SlowGettingUp
2nd Team Getting Their First Start
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- Jan 11, 2015
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So there are no fewer than five players who are currently on the 53 only because of their Special Teams expertise:
Matthew Slater, Justin Bethel, Cody Davis, Brandon King, and Gunner Olszewski
Not saying a player like Gunner might not have use outside punt returns, but he clearly is on the team primarily because of that - there are better receivers to be had out there.
Now that allocation might have been fine some years ago, but Special Teams plays are steadily being downgraded, mostly to avoid concussions. So the majority of kicks are now not returned, about one-third of punts are fair caught, and the number of punts overall is dropping as offenses improve (so fewer drives end in a punt) and more coaches go for it on fourth down.
Here is some touchback data:
And College football leading the way on punt returns:
Now maybe Bill has decided to kick so as to avoid touchbacks - but that is a dangerous game, risking the occasional run back in search of a few extra yards on most kickoffs. And there are some "invisible yards" to be gained - between our great punter and coverage guys you are going to force more fair catches.
Or maybe Bill is just stuck in the past here and unwilling to adjust to the modern game.
Matthew Slater, Justin Bethel, Cody Davis, Brandon King, and Gunner Olszewski
Not saying a player like Gunner might not have use outside punt returns, but he clearly is on the team primarily because of that - there are better receivers to be had out there.
Now that allocation might have been fine some years ago, but Special Teams plays are steadily being downgraded, mostly to avoid concussions. So the majority of kicks are now not returned, about one-third of punts are fair caught, and the number of punts overall is dropping as offenses improve (so fewer drives end in a punt) and more coaches go for it on fourth down.
Here is some touchback data:
NFL Touchback Data
In March of 2011, the NFL voted to move kickoffs up from the 30 to the 35-yard line. That impact has been significant, and the league responded by placing a greater emphasis on kickers who can boom kickoffs into the opposing end zone. In 2016, the NFL moved up where offenses would start following a
www.footballperspective.com
And College football leading the way on punt returns:
Is College Football Abandoning The Punt Return?
Fewer drives end in punts, and more punts are fair-caught.
fivethirtyeight.com
Now maybe Bill has decided to kick so as to avoid touchbacks - but that is a dangerous game, risking the occasional run back in search of a few extra yards on most kickoffs. And there are some "invisible yards" to be gained - between our great punter and coverage guys you are going to force more fair catches.
Or maybe Bill is just stuck in the past here and unwilling to adjust to the modern game.