Special Teams Rankings: Packers Bad Once Again
We thought the Green Bay Packers’ special teams units — despite some gaffes and poor performances here and there — were alright in 2016. We were wrong, at least according to the Dallas Morning News’ annual special teams rankings.
The Packers finished 29th in the league, down from 17th a year ago.
The rankings are based on 22 different special teams categories. The best unit in each category gets one point, the second-best unit gets two points and so forth. The lower the overall point total, the better.
The Packers finished with 456.5 points. Comparatively, the Philadelphia Eagles, who finished at the top, had 226.5 points.
Green Bay was league worst in kickoff coverage (26.3 yards) and opponent kickoff starting point (26.6-yard line).
So what happened?
You can probably chalk up the team’s coverage woes to two players. Jeff Janis wasn’t the dominant special teams force he was in 2015 until very late in the season. He played the early part of the year with a club on his broken hand, which limited his effectiveness. The Packers’ next best special teams player, safety Chris Banjo — who was a playoff captain in 2015, was released in October.
We’ve long talked about the importance of special teams and how the Packers seemingly don’t ever care about that aspect of the game. Interestingly, these rankings underscore that importance. Of the 12 2016 playoff teams, three had a top 11-ranked defense, six had a top 11-ranked offense, but seven of the teams had a top 11-ranked special teams unit.
7 Comments
Recent Posts
That’s strange….Zook was always in front of the camera answering questions, smiling for the reporters, trying to be very personable. You’d have thought his special teams were ranked in the top 5. Maybe he’s just happy he has a job that he doesn’t have to be accountable for…No offence Ted, and lets be sure we don’t hold McCarthy accountable, he has nothing to do with this…amirite sheep?
They are ranked 29th….and it’s hardly Green Bay’s biggest problem area.
Not really surprised, seems like the same shit every year: bad special teams bad defense. Imagine when the offense starts to slip, wait it did there for a while and all of a sudden the blame was all towards Rogers.
I just don’t see how a team can constantly be almost dead last in special teams and defense. To me that’s coaching and management and somethings gotta change within that area. Otherwise it’s going to be status quo the fucking rest of the time those idiots are here.
Yea, after x amount of years of the same old same old, without anyone attempting something different. You start to lose confidence that maybe someone might actually give a fuck and try to make some changes. Instead of the “do nothing” approach we’ve been using for 6 years.
The bad special teams play is a DIRECT REFLECTION of player acquisition and how well TT “The Frugal GM” has done at compiling such a studly roster . . .
Yes sir…..Especially when you D & D. Those younger guys need to contribute and make their bones on special teams, all while earning the opportunity to get on the field on defense or offense and contribute full time.
I used to think that we have thee best type of “ownership” in the NFL. But on the other side of the coin, If the commitment isn’t there to win, from (everybody). Than this is maybe the worst kind of ownership, especially when no one will show their faces and be interviewed.
The handful of people running this team, are currently ruining it. I would love for Rodgers to “make a stand” and demand people be accountable, maybe even threaten to retire or ask for a trade.
Maybe that gets the attention of Thompson and Murphy. Because as far as my eyes can see, those two helpless fucks are AWOL. MIA, Derelict of Duty.
When do we start taking this shit seriously? 2 or 3 seasons from now if we still can’t get to a Super Bowl? should we all gather in 2020 and discuss what we should do then? Should we wait a full 10 years before we question….wtf? What are we waiting for?
The 2nd thing that should happen, Is you replace most of the Executive Committee , who have no clue about the NFL. They own their own businesses. Replace them with ex-Packers and coaches who have vested pride in this team. These current members give no fuck. This is all a social thing for them. They wouldn’t act or think against Mark Murphy if you paid them.
So Ted Thompson doesn’t have a boss because Murphy stated he doesn’t question him or 2nd guess him. Mark Murphy doesn’t have a boss…..Obviously
So then we wonder……..why this team has an air of unaccountability surrounding them….Gee, i just don’t fucking know.
It’s hard to find back one’s comments on this site but mine about Zook were relatively easy:
5. Ron Zook looks like he hasn’t have a clue. In Dutch is sounds as Ron Zoek meaning Ron is totally lost and looking for it.
But then again it’s the first preseason game but about Zook I’m pretty sure already.
What I said about Zook after the first ps game still stands only to add I noticed he looks like the dumb brother of Pete Carroll.
Kickoff coverage and kickoff starting point?????? I’ll bet Crosby’s touchback percentage is like 90% so if that were 100% the average kickoff starting point would be the 25, their average is 26.6 so 1.6 yards past the 25. Did the best team in the league average start at the 24.5 yard line??? That stat soooooooooooo does no matter, kickoffs are good punts are the problem.