Bengals Ranked #1 Special Teams Unit in NFL (EOY)

[BoBengal]

Linked Statistics by FootballOutsiders: https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamst/2019

As of the end of the regular season, we statistically have the #1 Special Teams Unit in the NFL. While we have plenty of areas to focus on gearing up for 2020, our Special Teams was undoubtedly top tier in 2019. I can't recall the article, but in (circa) November Bill Belicheck actually commented that Cincy had the best special teams group in the league.

As per the Link-- This page lists an estimate of how many points, compared to league average, each team receives from the five elements of special teams: field goals/extra points, kickoffs, kick returns, punts, punt returns. The total is then converted into a DVOA percentage so that it can be added in to offense and defense to create total team DVOA.

Field goal rating compares each field goal to the league-average percentage of field goals from that distance. Yards of field position from the other four elements of special teams are translated into points using a method that gives each yard line a point value based on the average next score an NFL offense is worth from that point on the field. Kickoffs and punts are based on net yardage. Kickoff returns and punt returns are judged on return yardage only. These numbers are then adjusted for weather and altitude based on stadium type (cold, warm, dome, Denver) and week.


And, the 2019 numbers don't appear to be a "fluke" season, because we were #7 in the NFL with our same Specialists in 2018.

[Bengalitis]

Philips runs North... so does Erickson, unlike Tate who was infamous for going sideways.

Jones was good too but Tate brought down the stats.

[Sled21]

We just have to hope that Simmons does not get plucked by someone to be head coach...

[jj22]

Simmons won't be plucked before KC's ST Coach. The league has forgotten about Harbs and needs another groundbreaking ST to HC hire to shake up the group think when it comes to ST coaches being left out of the hiring cycle's.

[BengalChris]

LOL The one coach Taylor didn't get the pick.

Simmons is the only one who deserves to return.

[masonbengals fan]

He's done a good job.

[Sled21]

(01-01-2020, 04:48 PM)BengalChris Wrote: LOL The one coach Taylor didn't get the pick.

Simmons is the only one who deserves to return.

Taylor chose to keep him....

[BengalChris]

(01-01-2020, 04:54 PM)Sled21 Wrote: Taylor chose to keep him....

Do you think the team would have let Simmons go? Our special teams has been good for some time.

 

[CJD]

If you want an in-real-time expression of how important Special Teams are in the grand scheme of the NFL...

[*pally*]

(01-01-2020, 04:59 PM)BengalChris Wrote: Do you think the team would have let Simmons go? Our special teams has been good for some time.

 

His contract expires at the season's end

[BoBengal]

(01-01-2020, 05:51 PM)pally Wrote: His contract expires at the season's end

If we return the specialists that are executing effectively, we'll be fine.

[*pally*]

(01-01-2020, 07:55 PM)BoBengal Wrote: If we return the specialists that are executing effectively, we'll be fine.

the specialists are the easy part.  Its putting the rest of the squad when the available players change week to week that is difficult

[BoBengal]

(01-01-2020, 08:05 PM)pally Wrote: the specialists are the easy part.  Its putting the rest of the squad when the available players change week to week that is difficult

Bill Belichick, Mike Vrabel, and I aren't in full agreement with that.  Many could argue that it's easier to find the players that have the fundamentals of speed, discipline/ability to follow the plan of a play, and the blocking/tackling basics.

For example, the Pats are on their 4th kicker of the season (Kai Forbath, Nick Folk, Mike Nugent, and Stephen Gostkowski), and so are the Titans (Ryan Succop, Cody Parkey, Cairo Santos, Greg Joseph)... and none of the 8 have performed well in the nightmare kicking (field goals, longer PATs, and kickoffs) season for them.

Bullock, Huber, Erickson, Phillips, and Harris have been unsung heroes for this team the last few seasons.  Just like anyone in any league at any level, they make mistakes, but as a whole the unit has been exceptional.

[Nicomo Cosca]

(01-01-2020, 04:48 PM)BengalChris Wrote: LOL The one coach Taylor didn't get the pick.

Simmons is the only one who deserves to return.

Nick Eason’s unit played really well in the second half of the season.

[BengalChris]

(01-01-2020, 05:51 PM)pally Wrote: His contract expires at the season's end

My question still remains, do you think the Bengals would have let Simmons go and not re-sign him regardless of who the new HC was?

I don't think they would have.

 

[Truck_1_0_1_]

(01-01-2020, 11:46 PM)BoBengal Wrote: Bill Belichick, Mike Vrabel, and I aren't in full agreement with that.  Many could argue that it's easier to find the players that have the fundamentals of speed, discipline/ability to follow the plan of a play, and the blocking/tackling basics.

For example, the Pats are on their 4th kicker of the season (Kai Forbath, Nick Folk, Mike Nugent, and Stephen Gostkowski), and so are the Titans (Ryan Succop, Cody Parkey, Cairo Santos, Greg Joseph)... and none of the 8 have performed well in the nightmare kicking (field goals, longer PATs, and kickoffs) season for them.

Bullock, Huber, Erickson, Phillips, and Harris have been unsung heroes for this team the last few seasons.  Just like anyone in any league at any level, they make mistakes, but as a whole the unit has been exceptional.

Aside from his return that was called back (which shouldn't have been called back), Phillips did next to nothing on teams... I'll even go as far to say he was a POS on teams and that Erickson had a significantly better year.

It's a complete lack of vision; I have NEVER seen one of our returners run into the back of a blocker, since Caldwell did it a few times in 2009 (he was removed in favour of BScott, soon after). Phillips did it 3 times on Sunday and somehow, didn't see somebody RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM, on his interception return.

Wilson isn't a burner by any stretch, but has great acceleration and his vision is STUPENDOUS. That's why Erickson is as good a returner as his results have shown; the guy is not the fastest, but he's great at finding holes and moving within the blockers.

For PRs, I'll stick with Erickson and KRs, Wilson all the way.

Leave Phillips at CB.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

We have a great ST's coach in Darrin Simmons and he knows how to pick his players and coach them up.

Hope Zac and the rest follow suit. Brandon Wilson is a great returner man, thought he should be Returning
kicks earlier but Darrin knows what he is doing. Erickson is alright himself as long as he doesn't muff it up.