The Green Bay Packers no longer have one of the NFL’s worst special teams unit. Rick Gosselin has released his annual rankings of the league’s special teams units and the Packers are 12th.
This is the grand improvement over past seasons under special teams coach Shawn Slocum. The Packers were ranked 31st as recently as 2009 and Slocum’s units didn’t show much improvement until last season.
The rankings are determined as follows. The 32 teams are ranked in 22 categories and assigned points according to their standing — one for best, 32 for worst.
I think the Packers will take 12th considering most people were of the opinion Slocum didn’t deserve to have an NFL job just a couple years ago. The rank would have been even higher if Mason Crosby didn’t have the worst field goal percentage in the NFL.
There’s no problem there though, just ask Mike McCarthy.
The winner of the special teams derby were the Minnesota Vikings, who finished with the most field goals, committed the fewest turnovers and allowed the fewest points on special teams. The Vikings also finished in the top five in seven other categories.
That might help explain how they made the playoffs with no passing game and a weak defense.
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Most likely the person responsible for the better special teams play is Cobb. Without him they would have been ranked low again. The punter did well also, but that has nothing to do with the special teams coach.
Cobb probably would have done better had the special teams been better.
Pack have an amazing coverage and punt team as well, it’s not just kick returns ans FGs.
Pretty sure the Pack were in the top 16 last year as well; haven’t given up a TD in almost 2 years.
Crosby had the second-worst FG%, I believe Akers was worse. Still God-awful, but considering Akers was 44-48, setting an NFL record last year, it seems kicking can be unpredictable to say the least. I say let’s see what Crosby does in the first 3-4 games next year before we levy judgement.
Masthay never gets enough credit. Punters are people, too!
Just barely, though.