And then SB53 happened, where special teams were huge for both sides (those punts from the Rams were ridiculous, for instance).
In an offense-driven league that is killing kickoffs, someone might agree with your sentiment Ken, but so far they aren't killing punts, and they have such a huge role in the field position battles that until the punt gets killed, special teams will continue to be important IMHO. Maybe not quite as important, I'd agree.
Like I said, just about the ONLY special team unit that needs to very effective is the punt coverage team. And like you pointed out, both of those teams were very effective in the superbowl.
But the fact is that the league has virtually legislated out the punt and FG blocks. Sure they happen very rarely, but you can't touch the snapper, you can't leap, you can't overload one side. In other words you can't create or coach to find an advantage. The only way to block a kick these days is if there is a massive breakdown by the offense.
The KO return WAS one of the most exciting plays in football. Now only about a quarter of all KO's are being returned, and only a small percentage of those get past the 25.
On side kicks were another area where a coach used to be able to design something that might increase the 1o% chance he could get a recovery. A very exciting play even though it usually wound up in the offenses hands. But not any more. In the "interests of safety" (what ********) the chances of recovering an onside kick now is closer to zero than it is to 5%.
I always felt that ST's superiority was one way Bill could win games when the talent of his team didn't match the team he was competing against. It was a area that COULD give him an advantage because he worked harder at it than his opponent and allocated more resources to it.
Well the NFL has spent the better part of the last 10 years trying to eliminate that gap by taking any creativity OUT of the kicking game, (and pretty much every where else when they can). I guess its part of their attempt to consistently "level the field", so even the dumbest and laziest coaches can compete.
So my point is that it shouldn't be a question that the value of special teams has been reduced. It simply HAS. And while I want the best punt coverage team in the league and a great punter, kicker and snapper. I no longer think you need to spend over $18MM/yr for a slew of guys who play JUST special teams.
JMHO
