‘Hidden’ gains have become hallmark for Britain Covey, Eagles special teams

Britain Covey was a nine-year-old kid the only time he attended an NFL game before earning a job with the Eagles last season.

It just happened to be a Seattle Seahawks game at what was then Qwest Field. The memories flooded back to Covey in the week leading up to the Eagles’ Monday night game in Seattle.

“Matt Hasselbeck was the quarterback and (running back) Shaun Alexander was there,” Covey said, on Pro Football Report with Merrill Reese. “And they were playing against Alex Smith who was in his first or second year with the 49ers. That was my one time going to an NFL game. So, I’m excited to go back.”

Smith now is an ESPN analyst, and he helped Covey’s story come full circle Monday by working the game.

On that first trip to Seattle from his home in Provo, Utah, Covey hit Pikes Market, the favorite stomping grounds of Eagles running back Rashaad Penny, who played for the Seahawks the last five seasons.

This trip is strictly business for Covey and the Eagles as they pursue the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Covey entered Monday’s game second in the NFL in punt returns, trailing only Derius Davis of the Los Angeles Chargers. Davis in 14 games has 22 returns for 360 yards (16.36 average) with 22 fair catches and an 87-yard touchdown. Covey in 13 games has 22 returns for 313 yards (14.23) with just 12 fair catches and a long of 52.

The difference in the fair catches is noteworthy in that Covey and the Eagles pride themselves on picking up hidden yards, any yards saved inside their own 20. Those hidden yards can be collected by influencing the opposition’s gunner into thinking you’re making a fair catch to coax him into letting the ball hit the end zone for a touchback. Instead of say, fair catching at the three-yard line, that would be 17 hidden yards. Or they could come from flying across the field to haul in a directional kick for little gain and heading out of bounds to keep the Eagle offense from getting buried by letting it roll.

“There’s a huge difference between starting at the six-yard line and starting at the 20,” Covey said. “I’ve always felt like even if you can get five yards inside of your own 20, that’s a big deal because your playbook doubles in size outside of the 10-yard line as opposed to inside it. Nothing frustrates me more than watching punt returners across the league who care about their average who, a lot of time they’ll call fair catches even though they could get five or six yards.”

Covey finished second in hidden yards last year and is first in the league this season. The latter category helps the team, if not returner’s average. Hidden yards are pure Covey, who at 5-8, 173 pounds is still an asset.

“He’s ready to make a big play every time he touches the field,” said Eagles linebacker Ben VanSumeren, a key special teams player. “Covey in my opinion is the best returner in the whole league. He’s always going to find those yards, and they’re huge. Special teams is a one-play series. You have a bad rep as a special teams unit and that’s the same as having a bad offensive or defensive series.”

Special teams has become a weapon for the Eagles with Covey, kicker Jake Elliott and punter Braden Mann, who ranks among the league’s top 10 punters with a 43.0 net average.

“The most difficult thing about being a punt returner for me right now is being cold,” Covey said. “My first play that I played in the last game was in the third quarter. Most guys have a play or two to kind of get under your belt and you get hit and it kind of wakes you up or you can have a mistake on the first play and then get over it. I can’t afford that. If you’re playing one play every 30 minutes, you can’t afford to have a mistake. So, you have to stay in the game mentally just as much as physically.”

Covey has had just one return in each of his last three games. He was close to breaking an 18-yarder against Buffalo for his first return touchdown.

Covey is tuned in to the Eagles’ elite history in his role, of DeSean Jackson, Darren Sproles, Brian Westbrook and even Brian Mitchell. Westbrook is an idol. Then there is his mentor, Vai Sikahema, who returned punts for the Eagles in 1992-93.

“My dad knew Vai, grew up in Utah and all of us are of the same religion,” Covey said. “Vai’s great. He texts me pretty much before and after every game. He’s always checking in. Such a good guy.”

Sikahema, 61, endeared himself to Eagles fans by punching the padded goal posts in the Meadowlands after returning a punt 87 yards for a score a win over the Jets. Covey has seen the footage.

“He texted me the last game and told me to go knock out the goal post if I go and score,” Covey said. “I told him that now it’s a penalty. Now you can’t punch the goal post. I might have to shadow box it. But Vai is great. He’s such a good person and I think the world of him.”

The Eagles feel the same way about Covey.