Special Teams - Cover your eyes

[Bossman641]

I knew the special teams were bad, but I didn't realize just how bad they were.

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20091201/PKR07/91201156/1058/PKR01/Vandermause--Special-teams-must-help

The Packers have been plagued by inconsistency across the board. They rank 22nd in kickoff returns, 23rd in punt returns, 23rd in opponents’ kickoff returns and 32nd — last — in net punting.

Only once in the past 39 seasons has the Packers’ kickoff coverage team been worse than this year, based on average yards allowed per return. Only once in the past decade has the Packers’ punt return average been worse than this year.

The Packers’ net punting average has plummeted 2.2 yards from last year, when a washed up Derrick Frost was their primary punter, and a whopping 4.1 yards from two years ago when they ranked 10th with Jon Ryan on the job.

Who knew we would be longing for the days of Derrick Frost?

[channtheman]

If you can, go to the Lions game and watch our gunners Nick Collins and Jarrett Bush. On almost every kick off they ran themselves right out of the play. They'd run full speed to the 20 and the kick returner would go right past them.

[digitaldean]

What stuns me about a lot of NFL special teams is that no one really tries for the coffin corner any more.

I know I'm dating myself, but I remember when Ray Guy made this an art form. The dude was money pinning others deep near their own endzone.

[Bossman641]

The ST play really confuses me. What is the reason?

Improper technique being coached by Slocum?
Players don't have that crazed ST mindset?
Busted coverages? The regularity with which our ST suck makes me believe it's not this
You would also think it couldn't be because of having the wrong body types - recall all the MM talk about the extra LB being carried being good for ST.

[Fosco33]

I fed the net avg falling to Pelissero a few weeks back... no more goats I guess. Wish we had Ryan still.

[Fritz]

What stuns me about a lot of NFL special teams is that no one really tries for the coffin corner any more.

I know I'm dating myself, but I remember when Ray Guy made this an art form. The dude was money pinning others deep near their own endzone.

I'm 100% with you on this one, Dean. Back in the day, punters who were good at their craft could knock the ball out of bounds after a 38-40-something yard kick - and thus a zero net, no chance at a run back at all. Most punters are already asked to kick directionally, I believe, so why not just kick it a little farther toward the sideline and try to get it to go out of bounds? You lose distance, sure, but there's no run back involved.

[MJZiggy]

If we don't start covering soon (without the mandatory block in the back penalty--does it have to be EVERY time?) maybe they'll bring it back...

[pbmax]

Football Outsiders has the Packer Special Teams at 32nd this week. I have no spin or kool-aid here. They stink. I think wist should stop worrying about the defense and figure out why the Packers can't draft, trade or waiver wire for Special Teams.

[RashanGary]

Football Outsiders has the Packer Special Teams at 32nd this week. I have no spin or kool-aid here. They stink. I think wist should stop worrying about the defense and figure out why the Packers can't draft, trade or waiver wire for Special Teams.

Wow. That's really pathetic. We have no chance for anything with ST's playing that way. We might as well fold up and quit right now.

[bobblehead]

Football Outsiders has the Packer Special Teams at 32nd this week. I have no spin or kool-aid here. They stink. I think wist should stop worrying about the defense and figure out why the Packers can't draft, trade or waiver wire for Special Teams.

They must factor in penalties which I would bet make our pathetic ST's look even worse if that is possible.

As for the coffin corner kick I agree. Not sure what the leagues justification for abandoning this is. No clue whatsoever. Hey, if we could punt it out of bounds to eliminate returns could we cut some of those ST aces who are contributing to our 32nd rank??

[Fritz]

Here's the mystery to me, PB: when final cutdowns come, often the rationale for what seem strange roster choices was that it was for the sake of special teams. Three fullbacks, linebackers like Lansanah, and so on. Yet the special teams continue to suck monkey butt.

[mraynrand]

The Packers have been attempting the 'coffin corner' of sorts on kickoffs.

Still, I don't know why anyone would think that a punter as lousy as Kapinos would be able to directionally kick. Who knows, maybe suckitude in hangtime and distance make you better at kicking on an angle, but I doubt it.

[pbmax]

Here's the mystery to me, PB: when final cutdowns come, often the rationale for what seem strange roster choices was that it was for the sake of special teams. Three fullbacks, linebackers like Lansanah, and so on. Yet the special teams continue to suck monkey butt.

Its a mystery. The Moll trade and Anthony Smith go into this column as well. Maybe Tracy White was that good?

[SkinBasket]

If you can, go to the Lions game and watch our gunners Nick Collins and Jarrett Bush. On almost every kick off they ran themselves right out of the play. They'd run full speed to the 20 and the kick returner would go right past them.

This has been S.O.P. for Bush his entire career, which has always made me wonder why people continue to, or ever did, call him a ST ace.

[Fritz]

The Packers have been attempting the 'coffin corner' of sorts on kickoffs.

Still, I don't know why anyone would think that a punter as lousy as Kapinos would be able to directionally kick. Who knows, maybe suckitude in hangtime and distance make you better at kicking on an angle, but I doubt it.

This is my theory. If your hangtime sucks and your distance sucks, can you please learn to kick the ball on an angle so it hits out of bounds after it's been in the air, say, 38 - 40 yards?