For many years outstanding play on special teams was a major component of the San Diego Chargers success. However all of that changed a year ago. Last season the Chargers special teams posted one of the worst performances in the history of the NFL. The kick return coverage unit allowed three kickoffs and a punt to be returned for a touchdown in addition to Mike Scifres’ four blocked punts.

Special teams coordinator Steve Crosby’s contract was not renewed at the end of the season and he was replaced by Rich Bisaccia. General manager A.J. Smith made fixing special teams a focal point of the offseason. Six of the eight players he drafted were praised for their abilities to contribute on special teams.

This was just the beginning. Long snapper David Binn, a 39-year-old veteran and the last remaining player of the Chargers 1994 Super Bowl team was recently released. In the first game of the 2010 season Binn suffered a season-ending hamstring injury against the Kansas City Chiefs. Binn’s age and his injury created concerns about his long-term durability and speed for covering returns on punts after snapping the ball. Mike Windt, who finished the season with the Chargers earned the long snapper job.

“It’s a tough deal,” kicker Nate Kaeding said. “Dave is as good as they get, that’s for sure. He’s like the Michael Jordan of long snappers. Mike (Scifres) and I have been here for our whole careers with him. There is some great chemistry there and a comfort level among the three of us. So, that will be a bit of a transition.”Kaeding and Scifres are confident in Windt. “Mike is good,” Scifres said. “We had ten games with him last year and he stepped in and did a nice job. This training camp, he had a good camp and we feel comfortable with him going into week one.”

Binn was not the only causality of reviving special teams. The outstanding play of defensive tackle Vaughn Martin in the preseason allowed for the release Ogemdi Nwagbuo, a two-year veteran and an alum of Mt. Miguel High School in Spring Valley.This resulted in only six players being retained on the defensive line. Turner also kept just two quarterbacks. Both of these moves allowed for more room elsewhere within the 53-man roster. The current roster has eleven linebackers and ten defensive backs. Many of them are rookies and will initially contribute only on special teams.

“It is all about the (game day active) roster,” Turner said when he explained his decisions. “We have made sure with the linebackers and defensive backs that we are going to be good in the kicking game. If we have to add a defensive lineman as we move through the season, we are capable of doing that.”

Regardless of the personnel turnover, a rule change that moved kickoffs to the 35-yard line should improve the kickoff coverage units, because now most kicks will not be returned. The majority of kickoffs will probably go deep into the end zone and will typically result in a touchback.In addition to the rule change, Kaeding claims he will kick the ball farther this season ensuring more touchbacks. Under the instruction of Crosby, Kaeding kicked toward a corner of the field to limit return lanes. Bisaccia wants the ball driven down the center. “I can just tee the thing up and drive it as far as I can,” Kaeding said.

Bisaccia is preparing the kicking specialists with a variety of approaches. He recently he spent one drill pouring water on the balls while practicing field goal kicks. “That was different,” Scifres said. “You never know what kind of weather you are going to get. I know for a fact the ball has slipped through my hand a time or two and (Bisaccia) is trying to eliminate those plays. I think it's a good drill.”Bisaccia is also focused on helping Kaeding extend his range on field goals. “It’s good working with Rich,” Kaeding said. “He is pushing things back and taking me out of my comfort zone a little bit more. It’s a conscientious thing. Last year, we missed five field goals and three of them were over 50 yards. So that is definitely an area of emphasis for me.”

Bisaccia does not care about how the special teams performed a year ago. “I am in today,” Bisaccia said. “I think everybody is responding to today, and taking care of their job now. That is the message. It’s one voice and we all are following the same message.”