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Any chance we invest in a competent qualified ST's coach?

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Ah, lot of issues to complain about, but special teams aren't near the top. Baxa is awful. Unfortunately, a special teams coach probably can't cure what ails him. Everything else is in decent shape. Kickoffs typically are into the end zone and not returned, punter is respectable and return/cover teams haven't been major issues.
Baxa is the only issue . . . and, unfortunately, has impacted all three losses.
 
Just recruit a kid with a high percentage of field made. High school, Juco, or just have a open tryout at the school.
 
Our special team are NOT fine. We never block kicks or punts, but do get ours blocked from time to time. We never get big returns anymore either!
 
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drewm3i said:
Our special team are NOT fine. We never block kicks or punts, but do get ours blocked from time to time. We never get big returns anymore either!
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Our coverage is terrible and setting up returns is just as bad. There is usually guy in Thomas' face before he even fields the punt.
 
As far as I can see this year.....Thomas has yet to use his speed consistently on ST's, and our play in this phase of the game has been horrendous.... ..........Baxa needs to get it together.....I really hope he does, because his kicks have power and distance..........needs accuracy.. we need him down the stretch....
 
Curious if any analytics folks know the actual breakdown on the % punts and kickoffs that are being returned these days. Not only with Miami games, but with all seems more often than not kickoffs are going through the end zone. Also seems fewer punts are returnable.
You can have a combination of Usain Bolt, Devin Hester and Jeff Thomas back there, but unfortunately can't do much damage if the ball is through the end zone or routinely being fair caught.
So, the real downfall on special teams is when you have a punter whiffing and spraying the ball all over the place. Or a fragile, inconsistent place kicker.
 
bacane said:
Curious if any analytics folks know the actual breakdown on the % punts and kickoffs that are being returned these days. Not only with Miami games, but with all seems more often than not kickoffs are going through the end zone. Also seems fewer punts are returnable.
You can have a combination of Usain Bolt, Devin Hester and Jeff Thomas back there, but unfortunately can't do much damage if the ball is through the end zone or routinely being fair caught.
So, the real downfall on special teams is when you have a punter whiffing and spraying the ball all over the place. Or a fragile, inconsistent place kicker.
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I noticed this myself when watching both college and NFL games. It seems that with the adoption of the spread formations/ rugby style punting that many teams use these days, the focus in strategy has shifted from having big guys on the field as blockers trying to prevent blocked punts to having faster more athletic gunners to chase down the return man. The result is less returned punts for the receiving team.

This also forces a change in the strategy of the return teams because of they try to block the kick instead of covering the 2-3 extra receivers & gunners they leave themselves vulnerable to a sprintout run or pass downfield from the rugby punter. So i notice a lot less block punts overall.
 
bacane said:
Curious if any analytics folks know the actual breakdown on the % punts and kickoffs that are being returned these days. Not only with Miami games, but with all seems more often than not kickoffs are going through the end zone. Also seems fewer punts are returnable.
You can have a combination of Usain Bolt, Devin Hester and Jeff Thomas back there, but unfortunately can't do much damage if the ball is through the end zone or routinely being fair caught.
So, the real downfall on special teams is when you have a punter whiffing and spraying the ball all over the place. Or a fragile, inconsistent place kicker.
Click to expand...

Another factor on kickoffs that is directly contributing to more kicks through the endzone and less kick-off returns is the rule changes enacted a few years ago. The kick-off is the most dangerous play in football and results in lots of concussions & injuries.

So to intentionally reduce the number of violent collisions the kickoff line was moved up from the 30 to the 35 resulting in deeper kicks into the endzone, and the touchback line was increased from the 20yd line to the 25.

The rule changes shifted special teams strategy to kicking it high & deep for better coverage or straight into the endzone. It also ultimately incentivized the receiving team to just take a knee in the endzone and start on the 25 instead of risking injuries and turnovers on a return.
 
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