Rebuilding The Special Teams Units (8 of top 11 are gone)

Zuma said:

Don’t expect AVP to put as much emphasis on ST only players as BB.

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mgteich said:

fair enough

The Belichick argument is that starters on ST's are better players (and more valuable) than #6 CB's, #8 LB's and others.

As DaBruinz point out above, we have covered almost all of the losses, with two big losses (Slater and Davis/Phillips) still not replaced.
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So, the issue becomes whether the replacement for 2 of our 3 top ST players should be filled by top Sters or by a #6 corner and a #8 LB.

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Ivan said:

For me it’s more about drafting. I always felt like Belichick was putting too much emphasis on ST ability, instead of taking the best position player. As I said before I’m fine with having 2-3 guys who are specialty ST players, not including kickers, but they need to get the best positional talent overall.

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DaBruinz said:

Elliss replaced Montgomery last year. Elliss played in 73% of the STs snaps after being claimed by the Pats off waivers. Elliss had played 76% of the Special Teams snaps with Philly as well.

Sione Takitaki will see time on special teams. As will Jaylinn Hawkins.

I would expect that either Pettway or whomever they bring in as the 3rd TE will see time on Special Teams. Isaiah Bolden will likely see time there as well.

Slater and Davis are the big hits. Davis because he was the personal protector on the Punt unit. If I remember correctly, Phillips took over for him in 2022 when Davis was out.

Hasty has experience on STs according to his snap counts being at 39% in his 2nd year with San Fran and 37% during his first year in Jax.

What's interesting is that Watts, Hooper, Leverett, Gibson, Okorafor, and Osborn don't have a lot of STs play of late if any at all. So the Pats will be relying on Rookies or Players currently on the Roster to step up.

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Wozzy said:

This ^

Players are going to have to play special teams, it doesn't cease just because BB left.

Thankfully we have Schooler, Slater's protege should help keep ST's discipline a thing.

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mgteich said:

I agree except for

"Schooler keeping ST discipline." ???

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mgteich said:

I understand. I would note that a bottom of the roster level player has only two roles if they don't play ST's: hope for injuries and ride the bench. Most last level backup at any position will be inactive if they don't play special teams.

So, I agree that if I am drafting a player to potentially compete for a starting role, ST's isn't all that important. However, if I am drafting for a backup in the 5th or later, then ST's is usually critical to the player making the 53 (OL's are often drafted in the 5ht without the need to have ST's skills).
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To put it another way, If we draft anyone but an OL or QB in the 5th or later, he is unlikely to make the team without special team skills.

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Wozzy said:

He learned how to do the job well at the highest level. We’ll see if he can sustain it.

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Ivan said:

For the most part we agree, unfortunately it seems like we are always injured at positions like defensive back, and WR, and forced into using them consistently at those positions, so I would still draft the best player, and have them learn how to play special teams.

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mgteich said:

I'm not questioning Schooler's skills as a player. I am questioning his discipline and his ability to lead others to be disciplined.

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mgteich said:

So, we should stop hiring starting STer's and just consider ST's as a bonus skill for #5 CB's?

So, it is waste to have a protector to replace Slater, and to have a couple of gunners? IMOO, these are starting positions. If a starting gunner is an emergency #6 CB, that is a bonus.
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So, yes, we should have 3 starting Sters.

ADDITIONAL special teamers have to be backups at other roles. The #5 CB, #4 RB, #8 LB, #5 CB, #10 DB and #11 DB all should have skills in other roles, including returner, protector and gunner.

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mgteich said:

fair enough

The Belichick argument is that starters on ST's are better players (and more valuable) than #6 CB's, #8 LB's and others.

As DaBruinz point out above, we have covered almost all of the losses, with two big losses (Slater and Davis/Phillips) still not replaced.
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So, the issue becomes whether the replacement for 2 of our 3 top ST players should be filled by top Sters or by a #6 corner and a #8 LB.

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1960Pats said:

I wonder how the new rules will impact the kickoffs? It looks to me like a great returner will be a great weapon and difficult to stop.

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