is the general consensus from those that wanted Smith gone that this is a good choice?

I always took the stance of not really knowing if the ST problems were Smith's fault or not, or whether or not he was doing a good job. So I'm curious.

Of course... he was just an assistant for a team most people here probably don't follow, so maybe we just have to wait and see.
 
Is the general consensus from those that wanted Smith gone that this is a good choice?

I always took the stance of not really knowing if the ST problems were Smith's fault or not, or whether or not he was doing a good job. So I'm curious.

Of course... he was just an assistant for a team most people here probably don't follow, so maybe we just have to wait and see.
Smith was long overdue to be gone. We'll have to wait and see how the new kid does.

But I'll take young and hungry, over stale and uninspiring, as an immediate upgrade.
 
Is the general consensus from those that wanted Smith gone that this is a good choice?

I always took the stance of not really knowing if the ST problems were Smith's fault or not, or whether or not he was doing a good job. So I'm curious.

Of course... he was just an assistant for a team most people here probably don't follow, so maybe we just have to wait and see.

Seems like a best-case scenario; get a former player who has had some coaching & playing success, can presumably relate to the players, and is familiar with Shanahan and his routines. Yes, I would say this is a good choice, but I don't know anything other than what has been said in this thread.
 
Seems like a best-case scenario; get a former player who has had some coaching & playing success, can presumably relate to the players, and is familiar with Shanahan and his routines. Yes, I would say this is a good choice, but I don't know anything other than what has been said in this thread.

Just on face value, it looks like a good decision. I'm happy about the choice based on your examples and the simple fact that I believe we needed a change. A little scared he may try the BB experiment 3.0 though.

Still wondering whether Banks was a Smith guy or a Shanahan guy.
 
Just on face value, it looks like a good decision. I'm happy about the choice based on your examples and the simple fact that I believe we needed a change. A little scared he may try the BB experiment 3.0 though.

Still wondering whether Banks was a Smith guy or a Shanahan guy.

I've heard both - Keim said that Banks was a Shanahan guy, but then I remember hearing reports about Smith "standing on his desk" for Banks when Shanny wanted to cut him. Who knows? I guess it will become really clear with this new guy in town.
 
With the success Paul had on kickoffs and Crawford had on returns, I'd say Banks is officially gone. Would be nice to see them get a ham sammich for him!
 
I think this was an 'amicable' split between Shanahan and Smith.

It seems clear that Shanahan didn't agree with Smith's strong support for players like Graham Gano in the past and changed the PR/KR in mid-season to include Niles Paul, one of his favored players from what I can glean.

Mike ended up bringing in a former special teams standout from his Super Bowl teams.

Seems like a better chemistry fit on the staff.
 
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This looks like a solid, promising move. What did we have to lose? We haven't had a tradition of outstanding special teams play in many, many years. Love that we hired a guy with roots in the DC area, who has ties to Shanahan already, and who was a standout himself on the field and has (at a minimum) been part of coaching success with an NFL ST unit.

What's not to like :)
 
Honestly, I thought the point of no return was the decision to move on from Gano. Smith liked him and backed him with Shanahan. After Mike went with Cundiff and then the more consistent Kai Forbath it seemed clear that he was going to make his mark on signing the kicker and fixing a position that had bedeviled this franchise for years.
 
Danny Smith has ties to Pittsburgh. I believe his parents are still there and he wanted to be closer to them as they get up there in age. The change was long overdue. I've never been a fan of his and for all the coverage teams did under him, the rest of the special teams were horrible. Too many breakdowns, too many penalties and too many boneheaded plays.

I like the choice of Burns, but my first choice would have been Alan Lowry from the Titans. But I think like another said, the chemistry he has with Shanahan already will go a long way.
 

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