Special Teams "Skill Players" Need Overhaul in the Offseason

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

As good as I feel about our ST coverage units it is our ST "skill players" the team needs to seriously consider cleaning house/making wholesale changes. NOTE: I think the current special teams coach is doing a phenominal job with what he has, so I am not adovating a coaching change.

• Zane is ranked near the bottom of the league in FG% and Touchback %.
• Lee is ranked near the bottom of the league in Punting Average and middle of the pack for punts inside the 20, but is top third in Fair Catches.
• Kirk is near the bottom of the league in average yards per punt return.
• Chase Edmonds is near the bottom of the league in average yard per kick return.

 

[Jetstream Green]

As good as I feel about our ST coverage units it is our ST "skill players" the team needs to seriously consider cleaning house/making wholesale changes. NOTE: I think the current special teams coach is doing a phenominal job with what he has, so I am not adovating a coaching change.

• Zane is ranked near the bottom of the league in FG% and Touchback %.
• Lee is ranked near the bottom of the league in Punting Average and middle of the pack for punts inside the 20, but is top third in Fair Catches.
• Kirk is near the bottom of the league in average yards per punt return.
• Chase Edmonds is near the bottom of the league in average yard per kick return.

I totally agree on the kickers (huge respect to Lee though for his stellar career). We need a returner which should be a replacement for Isabella on the roster... and keep Sherfield who has done an excellent job!

 

[Dback Jon]

As good as I feel about our ST coverage units it is our ST "skill players" the team needs to seriously consider cleaning house/making wholesale changes. NOTE: I think the current special teams coach is doing a phenominal job with what he has, so I am not adovating a coaching change.

• Zane is ranked near the bottom of the league in FG% and Touchback %.
• Lee is ranked near the bottom of the league in Punting Average and middle of the pack for punts inside the 20, but is top third in Fair Catches.
• Kirk is near the bottom of the league in average yards per punt return.
• Chase Edmonds is near the bottom of the league in average yard per kick return.

Still better than Amos Jones years

 

[FB94]

Agree, need upgrades at kicker, punter, and KR/PR especially PR who will go upfield, instead of backwards or sideways

 

[MrYeahBut]

You need someone with a death wish to be a good punt returner.

 

[Metcalf Rules]

I thought Kirk showed real improvement as a pr against the Giants. 6 returns 77 yards.

 

[WisconsinCard]

You need someone with a death wish to be a good punt returner.

Or a guy with no self-preservation mode. Who is fast.

 

[Jetstream Green]

I thought Kirk showed real improvement as a pr against the Giants. 6 returns 77 yards.

I think that's a product of the Giants sucking at STs and not as much as Kirk improving lol

 

[Cheesebeef]

I think that's a product of the Giants sucking at STs and not as much as Kirk improving lol

right? Watching Kirk actually gain positive yardage repeatedly was bizarre.

 

[Krusher kardinals]

As good as I feel about our ST coverage units it is our ST "skill players" the team needs to seriously consider cleaning house/making wholesale changes. NOTE: I think the current special teams coach is doing a phenominal job with what he has, so I am not adovating a coaching change.

• Zane is ranked near the bottom of the league in FG% and Touchback %.
• Lee is ranked near the bottom of the league in Punting Average and middle of the pack for punts inside the 20, but is top third in Fair Catches.
• Kirk is near the bottom of the league in average yards per punt return.
• Chase Edmonds is near the bottom of the league in average yard per kick return.

Kirk punt return was vastly improved sunday
Lets hope he continues

 

[Jetstream Green]

Kirk punt return was vastly improved sunday
Lets hope he continues

Uh, not really. That one play where he got good yards going horizontal would have resulted in a loss of yards against most other teams... Kirk not being as quick as advertised in the draft

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Still better than Amos Jones years

Amos Jones was so bad, I wanted Arians fired because he didn't do anything about it.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Uh, not really. That one play where he got good yards going horizontal would have resulted in a loss of yards against most other teams... Kirk not being as quick as advertised in the draft

I kinda feel the same way too. He doesn't have lateral quickness needed in return duty in the NFL. I thought Andy might have it, but his game film doesn't show that either.

 

[Krusher kardinals]

Uh, not really. That one play where he got good yards going horizontal would have resulted in a loss of yards against most other teams... Kirk not being as quick as advertised in the draft

Uhh yes really !!
Did you watch the game?

He finished with:
6 punt returns—77 yards— 12.83 average.

His next best punt return game this year was 1 punt return for 10 yards vs sea or 2 punt returns for 15 yards vs buffalo.

 

[BritCard]

As good as I feel about our ST coverage units it is our ST "skill players" the team needs to seriously consider cleaning house/making wholesale changes. NOTE: I think the current special teams coach is doing a phenominal job with what he has, so I am not adovating a coaching change.

• Zane is ranked near the bottom of the league in FG% and Touchback %.
• Lee is ranked near the bottom of the league in Punting Average and middle of the pack for punts inside the 20, but is top third in Fair Catches.
• Kirk is near the bottom of the league in average yards per punt return.
• Chase Edmonds is near the bottom of the league in average yard per kick return.

I think the Andy Lee thing is a decision by coaching. Looks like they want to force more fair catches with hang time than give teams the chance to punt return. There's probably some analytics somewhere that says losing 5 yards on distance saves you 10 on returns.

Although I do agree it's time for change. Lee is getting on and a fresh leg wouldn't hurt.

 

[WisconsinCard]

Amos Jones was so bad, I wanted Arians fired because he didn't do anything about it.

TBH Arians had such an aged team shooting for the moon that Amos never had a chance anyway. Not trying to debate that he was a good ST coach by any stretch, just saying he was doomed to fail, with that roster.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

TBH Arians had such an aged team shooting for the moon that Amos never had a chance anyway. Not trying to debate that he was a good ST coach by any stretch, just saying he was doomed to fail, with that roster.

I don't necessarily disagree with that. When your special teams fails as epic as it did though, I would expect the starters to come in and shore it up at the very least.

 

[Dback Jon]

I don't necessarily disagree with that. When your special teams fails as epic as it did though, I would expect the starters to come in and shore it up at the very least.

And it wasn't just the talent or lack there of - the players looked lost, out of position, not holding lanes, etc - which is coaching.

 

[Jetstream Green]

Uhh yes really !!
Did you watch the game?

He finished with:
6 punt returns—77 yards— 12.83 average.

His next best punt return game this year was 1 punt return for 10 yards vs sea or 2 punt returns for 15 yards vs buffalo.

Uh yeah , I watch the games and do not play stats games, hence my opinion. The Giants were absolutely atrocious on the STs coverage... and if he was meh all year and suddenly does this, then it points to me being right

 

[BritCard]

Uh yeah , I watch the games and do not play stats games, hence my opinion. The Giants were absolutely atrocious on the STs coverage... and if he was meh all year and suddenly does this, then it points to me being right

It also helped that several times the Giants punted they were pinned right back so we're punting for distance. Which meant Kirk had plenty of time and space to pick up return yards.

 

[Russ Smith]

Part of why I love Jaylen Waddle so much is returns. He can return both punts and kickoffs while you acclimate him into the passing offense. The problem is even after the injury he's probably off the board before we pick.
DeVonta Smith is averaging 26 yard per punt return(only 7 returns 1 TD) and keep in mind the only reason he ever returns punts is because Waddle is out hurt, Waddle was better than Smith at returning kicks. Not as good a WR but great player

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Still better than Amos Jones years

That's what is amazing about how bad Amos was. I have spent this entire season generally being fine with special teams because near the bottom was so much better than the pit of despair

 

[MadCardDisease]

I still like my guy Rondale Moore WR Purdue:

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He is like the WR version of Kyler in the open field but you won't see him slide short of the marker.

 

[JosiahLee]

It was not wise to let Pharoah Cooper go.

 

[Chopper0080]

I still like my guy Rondale Moore WR Purdue:

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He is like the WR version of Kyler in the open field but you won't see him slide short of the marker.

I also like him. He is a player that we may have a shot at in round 2 because of his tough year, limited film, and size.