How Special are Special Teams?

they are super special and dont you go thinking otherwise

Ok, we will take your word for it.

I'm going to say, they're "short bus" special. VERY important. Stats say at least 1-2 games are won or lost due to special teams. Cardinals anyone?

Special Teams were huge in the Skins/Seahawks playoff game last year. The Skins started with bad field position the entire first half, and almost turn the game around with some fumbles and such by the Seahawks return guys, BUT and I say a huge BUT, the Seahawks were the better team that day and the Skins offense could not get anything going, until they were desparate late in the game.

Ave. starting field position is very, very important. I do think that ave. starting field posistion has more to do with how good a teams offense/defense is, than the success of its kick team.

Ave. starting field position is very, very important. I do think that ave. starting field posistion has more to do with how good a teams offense/defense is, than the success of its kick team.

EDIT: Double post. My bad.

Ave. starting field position is very, very important. I do think that ave. starting field posistion has more to do with how good a teams offense/defense is, than the success of its kick team.

Average starting field position is definitely not a good way to analyze special teams. Offense and defense have more to do with average starting field position than do the special teams.

Special teams is designed to:

1) Move the ball, net of return yards, as far as possible when kicking off.
2) Move the ball, net of return yards, as far as possible when punting.
3) Move the ball as far as possible when returning kicks.
4) Move the ball as far as possible when returning punts.
5) Generate big plays, like turnovers and TDs.
6) Kick the ball through the uprights when the coach decides to kick.

A good statistical review of special teams play should include:

1) Average starting field position of your opponent after you kicked off (since you always kick from the same spot, the 30 yard line).
2) Net punting average, net of return yardage.
3) Kickoff return average.
4) Punt return average.
5) The Schneed10 +/- big-play ratio on special teams. While muffs don't get recorded as turnovers, they impact the game just the same.
The pluses: muffs you recover, onside kicks you attempt and recover, kicks you blocked, and the kicks/punts you returned for a TD.
The minuses: muffs you lost, onsides kicks attempted on you that you lost, kicks you had blocked, and the kicks/punts you allowed to go for a TD.
6) FG %. Especially on long range 45 yards and up.

"special" teams. the name says it all. there special

Average starting field position is definitely not a good way to analyze special teams. Offense and defense have more to do with average starting field position than do the special teams.

Special teams is designed to:

1) Move the ball, net of return yards, as far as possible when kicking off.
2) Move the ball, net of return yards, as far as possible when punting.
3) Move the ball as far as possible when returning kicks.
4) Move the ball as far as possible when returning punts.
5) Generate big plays, like turnovers and TDs.
6) Kick the ball through the uprights when the coach decides to kick.

A good statistical review of special teams play should include:

1) Average starting field position of your opponent after you kicked off (since you always kick from the same spot, the 30 yard line).
2) Net punting average, net of return yardage.
3) Kickoff return average.
4) Punt return average.
5) The Schneed10 +/- big-play ratio on special teams. While muffs don't get recorded as turnovers, they impact the game just the same.
The pluses: muffs you recover, onside kicks you attempt and recover, kicks you blocked, and the kicks/punts you returned for a TD.
The minuses: muffs you lost, onsides kicks attempted on you that you lost, kicks you had blocked, and the kicks/punts you allowed to go for a TD.
6) FG %. Especially on long range 45 yards and up.

that sounds about right... opposing FG % might be worth tracking too.