Tag: return yards

Losing Phil Galiano could be a big hit to the Saints special teams units

Losing Phil Galiano would be a big hit to the Saints special teams units. Only one team has allowed fewer return yards since he was hired:

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are interviewing Phil Galiano for their open special teams coordinator job on Tuesday — and losing him could be a big hit to the New Orleans Saints kicking units.

Galiano isn’t a big name in New Orleans. He’s worked as the assistant to Saints special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi since they were both hired in 2019, rarely speaking to the media or taking the spotlight. But they have both played a key role in maintaining the Saints’ excellence in the game’s third phase.

We tend to think of special teams as being all about kicking field goals and punting the ball away. But it’s a real team effort. Finding the right players who can get downfield in a hurry and limit returns is critical. And Galiano deserves some credit for helping the Saints outperform the rest of the league in that phase.

Since Rizzi and Galiano arrived in 2019, the Saints are the only team in the NFL to allow fewer than 1,000 punt return yards (998) and 2,500 kick return yards (2,350). Only one team, the Washington Commanders, has given up fewer total return yards with 3,103 to the Saints’ 3,348. The other 30 teams in the NFL have all allowed 3,500 or more.

Here’s how they all stack up:

It’s possible the Buccaneers end up hiring a different candidate for their special teams coordinator opening. At the same time, there’s a chance Galiano could leave for the promotion. If he does exit this isn’t a loss that Saints fans should overlook. Hopefully Rizzi already has an idea of possible replacements should he need to hire a new assistant.

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Rashid Shaheed receives more all-star recognition for his punt returns skills

Rashid Shaheed received more all-star recognition for his punt returns skills, being named to the PFWA All-NFL Team:

Good for Rashid Shaheed: the New Orleans Saints wide receiver received more all-star recognition for his punt returns skills, being named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-NFL and All-NFC Teams. Shaheed was previously selected for the Pro Bowl and earned All-Pro attention for his efforts in the return game.

Shaheed returned 25 punts during the 2023 season (tied for 10th-most) but finished with 339 return yards at an average of 13.6 yards per attempt (third-most in each category). He also scored a touchdown on a 76-yard return against the Green Bay Packers.

Shaheed has developed into a very impressive playmaker for the Saints. His 1,479 all-purpose yards ranked around the NFL, and he was the only player in the league with 700-plus yards from scrimmage as well as 300-plus return yards on both punts and kickoffs. Let’s see how much higher his star can rise.

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Rashid Shaheed leads all NFC returns specialists in Pro Bowl Games votes

Rashid Shaheed leads all NFC returns specialists in Pro Bowl Games votes. The second-year Saints standout is a rising star:

Don’t blink or you’ll miss him. Rashid Shaheed leads all NFC returns specialists in Pro Bowl Games votes. The second-year standout is a rising star in the NFL, and he’s the only member of the New Orleans Saints to lead his position group in voting after the first round of fan ballots, the league announced this week.

And it’s easy to see why. Shaheed has missed a game with an injury and he’s still one of the top-performing punt returners, averaging 14.4 yards a pop on 18 returns; only one player in the league has a better pace while fielding as many punts (Los Angeles Chargers receiver Derius Davis, who has 16.6 yards per return on 19 tries).

Shaheed’s 343 kick return yards are second-best in the NFL, too. There’s just one player with more total return yards on punts and kickoffs this season, and that’s Keisean Nixon (Green Bay Packers), whose 8.1 yards per punt return is pedestrian by contrast. There are few players who can match Shaheed for volume and efficiency.

Hopefully Shaheed can return to work soon and continue to produce so he can earn his first Pro Bowl nod. He missed last week’s game with a thigh injury that’s kept him out of practice to start this week, too, so we’ll keep an eye on his status moving forwards.

Fans interested in voting for Shaheed (and the other Saints players on this year’s ballot) may do so at ProBowl.com/Vote, as well as on the Saints’ official website here. Voting will open on social media platforms later in December.

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Ravens’ 2022 season in review: Special Teams

We analyze the Ravens’ 2022 special teams unit

Fundamentally sound play on special teams has been a core aspect of the Baltimore Ravens’ strategy over the years, and their 2022 campaign was no different. Though Lamar Jackson’s injury near the end of the season derailed the momentum that Baltimore had built earlier in the year, the Ravens’ special teams unit stepped up in a big way while the offense operated with backup quarterbacks, and helped keep the team in the playoff picture.

Over the course of 2022, kicker Justin Tucker missed just six field goal attempts and one extra point. He led the team in scoring by a wide margin, ending the season with over eight points scored per game, which was under six points more per game than running back Kenyan Drake, who managed two and a half per game.

On the other end of the special teams operation, punter Jordan Stout racked up 2,618 punting yards on 57 punts, good for an average of 45.9 air yards. Though the raw numbers seem impressive on the surface, his air yards per punt average was only good for 25th place across the league’s punters, which leaves plenty of room for improvement in 2023.

His coverage team allowed just 155 return yards on punts throughout the season, which ranked fifth in the league among punters who started 16 or more games over the course of their teams’ schedules.

Tucker’s job is secure as ever heading into next season, and his reputation as one of the NFL’s top kickers remains intact. Stout, on the other hand, may see his role challenged by competition if Baltimore decides to bring in another leg during training camp, and if he can’t show signs of improvement over the course of next season, could face major competition for his job.

Long snapper Nick Moore impressed as well, getting a bid to the 2023 Pro Bowl Games. He has performed admirably ever since stepping in for Morgan Cox a few seasons ago, and is one of the most consistent players at his position.

Punt and kick returns are also a big aspect of special teams, and Pro Bowl returner Devin Duvernay didn’t disappoint, showing his electricity in both aspects. He is one of the best return specialists in the league, and showed it on plenty of occasions before going down with a season-ending injury.