Tag: special teams

Sean Payton explains onside kick decision vs. Raiders

“It was just one of those things that we felt, percentage-wise, we felt pretty good about the onside kick,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said.

Surprise onside kicks are nothing new for Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton, with his most notable attempt being a successful onside kick after halftime against the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.

Even considering that history, though, it was still unexpected when the Broncos opened their 2023 season with an onside kick against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1.

Denver recovered the kick but cornerback Tremon Smith was deemed to have touched it just before it went the required 10 yards, and the resulting penalty set the Raiders up with good field position.

After an eventual 17-16 loss, Payton was asked about his decision to begin the game with a surprise onside kick.

“It was something we had seen on film,” Payton explained. “It wasn’t like a random [decision]. We just felt like we saw a leverage opportunity [and] we wanted to take advantage of. Obviously, we didn’t want to contact the ball before 10 yards. So it was kind of being aggressive and yet we felt like we came to win a game.

“It was something we discussed if we won the toss. We were going to defer and then we wanted it kicked over on our sideline. It was just one of those things that we felt, percentage-wise, we felt pretty good about the onside kick.”

Had they avoided the penalty, a successful onside kick would have been a great way to start the Payton era in Denver. Instead, Las Vegas went on to take a 7-0 lead and later won the game. Football is a game of inches, and Sunday was a good reminder of that.

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‘I was just doing my job’: Peyton Bowen on the pass breakup to help seal the win

Peyton Bowen made two plays in the game Saturday that make Sooner fans excited for what’s to come.

Early in the game, the Oklahoma Sooners got a stop on the [autotag]SMU Mustangs[/autotag]’ first drive of the game. SMU punter Ryan Bujcevski comes in to punt it away.

He gets the snap and like a blur, freshman [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag] rushes through the line to set up the Sooners in great field position. The Sooners would score three plays later.

But that play almost didn’t happen.

“I wasn’t even supposed to go,” Bowen said. “I was supposed to help block for a blocker and then we didn’t get lined up correctly early. I blocked so hard down and I saw no guard, like no shield and I was like let’s go make a play.”

It’s that kind of instinct that makes Bowen special and something Oklahoma hasn’t had in a long time at that position. That play proved huge with the score 14-11 early in the fourth. But that’s not the only play we saw Bowen make. Every week he’s doing something that makes us say, “he has to get on the field more often.”

That play happened late in the ball game with the Sooners up 21-11.

The Mustangs were going for it in their own territory and Bowen saw where the opening was and all out sprinted to knock the pass away. The Sooners would again score three plays later to seal the 28-11 win.

“I was just doing my job,” Bowen said. “If I was late on that job he would have caught it for the first down. That’s where it comes down to knowing my responsibility and doing it.”

He’s a little modest on that one. Yes, it was his responsibility but for him to notice the receiver ran a curl and wasn’t coming in toward him, then sprinting to break up the play is again something players in his position in the past just wouldn’t make.

It’s what has Sooner fans so excited for what’s to come for Bowen.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

WATCH: Saints linebacker Zack Baun blocks a Titans punt

WATCH: Saints linebacker Zack Baun blocks a Titans punt

This is why Zack Baun made the team. The New Orleans Saints’ strong side linebacker doesn’t get to play many snaps on defense with the team running so much nickel personnel, but he continues to make his presence felt on special teams.

Baun blocked a punt from the Tennessee Titans — with Steve Gleason in the building — on Sunday to set the Saints up with excellent field position, though it was officially recorded as a 1-yard punt by Titans specialist Ryan Stonehouse. Derek Carr drove the New Orleans offense down into field goal range, where rookie kicker Blake Grupe booted a 33-yard try right between the uprights.

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Chiefs 2023 special teams preview: Field goals and extra points

Our @WesleyRoesch breaks down what fans should expect from the #Chiefs’ field goal unit in 2023.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ field goal kicking squad got off to a rough start in 2022, but things got back on track by the time the postseason came around.

The team hopes to carry that positive momentum into 2023 as it retains a healthy Harrison Butker, who has been a reliable kicker for the Chiefs since 2017.

Butker will have a handful of new guys blocking for him in 2023, but fans should expect that blocking squad to remain a brick wall like last year. Let’s take a look at who will be blocking for Butker this season, and who has been replaced.

Chiefs 2023 special teams preview: Field goal and extra point blocking

Our @WesleyRoesch breaks down what fans should expect from the #Chiefs’ field goal and extra point block units in 2023.

The Kansas City Chiefs were one of 10 teams in 2022 to block zero field goals or extra points.

A few players came close, including defensive end George Karlaftis and cornerback Chris Lammons, but nobody was able to bat away a kick. In 2023, the team hopes to change that.

The Chiefs’ 2023 field goal/extra point blocking subunit will have quite a few new players due to some roster turnover.

Let’s look at who will be joining the squad, and who has left:

Chiefs 2023 special teams preview: Punt returns

Our @WesleyRoesch breaks down what fans should expect from the #Chiefs’ punt return subunit in 2023.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ punt return team was, quite frankly, bad last season.

That is, up until the postseason when receiver/returners Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney broke off game-changing returns in the AFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl, respectively.

Kansas City hopes to carry that momentum into 2023 with its punt return subunit, albeit with a different squad than last year’s. Several contributors on the Chiefs’ punt return squad are no longer on the roster entering 2023, meaning there’s potential for improvement.

Let’s look at who’s left and who’s back on the Chiefs’ punt return team, and who will be contributing for the very first time.

Chiefs 2023 special teams preview: Kickoff coverage

Our @WesleyRoesch breaks down what fans should expect from the #Chiefs’ kickoff coverage team in 2023.

The Chiefs had a strong kickoff coverage subunit last season thanks to a mix of hungry rookies, experienced vets, and the leadership of special teams coordinator Dave Toub.

However, Kansas City’s kickoff lineup will be a bit different in 2023 due to an influx of new talent, which means the squad’s potential is now up in the air.

Let’s take a look at some of the newest projected contributors on the Chiefs’ kickoff coverage team, and who those new contributors will be replacing.

Chiefs 2023 special teams preview: Kick returns

Our @WesleyRoesch breaks down what fans should expect on the #Chiefs’ kick returns in 2023.

The Chiefs’ kick return subunit used to consistently perform at a top-five level under special teams coordinator Dave Toub up until 2020.

Since then, Kansas City has struggled to find an above-average kick returner and surrounding squad to put up top-10 (sometimes top-16) numbers. 2022 was a middling year for the Chiefs’ kick return game, with the squad finishing 14th in kick return yards. Running back/returner Isiah Pacheco earned solid returns but ultimately finished 16th in average yards per return.

The Chiefs’ kick return game will look quite a bit different in 2023 with a new kick returner in Richie James plus a handful of new blockers. This means there’s potential for improvement, so this will be one squad to keep an eye on.

Let’s take a look at those returning to the Chiefs’ kick return subunit this season, and those who are projected to contribute for the first time.

New Packers safety Zayne Anderson takes pride in special teams abilities

New Packers safety Zayne Anderson, who was claimed off waivers on Wednesday, is likely to be a go-to player for Rich Bisaccia on special teams.

Since veteran coordinator Rich Bisaccia arrived in Green Bay before the 2022 season, special teams has become a much bigger priority for the Packers, with the team’s recent waiver claim of Zayne Anderson representing the latest example of this fact.

Anderson spent the summer with Buffalo but was released during Tuesday’s league-wide cutdown day. The Packers put in a claim and were awarded Anderson off waivers, who has since been added to the 53-man roster.

“We had talked with my agent about potentially practice squad,” said Anderson on Thursday about the Packers. “They kind of had an eye on us for a year or two. Just happy to be here, man. It’s a blessing, and excited for the opportunity.”

Anderson has good size at 6-2 and 206 pounds. He went undrafted in 2021 after spending six seasons at BYU, while battling injuries during his time there. In college, he spent most of his time lined up in the traditional deep safety role and came to the NFL with over 500 career special teams snaps, along with posting a 4.44-second 40-time at his Pro Day and an elite 3-cone time of 6.78-seconds.

Anderson spent his first two seasons with Kansas City, winning a Super Bowl last season as a member of the practice squad, and played just one career regular-season snap on defense, but was on the field for 109 snaps as a special teamer.

With Buffalo this summer, Anderson played just 14 total defensive snaps over the final two preseason games but was a regular member of the special teams unit. His three total tackles, according to PFF, were the most on the team. With special teams play being Anderson’s bread and butter in the NFL, he’s excited about the opportunity to play under Bisaccia.

“He’s one of the best special teams coaches in the business,” said Anderson. “And you can tell just the way he coaches his players and the way he handles everyone. He coaches with a lot of enthusiasm and I think that’s important, especially with the special teams unit to have that. So I’m excited to be able to work with him.”

Breaking down the Packers’ 6 roster moves made since final cuts

Admittedly, where Anderson fits on this Packers roster is still a bit fuzzy. His primary role is going to come on special teams, but unlike years past, it’s not as if the Packers didn’t have options there prior to his arrival.

The team released Tariq Carpenter, a core special teams player from 2022, in order to add Anderson, while the safety position already has Dallin Leavitt, who is on this team solely to be a special teams contributor. The Packers now also have six safeties on the 53-man roster, which could be the case to help make up for the special teams contributions lost at cornerback with only four on the current roster.

Perhaps on the special teams depth chart, Anderson is going to leap-frog either Jonathan Owens or Anthony Johnson. Although Johnson played 22 total special teams snaps over the three preseason games, only two came with the starters. Matt LaFleur also mentioned that as an area where he will have to continue to get more consistent.

“It always comes down to fundamentals,” said Anderson about playing special teams. “Knowing where you’re supposed to be and obviously, at the end of the day, it’s a man versus a man. It’s all about effort. So I take pride in that. I take pride in special teams. I’m excited.”

Even with all of the moves made this offseason at the safety position – and there were quite a few – this room still has plenty of unknowns from a defensive standpoint, although early expectations aren’t that Anderson is going to provide an impact in that area. It took a good portion of training camp for someone to emerge as the second starting safety next to Darnell Savage, but it does look like that role, for the time being any ways, will belong to Rudy Ford. It’s also going to be vital that Savage has a bounce-back season, after missed tackles and coverage breakdowns happened all too often in 2022.

The first step for Anderson is to familiarize himself with the defensive and special teams playbooks. With the Packers first regular season game now just over a week away, Anderson is going to have to learn it all on the fly if he is going to contribute on special teams right away, but he’s joining a position group with a lot of experience in that regard.

“He’s been in the league for a long time,” said Anderson of Leavitt, “and a really good special teams player. Being able to learn from guys like that, that have been in this league and done it at a high level. Obviously this room is filled with some talent, so being able to learn from the guys. I’m excited.”

Broncos expect now-healthy kicker Wil Lutz to bounce back in 2023

“This is a place where kickers want to be with the altitude and the conditions,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said after adding Wil Lutz.

Wil Lutz had the worst season of his career last year, converting just 74.2% of his field goal attempts, a percentage that ranked 32nd in the NFL.

Even after a down year, though, the Denver Broncos opted to trade a seventh-round draft pick to the New Orleans Saints earlier this week in exchange for the 29-year-old kicker.

Lutz suffered a core muscle injury last offseason and the Broncos believe his performance in 2022 suffered because of that injury. Now healthy again, Lutz is expected to have a bounce-back year in Denver.

“At the beginning of the whole process, he was a target for us,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said Tuesday. “… I was there through the whole beginning with Wil. [Then] he went through a core muscle injury, much like what Riley [Moss] is going through right now.

“Obviously, his numbers dropped off a little bit. He had a really good training camp for them. We have seen all of his kicks and we got pretty good information on how his practices went. A lot of it was a young player who we think is extremely talented. This is a place where kickers want to be with the altitude and the conditions. We’re excited about that.”

Lutz went 23-of-31 on field goal attempts last season and 33-of-33 on extra point attempts. In preseason this summer, the kicker went 4-of-4 on field goal attempts and 3-of-3 on extra point attempts.

Lutz played under Payton with the Saints from 2016-2020, and he played under Broncos assistant head coach Mike Westhoff from 2017-2018. Denver knows what they’re getting in the eighth-year kicker.

“Sean knows him well,” general manager George Paton said. “Westhoff knows him well. I always played against him when I was with the Vikings. His first five years were really good — upper 80 percent [in field goals made]. Then he had the injury and was down a little bit in 2022.

“In training camp, we targeted four or five teams, and targeted him. He was 4-for-4. He’s got a big leg, and he’s got the right mind. They obviously have knowledge of what he’s like, so we felt like it was the right move.”

After parting with veteran Brandon McManus earlier this year and bringing in Lutz during roster cuts, the Broncos saved about $2.05 million in salary cap space. We’ll soon find out if that was the right decision.

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