Even if you only reserve spots for the kicker, punter and snapper on your roster, you're likely - imo - to keep a few guys who might be buried deep on the offensive or defensive depth chart if they make key contributions to multiple ST units. Ruben Droughns was a 5th active RB for us in such circumstances one year.
Herzlich and Darkwa come to mind as current candidates.
Do I have this right or wrong? If right, how many guys like this do you think a team can keep without undermining themselves? Are there any other currently marginal Giants that might make the 53-man roster because of ST?
Your examples all assume good roster balance by position. But when you keep a guy primarily for ST contributions, like Droughns, sometimes you forfeit good positional balance.
And they should all be working their asses off to contribute on Special Teams...
And they should all be working their asses off to contribute on Special Teams...
I've thought that the reason Herzlich has made this roster the past three seasons is because we lack talent. The fact that a player with his ability makes an NFL roster is a statement about that team's roster, not his ability as a player.
Herzlich, who had a very difficult life story for certain, has been very fortunate to be a NY Giant during a period where his below average LB skills aren't all that much worse than the rest of that depth chart. So he keeps a job because he hustles on STs...
Do you do this even if you're trying to win a championship?
Or said differently, give me the potential future starter and I will make him a good STer. But I don't think I can have the same success rate with a good STers and make them good future starters.
Keeping guys primarily because of their ST ability is not a good thing.