Archived Thread

Special teams better in 2023?

CJ in AZ : 3/25/2023 8:02 pm

Special teams are area for significant potential improvement, the low hanging fruit that we just didn't have the personnel for last year.

Our excellent kicker, very good snapper and our high-ceiling but sometimes inconsistent punter are back. Punt and kick returner Richie James is apparently not coming back.

Will our Giants improve in 2023 in:

1. Punting net average - 39.4 (very average)
2. Kickoffs - 40.5% touchbacks, 22.2 return average.
3. Field goal percentage - 96.9% (very good)
4. Punt returns - 6.2
5. Kickoff returns - 21.4

What about turnovers plus/minus from special teams? Please tell us your 2023 plan for how we can improve, and by what players?

See: https://www.nfl.com/stats/team-stats/special-teams/scoring/2020/reg/all
NFL.com special teams statistics - ( New Window )

I'm not sold on Gillian at P

Cenotaph : 3/25/2023 8:12 pm : link

but I think some signings have indicated we're trying to improve ST. K is fine, but our return teams have been bad, and cover not great - hoping guys like Crowder/J Smith can help here, along with better overall depth.

When trying to turn a roster around, the focus is trying to find guys who might have a role. Once you fill some of those roles, you can focus more on the specialists.

The draft is going to make a huge difference in this unit...

bLiTz 2k : 3/25/2023 8:16 pm : link

Mid-late round picks + UDFAs.

Right now it's too early to say bc the unit is fleshed out later in the offseason.

I know the pack has turned on Tmac

dancing blue bear : 3/25/2023 8:45 pm : link

But he’s a very good coach and I expect significant improvement.

Ppl have to realize that ST is made up of depth and we had none. Then we were churning the bottom of the roster.

As for the hammer I think they took that growing pins year and expect that to pay off. 2nd half of the season was much better

I’d love to get a dynamic returner. We went through a few guys but none were special from the jump

Lastly the injuries will reverb down the line and ST gets crushed.

Is $4,000,000 per year

Giant John : 3/25/2023 8:49 pm : link

The average pay for an average punter?

RE: Is $4,000,000 per year

Blueworm : 3/25/2023 9:09 pm : link

In comment 16075402 Giant John said:

Quote:

The average pay for an average punter?

He's making $2M and, yes, that is exactly in the middle.

A bit early for specials

eli4life : 3/25/2023 10:45 pm : link

Since a large part is made up of rookies and back end roster guys. But I do wish we found our gano of the punting unit

Punter Jamie Gillan's contract

CJ in AZ : 3/26/2023 12:12 am : link

Is it guaranteed? If not, there are plenty of punters in the draft and otherwise available. Still lots of time to get an upgrade if one can be found.

Lack of depth filters all the way down to special teams. When guys

Ivan15 : 3/26/2023 10:26 am : link

signed primarily to play special teams are forced to start, their replacements on special teams are lesser players too. Raising the roster talent level strengthens all positions.

At this point I see zero improvement in STs. ZERO.

Red Dog : 3/26/2023 1:28 pm : link

Place kicking and long snapping are in good hands.

But no badly needed upgrade at P, no clear idea of who will return kicks & punts, and no clear idea of who the gunners will be, except that Cam Brown's spot on the team is getting more tenuous.