Kick-off and Punt Coverage, Worst Since 1949 & 1989

[Bretsky]

Might have to do with the fact that only 20 punts were returned against us--which happened to be 3rd fewest in the NFL behind San Diego and Chicago. The league average seems to be around the mid to upper 30s. And that number only includes 5 that were touchbacks out of 64 punts. About 1/3 were fair caught and about 1/3 were downed inside the 20 (I'm assuming most of those were not returned).

When there are so few returns, a couple of big ones can really change the stats. Kind of like a backup RB with few touches can have an impressive yards/carry based off busting a long run or two.

Our punting net average was around league average.

Are you arguing since there are less returns against us because our punter is way above average it's more acceptable to have a crappy average yards per return ?

My thought would beif there are so few returns, we should let them bust out way less

The RB comparison...a lot of times when these second tier RB's bust one out..it's because they are in with a team expecting a pass and are surprised.

Not that I'm comparing our special teams coverage units to be second tier

IMO they are not that good.

[Patler]

The longest punt return against the Packers was the last game of the year, for 49 yards. There were others for 41, 38, 35, 32 and 23 yards. 6 returns for 218 yards, 14 returns for 43 yards.

[Pugger]

The general theme is set. We suck at taking on blockers and making tackles both on ST and Defense. I have said it 20 times if I have said it once...we need to change the way we practice (and it will help with the injuries as well).

With the limits on padded practices how do we change the way we practice?

[Cleft Crusty]

With the limits on padded practices how do we change the way we practice?

I'm not sure better STs practice all that much more.

The difference probably is due primarily to how the STs are built and what they draw from - teams that are strong defensively, perhaps moreso the 3-4 defenses that are LB rich, will probably be better equipped to run and tackle on STs. The Packers trot out a lot of TEs, WRs, and RBs on STs, this year in particular because of injuries at the LB position, and the difference in the ability to pursue and tackle is just going to be decidedly different. Also, if you draft defensive backs that cover more than tackle, like House for example, their skill set will affect what they can do on STs as well.

I think the Packers STs performance is a direct reflection of the type of players that they drafted.

[Bretsky]

The longest punt return against the Packers was the last game of the year, for 49 yards. There were others for 41, 38, 35, 32 and 23 yards. 6 returns for 218 yards, 14 returns for 43 yards.

ON the other hand I recall Seattle had about the top unit covering punts in the NFL; through about eight games they had given up about ten yards.

[Bretsky]

The longest punt return against the Packers was the last game of the year, for 49 yards. There were others for 41, 38, 35, 32 and 23 yards. 6 returns for 218 yards, 14 returns for 43 yards.

6 of the 20 went for over 20 yds

[HarveyWallbangers]

Are you arguing since there are less returns against us because our punter is way above average it's more acceptable to have a crappy average yards per return ?

My thought would beif there are so few returns, we should let them bust out way less

The RB comparison...a lot of times when these second tier RB's bust one out..it's because they are in with a team expecting a pass and are surprised.

Not that I'm comparing our special teams coverage units to be second tier

IMO they are not that good.

No, I'm arguing that it's a small sample size. 20 punts returned against. Perhaps we had pretty good coverage since so few punts were returned against us. I seem to remember the likes of Bush and House screaming down the field to force a fair catch or down a punt inside the 20 quite often. The net average was around league average and the DVOA metric had us even higher. I don't think punt coverage was as much of an issue as some are making it out to be nor do I think it can be measured by punt return yardage against only.

[bobblehead]

With the limits on padded practices how do we change the way we practice?

One guys idea of padded practice might/probably is very different than another guys. Padded does not necessarily mean much/heavy contact.

[Bretsky]

No, I'm arguing that it's a small sample size. 20 punts returned against. Perhaps we had pretty good coverage since so few punts were returned against us. I seem to remember the likes of Bush and House screaming down the field to force a fair catch or down a punt inside the 20 quite often. The net average was around league average and the DVOA metric had us even higher. I don't think punt coverage was as much of an issue as some are making it out to be nor do I think it can be measured by punt return yardage against only.

Ya think our punter has a stronger than average leg with better than average hang time ??
And if the punder has a short field, he should be forcing a fair catch...but that's not a coverage catch.

[woodbuck27]

our ST coach isn't responsible for that area of the team

it was someone or something else that was responsible

Our ST coach is handcuffed by excessive injuries and has to try and coach ST KO and punt returns with something equivalent to CFL rejects.

Is that the TRUTH?

[woodbuck27]

I'm not sure better STs practice all that much more.

The difference probably is due primarily to how the STs are built and what they draw from - teams that are strong defensively, perhaps moreso the 3-4 defenses that are LB rich, will probably be better equipped to run and tackle on STs. The Packers trot out a lot of TEs, WRs, and RBs on STs, this year in particular because of injuries at the LB position, and the difference in the ability to pursue and tackle is just going to be decidedly different. Also, if you draft defensive backs that cover more than tackle, like House for example, their skill set will affect what they can do on STs as well.

I think the Packers STs performance is a direct reflection of the type of players that they drafted.

Then you've actually checked the games Stat's and ST packages?

Who (names of roster players) played on these KO and Punt coverage packages in the majority of games?

Based on your exact findings:

Does it matter who's trotted out there on ST's as it matters who makes the tackles?

Which LB's, WR's and RB's were on KO and Punt return packages?

How often did players on the packages at these positions (LB,WR and RB) make tackles compared to the majority of the position players that made the tackles?

Based on your findings and accurate answers to the above questions.

Please return to this thread with your conclusions based on the facts.

Thanks.

GO PACK GO !

[Cleft Crusty]

Please return to this thread with your conclusions based on the facts.

Thanks.

GO PACK GO !

Do your own research

[Iron Mike]

Do your own research

Please return to this thread with your conclusions based on the facts.

Thanks.

GO PACK GO !

'Bout time for a huge diatribe on how Cleft Crusty should be permabanned from PR......