Kickoff Specialist

[TTK]

Not whenever a kicker wishes, but let's look at the extremes:

Novak averages a touchback on 13.16% of his kickoffs. Carolina's kicker averages a touchback on 79.17% of his kicks. The league average is over 50%. So it's not a given, but we are at a big disadvantage (and that isn't even mentioning how little height he gets on his kicks - thank God for good special teams players!).

One additional thing, I think the wear and tear on players having to cover all those kickoffs are being overlooked.

[oneinchpunch]

I just don't understand the "try to pin them back" mentality on a kickoff. A touchback starts them at the 20 every time and they have 80 yards to go to score a TD. So any time you are able to stop them behind the 20, you have gained something, and if not you lose over just getting a touchback. So you are always gambling giving up an extra 80 yards to potentially pin them back up to 20 yards. Just on the face of it that doesn't seem like a good gamble. Especially since realistically, most of those "wins" net you 5-10 yards, and losses can be catastrophic. Let's look at our six kickoffs from the SF game:

Kicked to the 3, returned 21 yards to the 24 (loss of 4 yards over a TB)
Kicked to the 5, returned 31 yards to the 36 (loss of 11 yards over a TB)
Kicked to the 3, returned 18 yards to the 22 (loss of 2 yards over a TB)
Kicked to the 3, returned 3 yards to the 6 (gain of 14 yards over a TB)
Kicked to the -2, returned 47 yards to the 45 (loss of 25 yards over a TB)
Kicked to the 20, returned 8 yards to the 28 (loss of 8 yards over a TB)

So the approach we are using on kickoffs benefitted us 1 of 6 times, and one of the times it didn't we put them near midfield. I don't have the desire to go back and look through all of our kickoffs this year, but based on my recollection it seems to me we don't have very many big victories on the kickoff, and we frequently let the opponent start beyond the 20. Also factor in the potential for injury on a kickoff play, and it just seems like booming it out of the end zone and letting them start every drive on the 20 is a better plan.

And it's probably been mention but that one and only gain was a kickoff at the 50

[Fleet]

I mentioned this in the gameday thread i think. Few weeks ago. Rian Lindell is a huge kicker. Can he do it? Who would we cut?

[KNSD]

No fumbles on touchbacks.

[Steve]

The missing part is that when you look at a field position chart, the points per drive drops way off if you can stop a team before they get to the 20. When you have teams start on the other side of the 20, it really doesn't matter too much exactly where they start till they get past the 30 or 40 yard line. The difference is like tenths of a point on average. So, the field position thing is a big deal, and that is clearly something MM plays too. Especially lately, when our O was struggling.

[Panama]

One additional thing, I think the wear and tear on players having to cover all those kickoffs are being overlooked.

That's why they've been scoring less lately, to save on the wear and tear of kickoffs.

[oneinchpunch]

The missing part is that when you look at a field position chart, the points per drive drops way off if you can stop a team before they get to the 20. So, the field position thing is a big deal, and that is clearly something MM plays too.

Except it isnt working.

Its been 8 games since Novak's last Touchback.

Thats 31 Kickoffs since his last Touchback.

In that time the opponents average starting field position is the 28 yardline.

Out of the 31 kickoffs 12 out of the times the other team starts at their 30 or better.

Out of the 31 kickoffs only 7 of those has the opponent failed to reach the 20.

4 of the 7 times it was because of a penalty. 1 was a muff catching the ball. And the other 2 reached the 19.

So the strategy is only working against the Bolts opponent if they get a penalty or make a mistake.

[Boltx]

No fumbles on touchbacks.

Also no chance of getting burned for a big return (+/- for a TD) and also no chance of getting one of your guys hurt.

I too wish we had a KO specialist, would prefer to have them pinned on the 20 every single time.

[Stinky Wizzleteats+]

No fumbles on touchbacks.

Just IR someone...

[Stinky Wizzleteats+]

Except it isnt working.

Its been 8 games since Novak's last Touchback.

Thats 31 Kickoffs since his last Touchback.

In that time the opponents average starting field position is the 28 yardline.

Out of the 31 kickoffs 12 out of the times the other team starts at their 30 or better.

Out of the 31 kickoffs only 7 of those has the opponent failed to reach the 20.

4 of the 7 times it was because of a penalty. 1 was a muff catching the ball. And the other 2 reached the 19.

So the strategy is only working against the Bolts opponent if they get a penalty or make a mistake.

On side every time!

[Mister Hoarse]

Just IR someone...

Next Man Down!

[MakoShark]

I mentioned this in the gameday thread i think. Few weeks ago. Rian Lindell is a huge kicker. Can he do it? Who would we cut?

One of the Browns.