Special teams?

[rspurr]

Last year we had one of the top special teams in football which helped us get to our 10-6 record. We had great return and cover teams which all turned the field and helped us put up points. The kicking game was solid with Parkey and a punter that could consistently drop the ball inside the 20. We also blocked punts but this year all of that seems to be reversed. I can't blame Parkey getting hurt on our kicking woes as Sturgis has actually been pretty good. This year we are getting punts blocked, our cover teams are average, we don't even look interested in returning a kick off, we have bad snaps, penalties, . . .

With most of the same personnel and same coach, how is this possible?

[FRESH]

Simple....yet another strong indicator that the players are tuning the coaches out......and generally don't give a shit. It's contagious.

[Eagle60]

Last year we had one of the top special teams in football which helped us get to our 10-6 record. We had great return and cover teams which all turned the field and helped us put up points. The kicking game was solid with Parkey and a punter that could consistently drop the ball inside the 20. We also blocked punts but this year all of that seems to be reversed. I can't blame Parkey getting hurt on our kicking woes as Sturgis has actually been pretty good. This year we are getting punts blocked, our cover teams are average, we don't even look interested in returning a kick off, we have bad snaps, penalties, . . .

With most of the same personnel and same coach, how is this possible?

Maragos certainly didn't mail it in. He came out and was fired up and made a couple of great plays in the first period anyway. He played to the crowd too.

[YourPalChrisMal]

Last year we had one of the top special teams in football which helped us get to our 10-6 record. We had great return and cover teams which all turned the field and helped us put up points. The kicking game was solid with Parkey and a punter that could consistently drop the ball inside the 20. We also blocked punts but this year all of that seems to be reversed. I can't blame Parkey getting hurt on our kicking woes as Sturgis has actually been pretty good. This year we are getting punts blocked, our cover teams are average, we don't even look interested in returning a kick off, we have bad snaps, penalties, . . .

With most of the same personnel and same coach, how is this possible?

Donnie Jones may be this team's MVP. He's wasting what is probably the best season of his long career. He's been fantastic this year.

Considering what has happened this year, the special teams are the least of my concerns. The coverage units have been decent, Donnie Jones has been unreal. They just haven't scored a half dozen TDs on special teams like they did last year, but that was never going to happen again anyway.

The only big change has been that Dorenbos has gone from the best long snapper in the league to wildly inconsistent.

[rspurr]

From what I've seen, Donnie Jones has not been nearly as good this year.

[YourPalChrisMal]

From what I've seen, Donnie Jones has not been nearly as good this year.

2nd highest net average of his 12 year career.

% of Punts inside 20, 4th highest of his 12 year career.

% of Punts resulting in fair catch, 4th best of his 12 year career.

Only 5.0 yards per return!!!! That the 2nd best of his career (4.9 yard/return was his best in 2005, 10 years ago!) He hasn't had a season where he's allowed less than an average of 8.0 yards/return since 2009.

[rspurr]

2nd highest net average of his 12 year career.

% of Punts inside 20, 4th highest of his 12 year career.

% of Punts resulting in fair catch, 4th best of his 12 year career.

Only 5.0 yards per return!!!! That the 2nd best of his career (4.9 yard/return was his best in 2005, 10 years ago!) He hasn't had a season where he's allowed less than an average of 8.0 yards/return since 2009.

Ok, it just must have been my perception that when we really need to pin a team deep, he punts it into the end zone.