Jeremy Springer gets a rare chance this week to face off against Joe DeCamillis, the Raiders' special teams coordinator who launched Springer's NFL career with the Rams. It's one of those small, human moments that football doesn't always advertise—the kind that reminds us these coaches have actual relationships beyond the X's and O's.
Here's what makes this interesting from a scheme perspective: DeCamillis didn't just give Springer a job; he molded how Springer approaches special teams. The DNA of a coordinator's philosophy doesn't disappear when they part ways. Springer will be intimately familiar with how DeCamillis thinks, what looks he prefers, where he cuts corners and where he demands precision. It's not cheating—it's homework that actually matters.
For the Patriots under Mike Vrabel, special teams have become a legitimate competitive advantage point. Vrabel knows what it takes to win in January, and he's invested in Springer's ability to control the margins. This isn't a throwaway game for ST; it never is at this level. But when you're preparing against someone who essentially taught you the job, the mental edge flips. Springer isn't discovering DeCamillis's tendencies on tape for the first time in October. He lived them.
The Raiders' special teams will be well-coached—that's guaranteed with DeCamillis running the show. But Springer has something working in his favor: context. Experience. A mentorship that went both directions, because good teachers learn from their students too. The question isn't whether these units will clash competently. They will. The real test is whether Springer can take what DeCamillis taught him and turn it into an edge when it matters most. That's the kind of storyline that unfolds quietly on Sunday, in the kicking game and coverage units. It won't show up on SportsCenter. But Vrabel will notice.