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https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-the-best-special-teamers-in-the-nfl-in-2016/
Special teams are often overlooked in the NFL, and frequently analysis of players on various special teams units boils down to which players have played almost exclusively on special teams the longest. Like offense and defense though, players often outperform or underperform their reputations. That’s why we track every player on every play on special teams too, allowing us to dig into the game in a way few others can, breaking down the true special teams aces in the NFL right now. With that in mind, here are the best special teams players, per unit, in the NFL right now.
Punt team
The goal of the punt team is to put the opposing offense in as tough a field position as possible, and there are several key components. The snap needs to be clean and the punter needs to get the ball off quickly. Generally, the accepted operation time by special teams coaches is 2.10 seconds and under, and across the NFL this year the average time from the snap by the long snapper to the punt leaving the foot of the punter was 1.99 seconds.
When it comes to the punt, it depends on where on the field the team are punting for in terms of what the goal is. This is why traditional stats aren’t a true reflection on a punter’s performance. Net yards are frequently touted as a key for punters, but it’s important to remember that if a punter is punting from his opponent’s side fo the field, he’s not looking to punt the ball over 50 yards, and instead is looking to hang the ball up and allow his coverage team to make a play to keep the opponent pinned inside their own 10-yard line. Our grading system, developed with the help of NFL punters, takes that into consideration.
From here it’s up to the punt coverage team. This is led by the gunners on either edge, who are responsible for keeping initial contain on a return, making tackles, and keeping the ball from bouncing into the end zone. The punt offensive line need to get enough on any rushers that the punter has the 2.1 seconds needed to get the ball away, and then they too need to hustle downfield, stay in their lanes to prevent big plays, and make tackles or down the ball where necessary. With that in mind, these are the best at each job in punt coverage this season:
Punter: Pat McAfee, Indianapolis Colts
Stat to know: McAfee saw just 30.9 percent of his punts returned in 2016
Long snapper: Jonathan Weeks, Houston Texans
Stat to know: Weeks had just two inaccurate snaps on punts all year.
Gunner: Don Carey, Detroit Lions
Stat to know: Carey finished the year with nine tackles on special teams
Gunner: Johnny Holton, Oakland Raiders
Stat to know: Made three tackles on 29 snaps as a gunner
Coverage: D.J. Alexander, Kansas City Chiefs
Stat to know: Played 333 total special teams snaps, with 77 of them coming at the right guard spot on punts.
Coverage: Nate Ebner, New England Patriots
Stat to know: Led the league with 14 total special teams tackles and played the punt protector role on punts.
Coverage: Joshua Perry, San Diego Chargers
Stat to know: Lined up as the left wing on punts on 56 of his 334 special teams snaps.
Coverage: Terrence Brooks, Philadelphia Eagles
Stat to know: Played on four key special teams units, but rotated between left and right wing on punts.
Coverage: Josh Martin, New York Jets
Stat to know: Rotated between left and right guard, playing 69 total snaps on the punt team.
Coverage: Jeremy Cash, Carolina Panthers
Stat to know: Played exclusively on special teams as a rookie, lining up at both left wing and left tackle on 42 punts.
Coverage: Kentrell Brothers, Minnesota Vikings
Stat to know: Saw the field for the first time in Week 8, playing 43 snaps at left and right wing.
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View: https://twitter.com/JHekker/status/819992823332077568
Special teams are often overlooked in the NFL, and frequently analysis of players on various special teams units boils down to which players have played almost exclusively on special teams the longest. Like offense and defense though, players often outperform or underperform their reputations. That’s why we track every player on every play on special teams too, allowing us to dig into the game in a way few others can, breaking down the true special teams aces in the NFL right now. With that in mind, here are the best special teams players, per unit, in the NFL right now.
Punt team
The goal of the punt team is to put the opposing offense in as tough a field position as possible, and there are several key components. The snap needs to be clean and the punter needs to get the ball off quickly. Generally, the accepted operation time by special teams coaches is 2.10 seconds and under, and across the NFL this year the average time from the snap by the long snapper to the punt leaving the foot of the punter was 1.99 seconds.
When it comes to the punt, it depends on where on the field the team are punting for in terms of what the goal is. This is why traditional stats aren’t a true reflection on a punter’s performance. Net yards are frequently touted as a key for punters, but it’s important to remember that if a punter is punting from his opponent’s side fo the field, he’s not looking to punt the ball over 50 yards, and instead is looking to hang the ball up and allow his coverage team to make a play to keep the opponent pinned inside their own 10-yard line. Our grading system, developed with the help of NFL punters, takes that into consideration.
From here it’s up to the punt coverage team. This is led by the gunners on either edge, who are responsible for keeping initial contain on a return, making tackles, and keeping the ball from bouncing into the end zone. The punt offensive line need to get enough on any rushers that the punter has the 2.1 seconds needed to get the ball away, and then they too need to hustle downfield, stay in their lanes to prevent big plays, and make tackles or down the ball where necessary. With that in mind, these are the best at each job in punt coverage this season:
Punter: Pat McAfee, Indianapolis Colts
Stat to know: McAfee saw just 30.9 percent of his punts returned in 2016
Long snapper: Jonathan Weeks, Houston Texans
Stat to know: Weeks had just two inaccurate snaps on punts all year.
Gunner: Don Carey, Detroit Lions
Stat to know: Carey finished the year with nine tackles on special teams
Gunner: Johnny Holton, Oakland Raiders
Stat to know: Made three tackles on 29 snaps as a gunner
Coverage: D.J. Alexander, Kansas City Chiefs
Stat to know: Played 333 total special teams snaps, with 77 of them coming at the right guard spot on punts.
Coverage: Nate Ebner, New England Patriots
Stat to know: Led the league with 14 total special teams tackles and played the punt protector role on punts.
Coverage: Joshua Perry, San Diego Chargers
Stat to know: Lined up as the left wing on punts on 56 of his 334 special teams snaps.
Coverage: Terrence Brooks, Philadelphia Eagles
Stat to know: Played on four key special teams units, but rotated between left and right wing on punts.
Coverage: Josh Martin, New York Jets
Stat to know: Rotated between left and right guard, playing 69 total snaps on the punt team.
Coverage: Jeremy Cash, Carolina Panthers
Stat to know: Played exclusively on special teams as a rookie, lining up at both left wing and left tackle on 42 punts.
Coverage: Kentrell Brothers, Minnesota Vikings
Stat to know: Saw the field for the first time in Week 8, playing 43 snaps at left and right wing.
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View: https://twitter.com/JHekker/status/819992823332077568
