How bad was our 2011 special teams & who's the answer?

by T.Holmes on Feb 8, 2012 12:09 PM EST

Let us go back to the wonderful days of 2010 Jacksonville Jaguars Special Teams. Montell Owens and Kassim Osgood have both just been invited to the Pro Bowl! Awesome! Josh Scobee is kicking game winners left and right. Our punter is getting recognition for being one of the best and even DJ Karim is breaking long kickoff returns to change games! It's crazy in Duval! So.....these units couldn't have been THAT bad in 2011, right?

2010 Jaguars Special Teams units literally won a few games for this team. Now, while it may be over the top to say that they single-handedly lost us any one specific game this year, one could definitely build an argument with facts to support that assessment.

After the jump we'll discuss just how much our special teams deteriorated this past year and brainstorm what can be done to get us back to the Pre-Podlesh days- as arawls mentions in "Please Don't Let This Happen Again."

Below is an awesome table from our friends over at Football Outsiders showing the impact of special teams on a team's season. As you can see in large bold heading, the Jaguars are currently 26th of 32 teams. This likely doesn't surprise anyone who watched any of our games last year.

"This page lists an estimate of how many points, compared to league average, each team receives from the five elements of special teams: field goals/extra points, kickoffs, kick returns, punts, punt returns. The total is then converted into a DVOA percentage so that it can be added in to offense and defense to create total team DVOA.

Field goal rating compares each field goal to the league-average percentage of field goals from that distance. Yards of field position from the other four elements of special teams are translated into points using a method that gives each yard line a point value based on the average next score an NFL offense is worth from that point on the field. Kickoffs and punts are based on net yardage. Kickoff returns and punt returns are judged on return yardage only."

TEAM S.T.
DVOA LAST
YEAR WEIGHTED FG/XP KICK KICK
RET PUNT PUNT
RET HIDDEN

DVOA RANK PTS RANK

1 CHI 7.3% 1 7.1% 2 7.8 0.8 4.4 19.7 10.5 -5.6 23

2 SF 7.0% 22 4.8% 4 6.0 7.1 4.8 13.3 10.0 -3.5 19

3 TEN 5.5% 6 9.6% 1 14.0 1.4 4.1 9.4 3.4 7.0 5

4 NYJ 5.0% 5 3.6% 6 0.2 11.6 11.4 13.2 -7.0 -9.6 28

5 NE 3.7% 8 5.3% 3 1.5 8.7 -3.7 15.2 -0.2 -1.4 17

6 MIA 2.2% 29 4.3% 5 -0.2 2.8 0.8 8.7 0.7 11.4 4

7 CIN 2.0% 28 3.5% 7 3.6 10.3 -7.5 0.7 4.8 4.2 9

8 GB 1.6% 26 3.5% 8 3.2 1.8 3.1 -2.2 3.8 -3.3 18

9 PIT 1.6% 16 2.2% 10 -7.0 8.3 -1.1 4.5 4.6 -9.5 27

10 CLE 1.4% 10 1.8% 11 5.4 -0.8 6.3 -2.3 -0.1 -0.6 15

11 ARI 1.1% 9 0.9% 14 -5.0 -0.2 -3.5 -4.5 20.0 12.7 2

12 HOU 0.9% 23 0.4% 16 -2.5 4.3 -1.9 1.0 4.6 -1.4 16

13 NO 0.6% 21 1.1% 13 -6.7 -5.7 2.6 10.2 3.0 1.1 13

14 TB 0.6% 18 -1.7% 26 7.8 1.3 0.7 4.5 -11.0 6.8 6

15 DEN 0.5% 27 -0.3% 19 -5.2 2.1 0.6 -2.6 8.2 4.0 10

16 NYG 0.3% 30 1.7% 12 -1.5 4.5 -3.4 10.9 -8.4 -4.4 21

TEAM S.T.
DVOA LAST
YEAR WEIGHTED FG/XP KICK KICK
RET PUNT PUNT
RET HIDDEN

DVOA RANK PTS RANK

17 SEA 0.2% 3 2.9% 9 3.8 -1.7 1.9 -3.0 0.3 12.5 3

18 PHI 0.1% 12 0.8% 15 4.0 7.8 -3.5 0.1 -7.9 1.1 14

19 KC -0.7% 24 -0.7% 22 -1.9 -0.8 -6.6 3.2 2.1 -15.9 32

20 OAK -0.7% 13 -0.1% 18 17.0 -13.7 4.0 -8.3 -3.1 5.7 7

21 WAS -1.0% 25 -1.1% 23 -7.2 4.3 -5.1 8.6 -6.2 1.3 12

22 ATL -1.0% 2 -1.6% 25 4.1 -7.6 -1.9 -1.4 0.9 -11.2 29

23 SD -1.2% 32 0.2% 17 0.1 -6.7 2.8 1.6 -5.0 -3.6 20

24 BUF -1.3% 17 -1.5% 24 -6.8 4.9 -0.1 -10.6 4.7 -11.9 30

25 DAL -1.6% 15 -0.5% 20 1.9 2.2 1.2 -5.0 -9.7 2.9 11

26

JAC

-1.8%

7

-0.7%

21

5.8

3.3

-5.3

-3.8

-10.5

15.0

1

27 MIN -3.3% 19 -6.2% 32 -8.8 -12.9 11.7 -6.7 -3.0 -12.2 31

28 STL -4.0% 14 -4.7% 31 -5.8 -0.1 -4.4 -14.8 1.6 -5.0 22

29 DET -4.3% 11 -4.6% 30 -2.2 -8.4 -0.6 -6.8 -7.1 -9.2 26

30 BAL -4.7% 4 -4.4% 29 -5.0 -7.4 -5.9 -7.7 -1.6 -8.7 25

31 IND -5.2% 31 -3.1% 27 0.1 -2.6 -9.1 -10.9 -8.3 -6.5 24

32 CAR -5.4% 20 -3.1% 28 -7.5 -0.2 2.2 -19.4 -6.7 4.9 8

(Source http://footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamst)

	TEAM	S.T. DVOA	LAST YEAR	WEIGHTED	FG/XP	KICK	KICK RET	PUNT	PUNT RET	HIDDEN
	DVOA	RANK	PTS	RANK
1	CHI	7.3%	1	7.1%	2	7.8	0.8	4.4	19.7	10.5	-5.6	23
2	SF	7.0%	22	4.8%	4	6.0	7.1	4.8	13.3	10.0	-3.5	19
3	TEN	5.5%	6	9.6%	1	14.0	1.4	4.1	9.4	3.4	7.0	5
4	NYJ	5.0%	5	3.6%	6	0.2	11.6	11.4	13.2	-7.0	-9.6	28
5	NE	3.7%	8	5.3%	3	1.5	8.7	-3.7	15.2	-0.2	-1.4	17
6	MIA	2.2%	29	4.3%	5	-0.2	2.8	0.8	8.7	0.7	11.4	4
7	CIN	2.0%	28	3.5%	7	3.6	10.3	-7.5	0.7	4.8	4.2	9
8	GB	1.6%	26	3.5%	8	3.2	1.8	3.1	-2.2	3.8	-3.3	18
9	PIT	1.6%	16	2.2%	10	-7.0	8.3	-1.1	4.5	4.6	-9.5	27
10	CLE	1.4%	10	1.8%	11	5.4	-0.8	6.3	-2.3	-0.1	-0.6	15
11	ARI	1.1%	9	0.9%	14	-5.0	-0.2	-3.5	-4.5	20.0	12.7	2
12	HOU	0.9%	23	0.4%	16	-2.5	4.3	-1.9	1.0	4.6	-1.4	16
13	NO	0.6%	21	1.1%	13	-6.7	-5.7	2.6	10.2	3.0	1.1	13
14	TB	0.6%	18	-1.7%	26	7.8	1.3	0.7	4.5	-11.0	6.8	6
15	DEN	0.5%	27	-0.3%	19	-5.2	2.1	0.6	-2.6	8.2	4.0	10
16	NYG	0.3%	30	1.7%	12	-1.5	4.5	-3.4	10.9	-8.4	-4.4	21
	TEAM	S.T. DVOA	LAST YEAR	WEIGHTED	FG/XP	KICK	KICK RET	PUNT	PUNT RET	HIDDEN
	DVOA	RANK	PTS	RANK
17	SEA	0.2%	3	2.9%	9	3.8	-1.7	1.9	-3.0	0.3	12.5	3
18	PHI	0.1%	12	0.8%	15	4.0	7.8	-3.5	0.1	-7.9	1.1	14
19	KC	-0.7%	24	-0.7%	22	-1.9	-0.8	-6.6	3.2	2.1	-15.9	32
20	OAK	-0.7%	13	-0.1%	18	17.0	-13.7	4.0	-8.3	-3.1	5.7	7
21	WAS	-1.0%	25	-1.1%	23	-7.2	4.3	-5.1	8.6	-6.2	1.3	12
22	ATL	-1.0%	2	-1.6%	25	4.1	-7.6	-1.9	-1.4	0.9	-11.2	29
23	SD	-1.2%	32	0.2%	17	0.1	-6.7	2.8	1.6	-5.0	-3.6	20
24	BUF	-1.3%	17	-1.5%	24	-6.8	4.9	-0.1	-10.6	4.7	-11.9	30
25	DAL	-1.6%	15	-0.5%	20	1.9	2.2	1.2	-5.0	-9.7	2.9	11
26	JAC	-1.8%	7	-0.7%	21	5.8	3.3	-5.3	-3.8	-10.5	15.0	1
27	MIN	-3.3%	19	-6.2%	32	-8.8	-12.9	11.7	-6.7	-3.0	-12.2	31
28	STL	-4.0%	14	-4.7%	31	-5.8	-0.1	-4.4	-14.8	1.6	-5.0	22
29	DET	-4.3%	11	-4.6%	30	-2.2	-8.4	-0.6	-6.8	-7.1	-9.2	26
30	BAL	-4.7%	4	-4.4%	29	-5.0	-7.4	-5.9	-7.7	-1.6	-8.7	25
31	IND	-5.2%	31	-3.1%	27	0.1	-2.6	-9.1	-10.9	-8.3	-6.5	24
32	CAR	-5.4%	20	-3.1%	28	-7.5	-0.2	2.2	-19.4	-6.7	4.9	8

As you can see from the table above we as a team went from being the 7th ranked special teams unit in terms of DVOA in 2010 to 26th ranked in 2011. The only bright spots within our special teams is, you guessed it: Mr. Josh Scobee. Our kickoff coverage and field goal units both improved from the year before due to a wonderful 23 of 25 (92%) kicking year from Scobee Snacks while making 100% of his extra points. He also attributed to the increase in our kickoff coverage net yardage by booting over 62% of his kickoffs out of the endzone. As arawls has already stated, we MUST resign this guy.

Now I believe all Jaguars fans have noticed our extreme struggles at punting and punt return this year between Potlesh leaving, the Matt Turk rugby drama, Mike Thomas, Cecil Shorts, and Scotty McGee, and Deji Karim in returns. The statistic showing that we averaged netting over 10 yards less per punt return than the league is a pretty telling statistic. And if you think Potlesh wasn’t THAT good please notice Chicago’s punt team improvement of NINETEEN YARDS net per punt. We MUST pick up a punt returner, either via the draft (likely) or through FA.We must sign a better punter, we must keep Scobbe, and we must sign a legitimate returner if we want to give our team a chance to succeed.

We, as a team are not built with the luxury to leave 15-20 yards per possession on the field. If we can get back to our 2010 numbers or better that can be the difference between 5-11 and 8-8, maybe even 9-7. And with better WRs and improvement by Gabbert 10-6 can even be in the conversation.

Poll

So Big Cat Country who/what would you prefer, we:

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

SIGN Scobee, Draft a Return "specialist" and a punter in the Late rounds or sign a UDFA punter

by Jags85 on Feb 8, 2012 12:18 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I'm Sure

that mean Gene can find some NAIA guy to draft for this duty — no problem

by OGN on Feb 9, 2012 6:32 PM EST up reply actions

Lol

"Sad fact about our generation: Most ppl would rather hear "you look good" than "you are good". We spend thousands a year on cars, clothes, & cosmetics; Forget that. I can give you a Bible for free. Save money, save your soul. Get right with the Savior, Jesus Christ."- Travis D. Holmes

by T.Holmes on Feb 9, 2012 9:01 PM EST up reply actions

Ok, I am going to make an assumption about how much a punter matters

If we have a good punter who is able to place the ball within the 10 yard line, the odds of the other team playing it safe goes way up. By playing it safe, they end up punting from a dangerous area(which can lead to special teams scores) and our return guys have a chance to catch the ball. Catching the ball with room outside our own 20 leads to better/ more returns. So my conclusion is Better punter =Better punt returns or Good defensive position leads to good offensive position. This is why I would love to see Powell drafted( as high as the 6th) this year. It would make us into a different team with a late round pick.

DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!

by DownTownJax on Feb 8, 2012 12:36 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Great article by the way!

DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!

by DownTownJax on Feb 8, 2012 12:43 PM EST via mobile reply actions

is nick Harris gone?

I thought he came in and did the job he had to do. I guess you can always upgrade

by jaguars32 on Feb 8, 2012 1:22 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

Harris was 23 of 32 players in the league in net punting last year btw...he just seemed like an upgrade from Turk who's 31st of 32...lol

Meanwhile Adam Podlesh-the guy that we’re used to is 6th in the league in net punting.

We MUST upgrade that position if we want to be successful. Averaging 7 punts per game, that 3.5 per punt difference is costing the team 25 yds in field position per game. From our normal starting position that’s likely another field goal opportunity at minimum, or possibly a TD EVERY GAME for a running team like ours. Just putting it in perspective…that’s the importance of special teams….

by T.Holmes on Feb 8, 2012 1:39 PM EST up reply actions

ST was a problem

Osgood and Owens need to stay healthy. New rule change on kickoffs ruined Karims career. Also coaching was a problem with the change but they sucked against punts too. Scobbe is top of the line so it can be fixed.

by childintime12 on Feb 8, 2012 2:04 PM EST reply actions

Good article.

With the new kick off rules I think it’s hard to draft a “return specialist” so maybe you just keep drafting WR’s and CB’s and hope they can do it. As far as punter goes I really hope they don’t use anything higher than a 7th.

by JagSoldier on Feb 8, 2012 2:23 PM EST reply actions

Do you really expect to get a game changing player in the 6th?

Normally, I wouldn’t, but an elite punter could be just that for our team. If our GM wants a base hit strategy, this is a base hit. That’s not a terrible choice.

DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!

by DownTownJax on Feb 8, 2012 2:34 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Excellent article

I had been thinking some of the same things recently. There are teams that stole a few wins this year based off huge punt and kick returns (Ted Ginn for SF, Patrick Peterson for ARZ), and Jacksonville should absolutely try to employ that strategy considering their low-scoring style of play.

Jacksonville was 32 of 32 in punt return yards. The need for a return specialist cannot be overstated.

As for getting a new punter, I was very much in favor of drafting Shaun Powell, but it may be worth it to see what the Jags have in Spencer Lanning. The Bears were trying to use him as trade bait but eventually released him, and the Jags picked him up at the end of the season. As much as I would like to see Powell booming punts for Jax, he might carry a high draft grade (Podlesh was a 4th, which may be comparable) and I’d prefer to see a pick like that saved for another position if they have a good alternative on the roster already.

by Distance on Feb 8, 2012 2:54 PM EST reply actions