Special Teams

[mgteich]

The special teams units improved after an awful start. Gosselin's ranking rankings had them at the middle of the pack. However, there are clearly issues.

KICKER
Folk is among the very best. He is a free agent. It seems that he wants to come back. If we can't work out a deal, we'd franchise him.

PUNTER
Is Bailey the best in the league? He had many fewer within the 20. His average was off by 6 yards on average.

Bailey is due to be paid $4M for 2022, among the top 5 in the league. This is a decision that needs to be made.

KICK AND PUNT RETURNS
We were among the worst in the league. Our decision-making from the end zone was terrible (only one came out past the 25). We need an upgrade at the returner position. Also, we seem to need better blocking. If the issue is coaching, then Judge should be able to make improvement. Note that we were fine in 2020. I'm OK using a roster spot on a returner. We just need a better one. Gunner is an RFA and is unlikely to be tendered.

PERSONNEL
Our specialists include Slater, Bethel, Davis, Bolden and King. Slater, Bolden and King are free agents. I expect Slater to retire and King to be re-signed. I also expect Bolden to be re-signed. Tavai is likely to make the team, partly on his ST skills. Langi also plays lots of special teams. I don't know whether Tavai or Langi are any good on special teams. I know that they play a lot.

BOTTOM LINE
Belichick knows special teams. Look for him to add a special teamer or two, especially if Slater retires.

 

[Family]

KICKER
Folk is among the very best. He is a free agent. It seems that he wants to come back. If we can't work out a deal, we'd franchise him.

The franchise tag for kickers is almost 5 million.

I don't think so.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

The franchise tag for kickers is almost 5 million.

I don't think so.

Especially since they paid him less than $2M last year.

As far as Bailey goes, thanks to the fecklessness of the NFLPA, that $4M is not guaranteed. I don't know what Belichick's plan is, but it wouldn't surprise me to see Bailey given a LTD that reduces his 2022 cap hit.

Ditto for Gunner: I could see him signing a deal that was something like 2 or 3 years at a bit more than $1M per. [He is not just a returner.]

 

[mgteich]

Especially since they paid him less than $2M last year.

As far as Bailey goes, thanks to the fecklessness of the NFLPA, that $4M is not guaranteed. I don't know what Belichick's plan is, but it wouldn't surprise me to see Bailey given a LTD that reduces his 2022 cap hit.

Ditto for Gunner: I could see him signing a deal that was something like 2 or 3 years at a bit more than $1M per. [He is not just a returner.]

If Gunner needs to make the team as a receiver, he will be on Practice Squad. He averaged 4 more reps a game than Slater.

Gunner did have the HIGHEST number of yards per reception on the team with 15.5. He was targeted THREE times ALL YEAR, with two receptions.

We have 5 WR's. Gunner isn't one of them.

 

[Family]

If Gunner needs to make the team as a receiver, he will be on Practice Squad. He averaged 4 more reps a game than Slater.

Gunner did have the HIGHEST number of yards per reception on the team with 15.5. He was targeted THREE times ALL YEAR, with two receptions.

We have 5 WR's. Gunner isn't one of them.

Edelman was pretty much a bust for his first four years as WR.

Is it possible Gunner is on the same path?

 

[mgteich]

Edelman was pretty much a bust for his first four years as WR.

Is it possible Gunner is on the same path?

Almost anything is possible. I don't think it is a good idea to allocate a roster spot for four years in the hope of developing a WR.

For 2022, we have
Agholor or replacement
Myers
Bourne
Wilkerson
Harry or replacement

That presumes that we even carry that many WR's.

 

[Family]

Almost anything is possible. I don't think it is a good idea to allocate a roster spot for four years in the hope of developing a WR.

Agree, but Gunner is not just a WR. He's been one of the top punt returners in the league.

Remember all the problems we had with punt returns after Edelman?

Considering this, if Bill sees the potential it was worth the roster spot to let Gunner develop IMO.

 

[mgteich]

Agree, but Gunner is not just a WR. He's been one of the top punt returners in the league.

Remember all the problems we had with punt returns after Edelman?

Considering this, if Bill sees the potential it was worth the roster spot to let Gunner develop IMO.

I think that we need to look at gunner's performance as a returner in 2021.

If Bill thinks that he is one of the best returners in the league, then I'm fine with using the roster spot. However, we also need a kick returner. think an upgrade is very possible.

 

[crawhammer]

The special teams were awful this season. That said, they need to focus on building a defense specifically geared toward defending Josh Allen and adding weapons around Mac Jones so hopefully the offense can be more explosive. Special teams need major improving over last season but it's a distant third priority. The coaching staff needs to reassess their contributions as well. Their teams units looked ill-prepared and undisciplined, that's in part bad coaching.

 

[Family]

I think that we need to look at gunner's performance as a returner in 2021.

Gunner was pretty good as a returner in 2021.

And zero fumbles lost over three years.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Our punt receiving team needs to do a better job against the Bills. I mean, what did they produce, like zero return yards the last time they played the bills?

 

[venecol]

Tavai sucks. Got blown up on one of the blocked punts. Missed tackles when he played D.