Tag: special teams

Anfernee Orji is becoming one of the Saints’ best players on special teams

Anfernee Orji’s development isn’t just at linebacker. He’s become one of the leading tacklers on special teams as well, and a key figure in the game’s third phase:

The leap from Year 1 to Year 2 for Anfernee Orji has been evaluated before. Head coach Dennis Allen and All-Pro linebacker Demario Davis have praised the young player for his ability to develop and better learn his role defensively, but he’s worked hard to help out in the game’s third phase, too.

Orji’s development runs deeper than just defense. He’s becoming one of the New Orleans Saints’ best players on special teams. Bill Belichick crafted a midseason team and Orji was one of three Saints players to be included in the list.

This week Saints special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi was asked about Orji’s inclusion on Thursday and like Belichick he highlighted the second year player’s contribution in kickoff return. He’s second to only J.T. Gray in tackles on kickoff return.

“He came out he gate, first game of the year, I think he had the first three tackles. He’s played very consistently on that team,” Rizzi said. He sees a player who has made “a huge improvement from Year 1 to Year 2.”

Kickoff returns are important for New Orleans. Rizzi helped push the new rule through and is taking advantage of it. Orji being a productive part of that unit makes him vital special teams player. If the Saints are going to turn this season around and end their losing streak, it’ll be because young, hungry players like Orji refuse to back down.

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3 Saints special teams aces recognized by Bill Belichick

New Orleans Saints players J.T. Gray, Anfernee Orji and Rashid Shaheed all made Bill Belichick’s first midseason team as standouts on special teams:

Former New England Patriots coach and eight-time Super Bowl champ Bill Belichick has quickly transitioned into the media landscape, with plenty of outlets competing for some of his time. His latest project is developing essentially an All-Pro Team halfway through the season called the All-Belichick Midseason Team.

The New Orleans Saints are represented three times on that list, all of whom play on special teams. J.T. Gray, Anfernee Orji and Rashid Shaheed all made the cut.

This is a major look for Orji. The young linebacker is looking to make a name in this league, and appearing on an All-NFL team created by the greatest coach of all time is certainly one way to do it. Belichick specifically highlighted Orji’s kickoff return coverage, even though Orji made it on the punt team. His 5 special teams tackles are among the most in the NFL.

Gray is a former All-Pro player on special teams. Coach called Gray, “a productive player ever since he’s came in the league.” He’s tied for the league lead with 7 special teams tackles, plus a blocked punt.

There were two kick returners on the team, and Shaheed was paired on this list with Cowboys’ returner KaVontae Turpin. Unfortunately, Shaheed’s injury will keep him from making the All-Pro team at the end of the season. His inclusion on this list shows you his trajectory, returning one punt for a touchdown in his six games this year.

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Steelers’ WR named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week

Calvin Austin’s Week 8 breakout game put the NFL on notice, resulting in being named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Ladies and gentlemen, Calvin Austin III has arrived and is being recognized for his elite play in Week 8. Austin has been named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after his dynamic 73-yard punt return for a touchdown. 

With the score tied 9-9 in the third quarter, Austin knew he needed to make a splash play—and that is exactly what he did. After helping his team take the lead with his dynamic punt return, Austin continued to make his presence felt in the receiving game, hauling in 54 yards and two total touchdowns on the night. 

Can Austin keep the momentum rolling, not only contributing to the Steelers’ top spot in the AFC North, but also locking up Pittsburgh’s WR2 spot indefinitely? Only time will tell, but Austin’s fantastic performance seemingly leads to one simple conclusion—this is only the first of many awards Austin will earn during his time in the Steel City.

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Steelers’ legendary QB gives his opinion on the team MVP in 2024 

Former Steelers’ QB Ben Roethlisberger stated on Tuesday that he believes Pittsburgh’s current MVP is Special Teams Coach Danny Smith.

After winning two Super Bowls with two different head coaches, Steelers’ legendary QB Ben Roethlisberger is a solid judge of quality coaching ability. On this week’s episode of his podcast, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, the former Steelers’ QB stated that one man, and one man alone, is Pittsburgh’s MVP this season—Special Teams Coach Danny Smith. 

Smith’s unit has presented a masterclass in special teams coverage, from blocked field goals to excellent punt returns. Smith was visibly upset over a botched call against an impressive special teams effort made by FS Minkah Fitzpatrick on Week 7’s Sunday Night Football, but his demeanor quickly shifted to excitement later that night as the team successfully blocked a field goal in their win over the New York Jets. 

Roethlisberger is mostly taking this opportunity to give the Steelers’ coach his flowers, but Smith’s special teams unit has truly been a spectacle for fans this season.  

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Broncos worked out a left-footed punter on Tuesday

The Broncos worked out left-footed punter Brock Miller on Tuesday ahead of their TNF showdown with Saints lefty Matthew Hayball.

Sean Payton’s doing everything he can to gain an advantage going into a Thursday Night Football clash with the New Orleans Saints this week.

The Denver Broncos worked out punter Brock Miller on Tuesday, according to a report from KPRC-TV’s Aaron Wilson. Miller’s workout is not necessarily a bad sign for current punter Riley Dixon. Rather, it’s a sign that Denver is preparing its returners for Thursday’s game in New Orleans.

Dixon, like the majority of NFL punters, is right-footed. So returners Marvin Mims and Tremon Smith are used to fielding right-footed punts each week in practice and in most games during the season.

This week, the Broncos will face Saints punter Matthew Hayball, who is a lefty. Presumably to prepare Mims and Smith for catching left-footed punts, Denver brought in Miller for Tuesday’s practice.

Miller, 33, has spent time with three NFL teams and he’s played in the UFL, USFL and XFL.

If the workout went well, Miller could also be considered down the road if the Broncos are ever in need of a fill-in punter. This week, though, he was likely brought in to emulate Hayball at practice.

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Getting Jerrick Reed II back will have huge impact on Seahawks’ special teams

Getting Jerrick Reed II back will have huge impact on Seahawks’ special teams

The Seattle Seahawks announced their decision to designate sophomore safety Jerrick Reed II to return to practice. Reed began the 2024 campaign on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list due to an ACL injury suffered last year. His eventual return should have a massive impact on Seattle’s struggling special teams units.

Reed logged a sizable 157 snaps on special teams for the Seahawks last season, according to Pro Football Reference. Just one of Seattle’s top-three most snapped special teams players returned this season (Brady Russell), with Nick Bellore and Jon Rhattigan now playing elsewhere. When Reed returns, he should be earmarked for one of those starring roles.

 

Reed made his impact on special teams last year, totaling a league-high 11 tackles in the third phase prior to suffering his season-ending injury. The Seahawks could certainly use Reed’s help on special teams. Jay Harbaugh’s unit currently ranks 24th in punt return yards per game (8.1), among other disastrous areas.

Reed also possesses untapped potential at safety. The Seahawks have been banged up in the secondary, with Riq Woolen, Artie Burns, and Tre Brown all nursing ongoing injuries. If corner-turned-safety Coby Bryant returns to playing nickel corner out of necessity, Reed is a player that could assist at safety.

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Raiders have 2 ex-Broncos set to face their old team on Sunday

Former Broncos Jacob Bobenmoyer and Tyreik McAllister will return to Denver to face their former team on Sunday.

When the Las Vegas Raiders travel to face the Denver Broncos in Week 5, two players will be returning to Colorado to face their former team.

The Raiders have two ex-Broncos who contribute on special teams: long snapper Jacob Bobenmoyer and returner Tyreik McAllister.

Bobenmoyer, 27, handled long snapping duties in Denver from 2019-2022 before being replaced by Mitchell Fraboni. Bobenmoyer signed with Las Vegas last year and he’s been the Raiders’ long snapper since then.

McAllister, 26, signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent running back out of Charleston in 2022. He spent most of that season either on reserve or the practice squad before re-signing in 2023. McAllister was cut before training camp last summer and then spent a season playing in the CFL with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

McAllister signed with Las Vegas in January and he is now listed as a wide receiver and the team’s top backup kickoff and punt returner.

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on Fox. The Broncos are considered favorites at home this week.

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Notre Dame Week 5 highlight: Louisville bad snap gives the Fighting Irish the ball

Notre Dame got a break with a bad snap on a Louisville punt.

Securing the football has been difficult for both teams as No. 16 Notre Dame hosts No. 15 Louisville in South Bend today.

The Louisville Cardinals were set to punt from their own 49 but the snap was too high. Notre Dame special teamer Jordan Faison pushed the ball further upfield and Fighting Irish linebacker Kennedy Urlacher — son of NFL star Brian — recovered, setting the Irish up with first and goal at the Louisville 4-yard line.

The play continued a huge swing of momentum in Notre Dame’s favor.

 

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Broncos have their first weekly award winner of 2024 season

Broncos kicker Wil Lutz has been named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week following the team’s 26-7 victory over the Bucs in Week 3.

Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz has been named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week following the team’s 26-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3, the NFL announced Wednesday.

Lutz, 30, went 4-of-4 on field goal attempts and 2-of-2 on extra points attempts in Week 3, accounting for 14 of the team’s points against the Bucs. This marks the fifth weekly award of Lutz’s career and the first time a Broncos player has taken home such an honor this season.

Lutz was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month in November 2023, but his STPOFW award is the first for a Denver kicker since Brandon McManus took home the honors in 2021 (Week 14).

Lutz is the fourth kicker in Broncos history to have won the award, joining McManus (twice), Matt Prater (five times) and Jason Elam (seven times).

Lutz is 39-of-43 on field goal attempts since the Broncos acquired the kicker via trade with the New Orleans Saints last summer.

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Pat Surtain wants to play on special teams (the Broncos shouldn’t let him)

Pat Surtain wants to play on special teams, but the potential reward is not worth the risk for the Broncos.

Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain has made it clear that he would like to contribute on special teams, and special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica granted PS2’s request last week.

Surtain was used as a blocker on a punt return against the Pittsburgh Steelers (and he was penalized for holding). Will we see Surtain on special teams again this season?

“[It was] a package that we had,” Kotwica said Thursday. “So you’re just employing and putting people in different positions. On that particular play, we just had a different package in there. We may see that moving forward.

“Obviously, Pat has a lot of responsibility on the defensive side of the ball. The cool thing about Pat is that’s something that he likes to do. He wants to be a part of something bigger. We’ve had a pretty good punt return unit that past year, so he wanted to be a part of it.”

Surtain might want to do it, but the Broncos should not oblige him. The star cornerback is way too valuable on every play on defense to risk an injury on punt returns. It’s great to see that Surtain is willing to help out anywhere he can, but the reward does not outweigh the risk for such a key player.

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