Brent Kotwica, the Falcons second-year special teams coach, spoke with the Falcons media yesterday. He talked about the returner job, mentioning Olamide Zaccheaus, Chris Rowland, and Brandon Powell as the frontrunners. Then he spoke briefly about what to expect from two of the Falcons’ newest members — Mykal Walker and Jaylinn Hawkins.
Both Walker and Hawkins were taken in the fourth round of this year’s draft. And if you ask most draft experts, they were both seen as reaches. But as the Falcons have shown time and time again, that doesn’t mean a damn thing to them. Like most late-round selections, I’m not sure either of them sees much of the field as rookies, but Kotwica expects them to make an impact on special teams.
Kotwica said Hawkins and Walker are two players they are counting on to be good special teams players for the #Falcons.
— Kelsey Conway (@FalconsKelsey) May 14, 2020
Special teams isn’t the sexiest aspect of football, but it is vital to a team’s success. I know fans want every draft pick to make an immediate impact on every play, but that’s often not the case. In the long run, if Walker and Hawkins turn into fantastic special teams players and nothing else for their entire careers, that’s a win as far as fourth-round picks are concerned. Perhaps one, or both, become something more, but special teams matter, and these two are going to be crucial pieces to the Falcons next year — whether they play every down or not.
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