Bengals special teams coach Al Roberts has endured two kinds of restless nights this season. There's the kind when he can get a little bit of sleep. Those occur when he knows he has put his players in the right spots, even if they don't make the desired play.

        Through Week 12, Bengals special teams rank in the bottom third of almost every category, except average punt return yards given up and average punt return yards gained.

BENGALS SPECIAL TEAMS
Category		NFL rank (31 teams)
Offensive special teams
Punt return average		6th (11.9 yards)
Kickoff return average		22nd (20.7 yards)
Drive start after kickoff		20th (26.7-yard line)
Gross punting average		27th (40.2 yards)
Net punting average		24th (34.7 yards)
Field goal percentage		30th (55 percent)
Defensive special teams
Punt return average		9th (8.2 yards)
Kickoff return average		31st (29.2 yards)
Drive start after kickoff		31st (32.2-yard line)
Gross punting average		25th (43.3 yards)
Net punting average		16th (35.8 yards)
Field goal percentage		20th T (81 percent)
NOT SO SPECIAL
Like the Bengals' offense, their special teams have been inconsistent. The highlights and lowlights through 11 games: |MORE|

        “But if we're not in the right place because of how I've coached them, then I can't sleep at all,” Roberts said Wednesday, three days after Tampa Bay blocked a punt for its only touchdown in its 16-13 victory over Cincinnati.

        Roberts' special teams have been as inconsistent as coordinator Bob Bratkowski's offense. Like the offense, the special teams played a nearly perfect game in the opening-day victory against New England.

        There have been flashes of excellence in other games. Many times, though, if it's not one part of the operation breaking down, it's another. If it's not kicker Neil Rackers hitting the upright, it's the kickoff return team giving up a long run. Up until Sunday, two years had passed since the last time Roberts' punt teams had allowed a block.

        The inconsistency, Roberts said, is the result of having young players, injuries that have changed assignments, and great plays by the other team.

        In the Bengals' last three games, all losses, the special teams have given up two touchdowns — as many as the struggling offense has scored and as many as the rapidly improving defense has allowed.

        “The truth of the matter is that those are not very good statistics,” coach Dick LeBeau said. “I do think we have given up some plays on special teams. I do think that, particularly recently, our special teams have been very competitive.”

        In spite of LeBeau's repeated endorsements, Roberts has been blasted in the media.

        Roberts doesn't listen to radio shows or read newspapers, but he hears about the criticism from friends.

        Through it all, he works. On a recent Monday morning, about 12 hours after a Sunday afternoon game had ended, Roberts reported to Paul Brown Stadium at 4:50a.m. Another team employee saw him arrive.

        No detail's too small for him to bring up.

        “Sometimes I have to excuse myself because I repeat myself,” he said. “The older players say, "We know, Al,' but we don't have the point enough to execute it under pressure. I'll try to simplify the most simple things we can do, and we still have major, major incidents and accidents and mistakes.”

        Detroit's Desmond Howard repeatedly creased the kickoff coverage teams. Tennessee's Derrick Mason ran back the opening kickoff 101 yards. Rackers has been streaky. His 11-for-20 field goal performance is the second-lowest percentage in the league and affects the offense.

        “I think, naturally, it does,” quarterback Jon Kitna said. “You feel like you want to get closer. Most teams, when they get around the 30-yard line, that's when they start taking shots at the end zone. I think our M.O. has been to get more first downs and get it closer. The closer you get, the harder it is to score touchdowns.”

        Several of Roberts' key special teams players — Brad St.Louis, Ron Dugans and Adrian Ross — say Roberts always has them prepared. It's the players' fault, they say, when a special teams play goes against the Bengals.

        “He looks at so much film to get you ready,” Ross said. “He even gives us tapes to take home and watch, so he does everything to help us learn.”

        On Wednesday, a new challenge was on Roberts' horizon. Brad Long snapper St.Louis, who has stabilized the long-snapper position in the past two seasons, injured a groin during practice and was listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Jacksonville.

        After practice, Roberts watched former Dallas long snapper Randy Chevrier snap the ball to punter Nick Harris. Chevrier was signed to the practice squad Tuesday.

        “When you accept the job as a special teams coach, you understand you're in an outside lane without a staggered start,” Roberts said. “Your chances of winning were lost before you started. I accepted this job knowing that. Do I feel bad about it? Yes. Do I want to coach? Yes. Do I want to be a good teacher? Yes.”

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