ST role players #1 in several categories

[ctpatsfan77]

Stephen Gostkowski: rookie scoring leader, with 103 points. Gostkowski kicked 20/26 on the season. Opposing kickers did worse, going just 22/30.

Chad Jackson: the #1 punt returner in the NFL, with a 25+-yard average.

Ellis Hobbs: the #1 kickoff returner in the NFL, with a 36-yard average.

Admittedly, there are things the Pats could be doing better, but they deserve some credit for what they've accomplished.

 

[Fixit]

I wonder if people understand how good this team is set up to be next year.

 

[Miguel]

Talk about cherry-picking stats.

How many rookie kickers were there in the NFL???

How many punt returners had only 3 punt returns as did Chad Jackson??
How many kickoff returners had only 10 kickoff returns as did Ellis Hobbs??

If you go to the NFL.Com stat sections, you will not find their names there. Why?? Probably they did not have enough returns to qualify.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Talk about cherry-picking stats.

How many rookie kickers were there in the NFL???

How many punt returners had only 3 punt returns as did Chad Jackson??
How many kickoff returners had only 10 kickoff returns as did Ellis Hobbs??

If you go to the NFL.Com stat sections, you will not find their names there. Why?? Probably they did not have enough returns to qualify.

Agreed. The question is.... will CJ get a chance to return a punt?

 

[STFarmy]

Miguel's right. While those stats are encouraging, they are slightly deceptive.

 

[Fixit]

I repeat: next year.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Talk about cherry-picking stats.

How many rookie kickers were there in the NFL???

I didn't say "leader in kicking points." He led all rookies in scoring. And given how few opportunities he actually had to kick, that's not an unimpressive fact.

How many punt returners had only 3 punt returns as did Chad Jackson??
How many kickoff returners had only 10 kickoff returns as did Ellis Hobbs??

If you go to the NFL.Com stat sections, you will not find their names there. Why?? Probably they did not have enough returns to qualify.

http://www.nfl.com/stats/playersort/NFL/KR-KICKRETURNS/2006/regular
http://www.nfl.com/stats/playersort/NFL/PR-PUNTRETURNS/2006/regular

 

[Miguel]

A rookie kicker is going to most likely all rookies in scoring.

http://www.nfl.com/stats/leaders/AFC/PNTRET/2006/regular

has PacMan Jones on top

I got to the page from the stats page and then clicking on Punt Returns field in the Other League Leaders section.

http://www.nfl.com/stats/leaders/NFL/KRET/2006/regular
has Justin Miller 1st and Laurence Maroney second.

 

[Miguel]

IMO, saying Chad Jackson was the NFL #1 punt returner is like saying Vinny led the NFL in passer rating.

http://www.nfl.com/stats/playersort/NFL/QB-PASSING/2006/regular

In the NFL record book it will show PacMan Jones as the #1 punt returner.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I concede that the sample size is a bit small for Jackson and Hobbs to be "official" #1s. That said, though, the fact remains that the Pats have had a far better year on STs than they have in quite some time. It also raises the question of how to continue that performance in 2007.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Talk about cherry-picking stats.

How many rookie kickers were there in the NFL???

How many punt returners had only 3 punt returns as did Chad Jackson??
How many kickoff returners had only 10 kickoff returns as did Ellis Hobbs??

If you go to the NFL.Com stat sections, you will not find their names there. Why?? Probably they did not have enough returns to qualify.

But Kevin faulk led the NFL in punt returns for several weeks before fading to third. And LM has a top five KO return average too.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Well, stats and stat worship aside, there is a ray of sunshine for Special Teams with Hobbs subbing for Maroney and Jackson showing some potential to help in situational work. I agree with the premise that Special Teams as a whole were much better this season - the only unit I have concerns about heading into the post-season is Punt Coverage, and that is based on how well Sauerbrun pays attention and meshes with his coverage.