Analysis: Finding a way to slow Chargers' returner Desmond King absolutely vital for Patriots' special teamers

Patrick Chung once told me special teams was basically a “40-yard fistfight.” If that’s the case, given the slim margin for error when it comes to this postseason, the Patriots’ special teamers really need to be ready to throw down come Sunday against the Chargers.

The playoffs are just a week old, and already, we’ve seen special teams impact multiple games: Cody Parkey missing a potential game-winner in Chicago. Sebastian Janikowski’s hamstring injury playing a role in Seattle’s loss to Dallas. Kicker Michael Badgley and returner Desmond King having a starring role in Los Angeles’ win over Baltimore.

The Patriots’ special teamers have been up and down all year — coverage units have struggled at times, and they’ve taken some ill-timed penalties. But they’ve also been able to get some dynamite performances from the likes of All-Pro returner Cordarrelle Patterson, Albert McClellan (who has gotten his hands on multiple punt attempts) and Matthew Slater, who continues his peerless work as a gunner.

Because of those positives, Slater says he feels confident about the state of New England’s special teams as they stand on the cusp of another postseason.

“There’s a lot of belief in the men that are going to be taking that field together,” Slater said of the special teamers.

How do they match up with Los Angeles?



The Chargers have been all over the map when it comes to special teams the last two years — they’ve had seven kickers, and ranked 25th in special teams DVOA this past regular season, according to Football Outsiders. But they’ve improved when it comes to special teams play in recent weeks with a very impressive run from Badgley, as well as King. In all, King averaged 23.7 yards per kick return on 22 chances this past season, good for sixth in the league.

“King's done a good job for them,” Bill Belichick said Tuesday. “So has (Travis) Benjamin – he's definitely there if they need him too. They have good returners.”

What’s made King so successful? One, his skill set is unique in that he’s got good size and good quickness, a rare trait when it comes to return work that makes his game resemble Patterson just a wee bit. (Probably no coincidence Chargers’ special teams coach George Stewart was with the Vikings when Patterson first got into the league.)

“He’s just a hard guy to tackle,” Slater said of King. “He runs hard, he’s playing with a lot of confidence (and) those guys are blocking really well for him. He’s got tremendous balance, he’s got good quickness, he’s aggressive to field the ball. I think he poses a lot of problems for you.”

To Slater’s point, check out this play that resulted in a 35-yard return earlier this season against the Bengals. Keep your eye on No. 32 in white on the left hand side — that’s Cincinnati’s Mark Walton. He's about to wish he never volunteered for special teams.



Ouch.

King also runs hard enough where guys have to be a little physical with him when it comes to getting him on the ground -- on this one, he gets his helmet ripped off at the end of the play.



Then, there’s King’s vision. These are good examples of his vision, and his ability to work well with his blockers. He's not a burner in the traditional sense of the word, but he runs hard and with urgency, all while being savvy enough to allow his blockers time to create an opening.





“They have a good return scheme,” Belichick said. “They do a good job of getting those guys started. Their corners do a nice job of holding up on the vise. They have some basic kickoff returns that really attack you in all three places – to the boundaries, to the middle and then to the field.

“I’d say it's really about good execution and getting the returner started, and having a good returner, once he gets started, that can make some plays with the ball in his hands.”

So what can the Patriots do? Two things immediately come to mind after rewatching every one of King's returns this year: One, he almost always takes a first step to the left. He might end up cutting back to the middle or the right, but his first inclination is clearly to take the ball to that side of the field. One way to combat that is — provided he’s the only one back — is to kick it all the way across the field and force him into a (presumably) uncomfortable situation.

And two, just kick it away from him. Out of the end zone if its on a kickoff, over his head if he’s back on punt returns. Whatever. We know in years past Belichick has done that with dangerous returners — in the regular-season finale against the Jets, the Patriots kicked off seven times and punted the ball four times. Out of those 11 chances, Andre Roberts (one of the few returners who had numbers comparable to King this year) had an opportunity to make a play three times: once on a punt and twice on a kick return, with his only big play coming on a 32-yard return midway through the second quarter. Other than that? He didn’t have a chance to do much of anything.

Whether it's kicking (or punting) away from him or being mindful of his physical (and smart) nature, it's a key matchup for New England. In the end, given just how narrow the margin for error is in the playoffs, winning that 40-yard fistfight will go a long way toward determining who will advance to the AFC title game. Jabs from Slater and the rest of the coverage group could ultimately help tilt the balance in New England’s favor.

“We're playing against a very good return team,” Belichick said. “It’ll take a great team effort from everybody. No one guy is going to stop King. We're going to have to execute well as an entire unit. That'll be a big challenge for us this Sunday.”