Tag: special teams

Rams are getting crushed in the field position battle this season

The Rams have only had one drive start in opponent territory, which is two fewer than every other team in the NFL

It’s been a struggle on both offense and defense for the Los Angeles Rams this season, but the special teams unit hasn’t been any better. In Chase Blackburn’s first season as the Rams’ special teams coordinator, Los Angeles has had plenty of issues in that phase of the game.

From missed field goals to the return game, the Rams have had one of the worst special teams units in football. It’s a big reason Los Angeles is getting crushed in the field position battle. Obviously, field position isn’t all about special teams – turnovers on offense and takeaways on defense can also flip the field – but the Rams have consistently set up their opponents with short fields and failed to create short fields for their own offense.

According to Stathead, the Rams have only had one drive that started across midfield. Every other team in the NFL has had at least three drives start in opponent territory, and 30 of them have had at least five such drives; the Rams and Vikings are the only two teams with fewer than five.

On the flip side, only four teams have allowed their opponents to start drives across the 50-yard line more than the Rams. Los Angeles’ opponents have had 11 such drives, fewer than only the Cardinals, Panthers, Commanders and Colts.

The Rams’ average starting field position this season is their own 26.2-yard line, which is the fourth-worst of any team. The average starting position of their opponents is the 31.3-yard line, which is also the fourth-worst in the league.

That’s largely because of long returns allowed to their opponents, as well as Matthew Stafford’s costly turnovers. Teams have started drives at the Rams’ 10-, 1-, 8-, 14- and 9-yard line this season, though only two of those possessions turned into touchdowns.

If the Rams continue to lose the field position battle, it’ll continue to make winning games extremely difficult. Sustaining drives and marching 75 yards to score touchdowns consistently isn’t easy, nor is limiting the scoring output of opponents when they’re starting across midfield as often as they have against the Rams.

Chiefs Dave Toub comments on S Justin Reid’s potential future as an NFL kicker

#Chiefs Dave Toub comments on S Justin Reid’s potential future as an NFL kicker

The emergency kicker role for the Kansas City Chiefs was confirmed last season as starting safety Justin Reid filled in adequately. Reid converted an extra point attempt during Week 1 of the 2022 season following Harrison Butker’s ankle injury.

Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub hasn’t shied away from plugging in different players when needed in special teams roles. He mentioned last week the prospect of having Patrick Mahomes as the emergency punter and is behind Reid as the backup in-game placekicker. During his weekly press conference, Toub commented on Reid’s long-term future as a professional kicker while filling in for an ill Butker at practice on Thursday.

“If we knew that (Butker) was going to be out, we want another kicker,” said Toub. “I’d feel comfortable that Justin can come in, but we want a real kicker. He’s good enough to get us through a game. He can make an extra point and has good range (on field goals).”

Toub was immediately asked if Reid had a future as an NFL kicker later in his football career.

“If he wanted to be a kicker at the NFL level, I don’t think he could do it,” Toub said with a smile. “I love him. I love him, but he will understand why I’m saying that. He’s a good safety.”

Reid will have to settle for being one of the top players in the Chiefs’ secondary. Getting his thoughts on Toub’s assessment would be interesting.

Saints activate LB Ryan Connelly from injured list, bring back RB Jordan Mims

The Saints activated linebacker Ryan Connelly from the injured list, also re-signing running back Jordan Mims to fill out their practice squad:

Reinforcements are on the way: the New Orleans Saints brought back a few familiar faces on Tuesday’s update to the daily NFL transactions wire, with linebacker Ryan Connelly activated from injured reserve and running back Jordan Mims re-signed after being waived last week; both players were added to the practice squad, which is now back at capacity. Tight end/fullback J.P. Holtz was released from the practice squad to facilitate these moves.

Connelly suffered a preseason knee injury and tried to play through it in the season opener with the Tennessee Titans, but that only aggravated the issue. He had to sit out the next six weeks while recovering. But he’s back now, and he should be in line for a role on special teams much like he was before. The Saints have relied on Zack Baun (162 snaps), D’Marco Jackson (161), Nephi Sewell (136), and Ty Summers (117) heavily in the kicking game, but Connelly was playing ahead of Sewell and Summers prior to his injury.

As for Mims: he only played a bit part while coming off the practice squad, but he did well on limited snaps. He got in on the opening tackle against the Houston Texans kick return in Week 6, his first play in the NFL, and the team clearly sees some things they can work with in him. For now he’ll be buried on the depth chart behind Alvin Kamara, Jamaal Williams, and Kendre Miller.

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Dave Toub: QB Patrick Mahomes is the Chiefs’ emergency punter

Special teams coordinator Dave Toub says quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the #Chiefs’ emergency punter.

The Kansas City Chiefs avoided possible disaster before their Week 6 victory over the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football. All-Pro punter Tommy Townsend was dealing with a sore knee ahead of the game but was well enough to get through the game.

Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub has never shied away from utilizing any player on the roster for a role. He has gone to place-kicking enthusiast Justin Reid as an emergency backup for Harrison Butker. Toub revealed to reporters on Thursday his intentions to utilize Patrick Mahomes as the team’s backup punter if necessary in games.

“Yeah, we had a plan. We had a plan, and believe it or not, ’15’ (Mahomes) Is our backup punter,” Toub explained. “He could do it. I mean, he shows me all the time. You know he’s out there boom on Saturdays hitting punts. He can do it all, that guy. It’s unbelievable.”

Mahomes has often pushed for doing more outside of the quarterback position, whether in jest or for the team’s betterment.

“If we wanted him to, he could probably,” said Toub, reiterating the real possibility of Mahomes the punter being an emergency option.

Dave Toub says WR Mecole Hardman is the fastest Chief

Kansas City #Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub says wide receiver Mecole Hardman is the fastest player on the team.

The Kansas City Chiefs completed a trade for wide receiver Mecole Hardman, reuniting him with the franchise after a brief departure. The speedy receiver was a favorite in head coach Andy Reid’s system and a reliable star on special teams.

Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub was delighted to discuss Hardman’s return and possible utilization moving forward during his pre-practice press conference on Thursday.

“He could; I mean, if Andy (Reid) has him up, and if he’s up, he’s going to be a guy that I’ll play on some special teams for sure,” said Toub. “But obviously, he just got here and he’s got to get established again. And Andy will make that decision, probably pretty soon.”

Hardman was named to the 2019 Pro Bowl for his exceptional work as a returner on special teams, so the role is something Toub is very comfortable potentially handing over to him.

“He’s a dynamic player,” Toub explained. “He’s the fastest player. He’ll be the fastest player on our team now, as soon as he got here. So it’s that breakaway speed ability. We’ve seen the last time we had a touchdown was Mecole in the return game. So we welcome him back, and he’s got the right attitude right now. And he’s ready for a fresh start.”

Hardman’s speed is undeniable, but only time will tell if he will be used in the offense more than special teams in the immediate future.

Chiefs K Harrison Butker says he could’ve made a 65-yard field goal vs. Broncos

#Chiefs K Harrison Butker says he could’ve attempted a 65-yard field goal in Thursday night tilt vs. #Broncos

The Kansas City Chiefs’ victory over the Denver Broncos on Thursday night was due in large part to their stellar play on defense. A significant portion of the praise goes to kicker Harrison Butker for contributing 13 of the team’s 19 points, including a 60-yard field goal.

Butker opened up about his big night during the postgame press conference, revealing his ability to make kicks from even farther.

“In warmup, I made a 65-yarder with some room to spare, and Coach [Dave] Toub loves banging big field goals at the end of the half or end of the game, but our offense is so good, we normally get a short field goal or even score a touchdown,” said Butker. “So a 60-yarder, definitely a 61-yarder was in our range, and going towards that tunnel, the wind was at my back. And you know, thankfully, it just went inside that left upright went through. And you know, it’s just something we practice, and we try to be the best we can leading up to the game so that when we get to the games, it just feels smooth and like we’re in a rhythm.”

Butker going 4 for 4 was important after his struggles last season following his ankle injury.

“You know, I don’t try to kick a ton of balls in the warmup, so like in past seasons, I’d go back to 70, 72, 74 yards and see what my max was, but this game you know, I made from 65. OK, I probably could make from 68, 69 or something with the wind, but yeah, I made 65 in the warmup.”

Jamal Agnew: ‘People are scared to kick it to us for a reason’

Jamal Agnew isn’t worried about the Jaguars’ punt return game lagging much longer.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ special teams unit bounced back from a rough showing against the Houston Texans in Week 3 to put together strong performances in London. Brandon McManus was a perfect four-of-four on field goals, Logan Cooke averaged 50.9 yards on nine punts, and opposing punt returners managed just nine yards across the two games.

The only thing that was missing was the Jaguars having a dangerous return game of their own.

After Pro Bowl returner Jamal Agnew missed Week 4 with a quad injury, he returned in Week 5 but managed only five yards on two punt returns against the Buffalo Bills. So what needs to change to get the return game back on track? Not much of anything, according to Agnew.

“Just stay patient and don’t force anything,” Agnew said Friday. “People are scared to kick it to us for a reason. We don’t get a lot of opportunities and, when we do, we get everybody’s best on returns. Obviously, they know who I am. They don’t kick it to me like they kick it to everybody else.

“So we just got to stay patient. That’s one thing I’ve gotten used to in my career is just waiting for the plays to come and not trying to force anything. Ten yards, I’m fine with that. That’s a first down for the offense. The big plays will come, we’ve just got to stay patient.”

Agnew made a big impact earlier this season when he ripped off a 48-yard return in the fourth quarter of a Week 1 game against the Indianapolis Colts to spark a 14-point quarter for the Jaguars.

Agnew said that play was starting to feel inevitable after he saw the way the Colts were punting earlier in the game.

“All day they were shanking them, they were scared to punt to me,” Agnew said. “Kick return, they were booting them out of the end zone. I think it was [director of player engagement] Marcus Pollard, said ‘Hey, just wait for it, it’s gonna come.’

“I had a 10-yard one and then it was a plus-50 punt and it was on the ground and I knew ‘this is the play right here.’ Stayed patient for it, grabbed it, and made a play. That’s all it is in the return game, you get one opportunity, you gotta stay patient, and take advantage of it.”

Agnew will get another chance to break a big one against the Colts — who have allowed 150 punt return yards (third most in the NFL) — on Sunday at EverBank Stadium.

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Bill Belichick singles out Saints’ All-Pro special teams ace J.T. Gray

Bill Belichick singled out the Saints’ All-Pro special teams ace J.T. Gray as ‘one of the top players in the league’ in the kicking game:

Bill Belichick knows excellent special teams players when he sees them. The New England Patriots head coach helped develop Matthew Slater into a fan-favorite and ten-time Pro Bowler for his efforts covering punts and kickoffs. And he sees many of the same qualities in New Orleans Saints ace J.T. Gray.

Few things have gone well for the Saints to start their season, but the special teams coverage has been excellent. New Orleans is one of five teams to limit opponents to a single kick return through four games (which was returned for just 24 yards). They’re also one of five teams to face 10 punt returns so far, but the Saints have held returners to just 63 yards. The other four teams in that crowd have given up 99 to 138 return yards. Gray leads the team with 3 special teams tackles in 3 games, having missed the season-opener with a shoulder injury.

“Real solid group led by Gray,” Belichick told reporters Wednesday. Speaking of Gray individually, Belichick said, “One of the top players in the league. Absolutely have to block him and account for him to have any chance of returns on punts and kickoffs.”

Belichick added, “He’s as good as anyone we play.”

Gray was an afterthought when the Saints signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State, back in 2018. His first contract with New Orleans carried just $5,000 in guarantees. But he impressed the team throughout his rookie training camp covering kicks, and he’s been a fixture ever since. He’s earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl recognition and signed another extension this spring guaranteeing him $3.5 million. This summer he was selected as a team captain for the third year in a row.

The Saints will be counting on Gray and his squad in the kicking game on Sunday. Points will come at a premium between New Orleans’ struggling offense and Belichick’s stifling defense. If Gray’s unit can help the Saints win the field position battle, maybe their teammates on offense or defense can capitalize on it and get New Orleans back in the win column.

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Jaguars’ Ross Matiscik wants to lead NFL long snappers in tackles

Jaguars special teamers want to see Ross Matiscik win the long snapper tackles title this season.

Two times through the first three games of the season, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Logan Cooke boomed a punt for more than 50 yards and the opposing punt returner was brought down by long snapper Ross Matiscik after picking up just four yards.

That pair of plays made by Matiscik has him tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Christian Kuntz for the league lead in the long snapper tackles race.

It’s no Mark McGwire vs. Sammy Sosa, to be sure. But it’s still a race that Matiscik and the Jaguars are keeping a close eye on.

“That would be sick,” Matiscik said of winning the long snapper tackle title. “My job is to tackle and protect and then anything after that I kind of view as extra. But I take pride in my coverage abilities. I like making plays downfield and helping the team.”

Jaguars special teams coordinator Heath Farwell said Thursday that it’s a title the entire unit wants Matiscik to win.

“It’s something that’s funny because we have a lot of fun in our room and we actually show the long snapper tackle board,” Jaguars special teams coordinator Heath Farwell said Thursday. “It’s something we have a lot of fun with, they love Ross so it’s been a little deal with them on if he can lead the league in tackles. It’s a big part of what we do in our coverage.

“At some point, other coordinators are probably going to start blocking him and not treating him like a snapper, which is a respect for him and his coverage. He’s covering fantastic.”

Matiscik, 27, was a linebacker at Baylor before winning the long snapping job in Jacksonville in 2020. After two reliable seasons in the role, Matiscik signed a five-year, $5.965 million extension with the Jaguars last offseason.

Jacksonville’s special teams struggled in Week 3, allowing a blocked field goal and an 85-yard kickoff return touchdown. But the punt coverage unit has allowed only 5.6 yards per return and it has pinned its opponent inside the 20-yard line seven times — landing the Jaguars in the top 10 in both stats. Matiscik’s coverage downfield has contributed to that success.

“You see people actually blocking him when they usually just let snappers go,” Cooke said. “He just turns into an extra cover guy.”

“He always tells me, ‘Keep them away from the sidelines so they’ll come to me a little bit,'” Cooke added with a laugh.

Last year, Matiscik finished with four tackles — one behind the Denver Broncos’ Mitchell Fraboni and Dallas Cowboys’ Matt Overton for the league lead among long snappers.

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Jaguars ST coordinator Heath Farwell explains blocked field goal error

Heath Farwell explained why there was a crease exploited by Will Anderson Jr. on a blocked field goal.

After a sluggish start for the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, momentum swung even harder in the Houston Texans’ direction when a 51-yard field goal attempt for Brandon McManus was blocked. Instead of cutting the Texans’ lead to 7-3, the visiting team quickly ballooned its lead to 14 points.

To block the kick, the Texans didn’t have a speedy player dive to make the play after bending around the edge. They didn’t have a player jump over the lines. And there wasn’t a Jaguars lineman pancaked on his back by a Houston player bulldozing his way to the kicker.

So why was Texans rookie linebacker Will Anderson Jr. able to squeeze through a gap and make the play?

“The way field goal protection works, everybody has to be in unison,” Jaguars special teams coordinator Heath Farwell explained Thursday. “It’s all interlocked in. When you have one guy that’s off or two guys that are off, you get a little crease.

“Our left tackle who has done a really good job for us so far this season, just got a little leaning forward and didn’t get his outside arm up. His job is to be interlocked in with that tackle, and make sure he has a heavy weight foot as his inside foot, so he doesn’t get pried out. Also, get a good arm hook. When you get a little crease like that, a good rusher like [Anderson], he’s able to get in there.”

While Farwell didn’t name anyone specifically, the issue came when tackles Walker Little and Anton Harrison didn’t work in unison on the left side of the line.

“Just not great execution and that’s on me,” Farwell said. “That’s something we have got to be much cleaner, that’s something we will work on a ton and it’s been addressed. We’re moving forward with it.”

It was one of two massive errors for the Jaguars special teams unit Sunday, as the team also allowed Texans fullback Andrew Beck to break free for an 85-yard kickoff return.

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