Saints Finally Have Some Special Teams Stability in Hartley and Morstead

by Andrew Juge on Feb 11, 2011 12:00 PM CST

Forgetting coverage and return units and Garrett Hartley's brutal patch of play earlier this season, I think we can count our lucky stars to have the Hartley and Thomas Morstead special teams kicking duo. Let's hope these two are around and stay healthy for many years to come.

Quite simply, it's got the potential to be the most stable and long term kicking situation the Saints have had since the days of Morten Andersen and Tommy Barnhardt. Andersen and Barnhardt worked in tandem from 1988 through 1994 and they provided a constantly stable force for the Saints' kicking game. Since then, the Saints haven't had a tandem last longer than 3 years. I believe this current tandem could last longer, and possibly be better, by the time it's all said and done.

Let's take a look at who the Saints have had going into each season as a kicker/punter duo:

2009: John Carney & Thomas Morstead (Carney opened the season for a suspended Hartley, but eventually relinquished his job back to Hartley)

2008: Martin Grammatica & Steve Weatherford (Glenn Pakulak replaced Weatherford, and the Saints would use 3 kickers that year)

2007: Olindo Mare & Steve Weatherford (Mare was horrible and replaced by Grammatica)

2006: John Carney & Steve Weatherford (Carney was older and the Saints needed to carry Billy Cundiff on the roster to handle kickoffs)

2005: John Carney & Mitch Berger (This duo worked really well, just short lived. Too bad Berger got that pelvic infection)

2004: John Carney & Mitch Berger

2003: John Carney & Mitch Berger

2002: John Carney & Toby Gowin (Gowin replaced by Dirk Johnson)

2001: John Carney & Toby Gowin

2000: Doug Brien & Toby Gowin (Brien's lack of leg strength became a liability)

1999: Doug Brien & Tommy Barnhardt (Barnhardt's new stint with the Saints was a disaster)

1998: Doug Brien & Mark Royals (never understood why the Saints didn't keep Royals, he was solid)

1997: Doug Brien & Mark Royals

1996: Doug Brien & Klaus Wilmsmeyer (one of the worst punters in Saints' history)

1995: Chip Lohmiller & Klaus Wilmsmeyer (Lohmiller was a farce, replaced by Brien)

So there you have it. While some of the names above produced decent to good years (namely Berger, Royals, Gowin, Weatherford, Carney and Brien), you couldn't call any of these a stabilizing solid duo. Carney and Berger were the closest thing, but that tandem was broken up by a weird infection Mitch Berger got in his pelvis. And while Carney was always solid on field goals, his age made his leg power/kickoffs a real liability.

Hartley resembles Andersen most with his combination of power and accuracy, and Morstead resembles Barnhardt most with his tall frame and booming hang time. There is no reason these two can't have a 6+ year run together.

How stable do you think the Hartley-Morstead combo is? How long do you predict they'll last together?

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Comments

Carney will be back again next year

just kidding.. :)

by Alex Saints on Feb 11, 2011 12:48 PM CST reply actions

i wouldn't mind him

as a kicking coach specialist type person like he was during our SB year. Hartley seemed to do better when he had Carney as a coach

Superbowl bound!!!...I know! do you?! Go Saints!!

by skinnykinney on Feb 13, 2011 4:50 AM CST up reply actions

They're both pretty young, so I could see them together for a long time

The future’s so bright, they might have to both wear shades…

Happiness is a warm blanket.

by Hans Petersen on Feb 11, 2011 12:54 PM CST reply actions

one note on 2007: Mare was awful, fixed his issues then got injured Monday night in Atlanta. His first 6 games with the Saints were worst of his career. Guy was great in Miami and is really good in Seattle.

Saints cutting him after the season was odd because Payton stuck with him all through the season until he got straightened out then cut him in off season.

Still completely agree with your article.

by Malbrough on Feb 11, 2011 1:36 PM CST reply actions

And all this time I thought Dirk Johnson was a porn start

We can't win at home. We can't win on the road. I just can't figure out where else to play!
-- Pat Williams

by Fat Punk Kicker on Feb 11, 2011 2:14 PM CST reply actions

and by start I mean star

We can't win at home. We can't win on the road. I just can't figure out where else to play!
-- Pat Williams

by Fat Punk Kicker on Feb 11, 2011 2:18 PM CST up reply actions

Unfortunately, as I recall, Morten became a crutch...

…Mora would settle for field goals instead of touchdowns. Just sayin’.

"Don't ever sell your saddle, cause life's a long, long ride."- Randy Travis

by SaintShark on Feb 11, 2011 6:57 PM CST reply actions

We won’t have to worry about that unless coldpizza gets to castrate Sean by forcing him to run all the time.

by FriarBob on Feb 11, 2011 8:56 PM CST up reply actions

If the Saints can get Alex Henery where they have him slotted, you cut Hartley

otherwise keep Hartley and Morstead together

but you don’t pass on the chance to upgrade to the most accurate kicker in NCAA history with 60 yard range if he is available at your price.

by Drinkin' Wit' Terrell Farley on Feb 11, 2011 7:06 PM CST reply actions

we already did that in the 70's...big mistake

paging Russell Erxleben…

Happiness is a warm blanket.

by Hans Petersen on Feb 11, 2011 8:53 PM CST up reply actions

Alex doesn't need the welfare of kicking tees

and I’m certainly not recommending a first round pick on Henery, almost as dumb as the Bears drafting a punter in the second round

However, Alex’s ability, recognized as the best ever, has very little to do with some relic from 1977 and if he is there where the team targeted him at…..you pull the trigger

by Drinkin' Wit' Terrell Farley on Feb 12, 2011 3:11 PM CST reply actions