Keith Armstrong’s special teams units have been a staple of the Falcons success over the last four seasons. His teams have finished in the top 10 each year and have limited opponents to the fewest punt return yards over the last four years (729 total punt return yards).
In 2011, Armstrong used two rookies to propel his coverage units in LB Akeem Dent and P Matt Boesher. Dent, a linebacker out of the University of Georgia, led the Falcons in special teams tackles (19) and Boesher finished the season with the highest single-season net punting average in Falcons history (38.9 net yards per punt).
Armstrong did not just rely on the rookies in 2011, he had veteran kicker Matt Bryant to split the uprights on field goal attempts. Bryant finished 27 of 29 on field goal attempts and made all 45 PATs. For the second straight year, Bryant led the Falcons in scoring (126) and his 93.1 field goal pct. marked the third best single-season FG percentage in team history.
His special team units were a big contributor to the Falcons winning the NFC South division title and posting the best record in the NFC with a 13-3 mark in 2011.
His units finished 10th overall in the NFL in 2011, according to the Dallas Morning News’ Rick Gosselin, who compiles a comprehensive and well-respected list of each club’s special teams rankings each year.
Armstrong’s troops led the League in some key categories such as kickoff return average (28.5), opponents starting field position (22.2) on kickoffs, overall opponent field position (24.3), opponent’s field goal percentage (65.2%) and fewest penalties (7). Atlanta’s special teams also finished fifth in punt return average (12.1), fourth in field goal percentage (90.3%), eighth in both punts dropped inside the 20 (29-tied with Arizona) and points scored (12).
Eric Weems became the first Falcons player in team history to score touchdowns on both a kickoff return (102) and punt return (55) in the same season under Armstrong’s direction. The 102-yard return at Tampa set a new team record and sparked a come-from-behind 28-24 victory in Week 13. The key play earned Weems NFC Special Teams Player of the Week and combined with the 55-yard punt return score against Carolina in the regular season finale in Week 17 he captured NFC Special Teams Player of the Month (of December) honors as well. Weems’ 27.5 yard KOR average was the third-best in the League and paced the NFC in that category.
Through Armstrong’s steady influence, Weems was voted to the Pro Bowl by his peers to become the first Falcons special teamer to be afforded such honors since Allen Rossum in 2004. He also garnered All-NFL accolades by Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers of America.
K Matt Bryant connected on 28 field goals for a 90 percent success rate to rank among League leaders. He captured NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for nailing a clutch 47-yard field goal with nine seconds left for a 20-17 win over Green Bay. Bryant kicked the Falcons to victory three times last season with an overtime boot at New Orleans and a late fourth quarter try against the 49ers.
Since coming to Atlanta in 2008, the accomplished special teams coach has guided his charges to finish an impressive seventh, 10th and 10th, respectively, in overall League rankings. Among his notable achievements with the Falcons, Armstrong’s punt coverage team boasted an NFL record-low 43 opponent punt return yards allowed in 2008 and a first place ranking in opponent starting field position on kickoffs (21.4 average start) in 2009.
In 2008, Atlanta ranked second in opponents starting field position, eighth in kickoff coverage, eighth in field goals made and first in points allowed on returns. Kickoff returner Jerious Norwood notched 1,311 yards on 51 attempts for a 25.7 average, which was good enough for the fourth-highest mark in the NFC.
The 47 year-old native of Levittown, Pa. joined the Falcons following seven seasons in the same capacity for the Miami Dolphins. The 17-year NFL coaching veteran was instrumental in 2007 in helping punt returner Ted Ginn, Jr. finish fourth in the AFC with a 9.6 return average. The average was also the 10th best mark in the entire NFL among all punt returners. Ginn also returned 63 kickoffs for 1,433 yards and a 22.7 yard per return average. With Armstrong’s coaching, K Jay Feely connected on 21 of 23 field goals for 91.3 percent, which ranked second in the League just behind Pittsburgh’s 92.0 percentage mark.
From 2001-2006, the Dolphins finished in the top eight in the NFL in punt return defense all but one season under Armstrong’s positive direction. During that same time frame, Miami opponents averaged 6.1 yards per punt return, including a 4.5-yard mark in 2001 when they led the League in the category, and a 4.9-yard average (third in NFL) in 2005. In 2003, the Dolphins ranked first in the NFL in opponents’ average starting field position with a 25.0-yard line mark and finished second in the same category in 2006 with a 24.9 figure. Over that same time period, the Dolphins special teams under Armstrong’s leadership only surrendered just one punt or kickoff return for a touchdown, which was tied with Dallas for the fewest number in the League.
Prior to landing in Miami, Armstrong served in the same role with the Chicago Bears from 1997-2000. In 2000, Chicago’s special teams unit ranked fourth in the NFL in punt return defense, allowing an average of just 7.0 yards per return. In his four seasons with the Bears, Chicago’s special teams ranked in the top 10 in the League in punt return average, punt coverage and kickoff coverage twice in each category.
Armstrong earned his start in the NFL with Atlanta in 1994 as Safeties Coach. In 1996, he was promoted to run the entire secondary. Before his full-time positions in the NFL, he was part of the NFL’s Minority Coaching Fellowship Program during training camps with the New York Jets (1991), Dallas Cowboys (1992) and Chicago Bears (1993).
Armstrong coached his way through the collegiate ranks before joining the NFL. He garnered four letters as a running back and defensive back at Temple University from 1983-1986 before joining the school as a graduate assistant in 1987.
Armstrong then joined the University of Miami as the Defensive Backs and Special Teams Coach for one season (1988) before coaching the wide receivers at the University of Akron (1989). His last two stops in college before joining the Falcons came at Oklahoma State as the Secondary Coach from 1990-1992 and Notre Dame as the Linebackers and Special Teams Coach in 1993.
Armstrong’s Coaching Background:
- 2008-12 - Special Teams Coor. // Falcons
- 2007 - Special Teams Coor. // Dolphins
- 2001-06 - Special Teams Coach // Dolphins
- 1997-00 - Special Teams Coach // Bears
- 1996 - Secondary Coach // Falcons
- 1994-95 - Safeties // Falcons
- 1993 - Linebackers/Sp. Tms // Notre Dame
- 1990-92 - Secondary // Oklahoma State
- 1989 - Wide Receivers // Akron
- 1988 - Def. Backs/Special Teams // Miami (Fla)
- 1987 - Graduate Assistant // Temple
Keith Armstrong’s special teams units have been a staple of the Falcons success over the last four seasons. His teams have finished in the top 10 each year and have limited opponents to the fewest punt return yards over the last four years (729 total punt return yards).
In 2011, Armstrong used two rookies to propel his coverage units in LB Akeem Dent and P Matt Boesher. Dent, a linebacker out of the University of Georgia, led the Falcons in special teams tackles (19) and Boesher finished the season with the highest single-season net punting average in Falcons history (38.9 net yards per punt).
Armstrong did not just rely on the rookies in 2011, he had veteran kicker Matt Bryant to split the uprights on field goal attempts. Bryant finished 27 of 29 on field goal attempts and made all 45 PATs. For the second straight year, Bryant led the Falcons in scoring (126) and his 93.1 field goal pct. marked the third best single-season FG percentage in team history.
His special team units were a big contributor to the Falcons winning the NFC South division title and posting the best record in the NFC with a 13-3 mark in 2011.
His units finished 10th overall in the NFL in 2011, according to the Dallas Morning News’ Rick Gosselin, who compiles a comprehensive and well-respected list of each club’s special teams rankings each year.
Armstrong’s troops led the League in some key categories such as kickoff return average (28.5), opponents starting field position (22.2) on kickoffs, overall opponent field position (24.3), opponent’s field goal percentage (65.2%) and fewest penalties (7). Atlanta’s special teams also finished fifth in punt return average (12.1), fourth in field goal percentage (90.3%), eighth in both punts dropped inside the 20 (29-tied with Arizona) and points scored (12).
Eric Weems became the first Falcons player in team history to score touchdowns on both a kickoff return (102) and punt return (55) in the same season under Armstrong’s direction. The 102-yard return at Tampa set a new team record and sparked a come-from-behind 28-24 victory in Week 13. The key play earned Weems NFC Special Teams Player of the Week and combined with the 55-yard punt return score against Carolina in the regular season finale in Week 17 he captured NFC Special Teams Player of the Month (of December) honors as well. Weems’ 27.5 yard KOR average was the third-best in the League and paced the NFC in that category.
Through Armstrong’s steady influence, Weems was voted to the Pro Bowl by his peers to become the first Falcons special teamer to be afforded such honors since Allen Rossum in 2004. He also garnered All-NFL accolades by Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers of America.
K Matt Bryant connected on 28 field goals for a 90 percent success rate to rank among League leaders. He captured NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for nailing a clutch 47-yard field goal with nine seconds left for a 20-17 win over Green Bay. Bryant kicked the Falcons to victory three times last season with an overtime boot at New Orleans and a late fourth quarter try against the 49ers.
Since coming to Atlanta in 2008, the accomplished special teams coach has guided his charges to finish an impressive seventh, 10th and 10th, respectively, in overall League rankings. Among his notable achievements with the Falcons, Armstrong’s punt coverage team boasted an NFL record-low 43 opponent punt return yards allowed in 2008 and a first place ranking in opponent starting field position on kickoffs (21.4 average start) in 2009.
In 2008, Atlanta ranked second in opponents starting field position, eighth in kickoff coverage, eighth in field goals made and first in points allowed on returns. Kickoff returner Jerious Norwood notched 1,311 yards on 51 attempts for a 25.7 average, which was good enough for the fourth-highest mark in the NFC.
The 47 year-old native of Levittown, Pa. joined the Falcons following seven seasons in the same capacity for the Miami Dolphins. The 17-year NFL coaching veteran was instrumental in 2007 in helping punt returner Ted Ginn, Jr. finish fourth in the AFC with a 9.6 return average. The average was also the 10th best mark in the entire NFL among all punt returners. Ginn also returned 63 kickoffs for 1,433 yards and a 22.7 yard per return average. With Armstrong’s coaching, K Jay Feely connected on 21 of 23 field goals for 91.3 percent, which ranked second in the League just behind Pittsburgh’s 92.0 percentage mark.
From 2001-2006, the Dolphins finished in the top eight in the NFL in punt return defense all but one season under Armstrong’s positive direction. During that same time frame, Miami opponents averaged 6.1 yards per punt return, including a 4.5-yard mark in 2001 when they led the League in the category, and a 4.9-yard average (third in NFL) in 2005. In 2003, the Dolphins ranked first in the NFL in opponents’ average starting field position with a 25.0-yard line mark and finished second in the same category in 2006 with a 24.9 figure. Over that same time period, the Dolphins special teams under Armstrong’s leadership only surrendered just one punt or kickoff return for a touchdown, which was tied with Dallas for the fewest number in the League.
Prior to landing in Miami, Armstrong served in the same role with the Chicago Bears from 1997-2000. In 2000, Chicago’s special teams unit ranked fourth in the NFL in punt return defense, allowing an average of just 7.0 yards per return. In his four seasons with the Bears, Chicago’s special teams ranked in the top 10 in the League in punt return average, punt coverage and kickoff coverage twice in each category.
Armstrong earned his start in the NFL with Atlanta in 1994 as Safeties Coach. In 1996, he was promoted to run the entire secondary. Before his full-time positions in the NFL, he was part of the NFL’s Minority Coaching Fellowship Program during training camps with the New York Jets (1991), Dallas Cowboys (1992) and Chicago Bears (1993).
Armstrong coached his way through the collegiate ranks before joining the NFL. He garnered four letters as a running back and defensive back at Temple University from 1983-1986 before joining the school as a graduate assistant in 1987.
Armstrong then joined the University of Miami as the Defensive Backs and Special Teams Coach for one season (1988) before coaching the wide receivers at the University of Akron (1989). His last two stops in college before joining the Falcons came at Oklahoma State as the Secondary Coach from 1990-1992 and Notre Dame as the Linebackers and Special Teams Coach in 1993.
Armstrong’s Coaching Background:
- 2008-12 - Special Teams Coor. // Falcons
- 2007 - Special Teams Coor. // Dolphins
- 2001-06 - Special Teams Coach // Dolphins
- 1997-00 - Special Teams Coach // Bears
- 1996 - Secondary Coach // Falcons
- 1994-95 - Safeties // Falcons
- 1993 - Linebackers/Sp. Tms // Notre Dame
- 1990-92 - Secondary // Oklahoma State
- 1989 - Wide Receivers // Akron
- 1988 - Def. Backs/Special Teams // Miami (Fla)
- 1987 - Graduate Assistant // Temple
