Special teams is always the most overlooked aspect of football. Kickers and punters have the least sexy jobs on the team but their jobs are some of the most important. The kicker is important for obvious reasons and the punter is important because a good punter can drastically change the outcome of any game by giving his team the advantage when it comes to field position. And of course, you have punt and kick returners.
Here are the individual grades for Bengals special teams players and the unit's grade as a whole.
Kicker Mike Nugent: In 2011, Nugent made 34 of 40 field goal attempts for an 85 percent field goal percentage. He was 100 percent from within 20 yards, 66.7 percent from 30-39 yards and 85 percent from 40-49 yards. He was also 33 of 34 in extra points on the year. When it came to kickoffs, he averaged 68.6 yards per kick and the opposing team was forced into a touchback about half the time (percent return was 51.8). His ProFootballFocus.com score for kickoffs was 20.0 while his score for field goals was 7.0 for an overall score of 27. That ranks him as the ninth best kicker in the NFL this season.
Punter Kevin Huber: In 2011 Huber punted the ball 94 times for an average of 43.8 yards per kick and an average hang time of five seconds. His long punt on the year was 71 yards. He had no punts blocked, nine touchbacks and he dropped 32 punts inside the 20-yard line. He had an overall score as a punter of 4.3. That ranks him as the No. 28 punter in the league in 2011, according to PFF.
Punt/Kick Returner Brandon Tate: Tate attempted to return 53 punts in 2011 and his average return yardage was 10.5, which was a new franchise record. He had 19 fair catches and his long return was 56 yards, which he achieved in Week 8 against the Seahawks and in Week 15 against the Rams. He made some mistakes along the way, catching punts he should let go and letting go some punts he should have caught, but he still had a good season. His punt return score was 3.6, which ranked him as the 10th best punt returner in the league.
As a kick returner, Tate attempted to return 43 kickoffs for an average of 23.7 yards. His long was 45 yards and he didn't score a return touchdown. For kick returning, he had a PFF score of -1.7. This combined with his punt return score gave him an overall grade of 1.9.
Best Special Teamer: Running back Cedric Peerman had by far the best score of anybody who was not a punt or kick returner. He had a punt team score of 1.5 and a kickoff team score of 2.9 for an overall score of 3.9.
Tate wasn't the only player to act as a returner. Bernard Scott, Cedric Peerman and Nate Clements each returned one kick. When it came to punts, Adam Jones returned two punts for a total of 67 yards, one being for 65 yards.
When it comes to special teams, the Bengals earned a grade of B- in my opinion. What grade would you give them?
0 recs | 15 comments
RIP "Huber for MVP"
Brennen Warner - February 4, 2012
A
Games were won by this unit and it was one of the best in the NFL.
Cry - February 4, 2012
B to B+
solid Special Teams, not too many mistakes…Nugent was solid..I just wish we would have more of a return threat..
ticalcaldwell - February 4, 2012
We were 5th in the league...
Oregonbengalsfan - February 4, 2012
Other stats
Would be interesting to see TO differential, penalties and penalty yards awarded for this unit. And to see how that stacks up against the league.
UIsteve - February 4, 2012
Tate got way too much heat last year
He is a decent kick returner in NFL.
Not too worried if Cincy does not bring him back – but they could easily do worse
TX Bengal - February 4, 2012
I agree
I admit, we all want Devin Hester for every return…but Tate didnt make too many mistakes and had a few good returns…not a bad year at all…
ticalcaldwell - February 4, 2012
^THIS
Oregonbengalsfan - February 4, 2012
For all of the hate that Brandon Tate received this season
He was actually pretty effective—especially in the punt return game. He wasn’t as effective as a kick returner, but that’s more of a result of the league’s new kickoff rules.
He set the franchise record for punt return yards in a season and has a number of big plays. It’s a shame that he’s remembered for his bad game at Pittsburgh—a game that no Bengal played well in.
Anthony Cosenza - February 4, 2012
I watched every snap of every game (well, I did turn off that second Steelers game in the third quarter...)
And Tate’s stats just shock me whenever I see them. I’d like to be able to argue that they were skewed by a few big plays, but there really didn’t seem to be that many of those and only the one TD. But man every time he was on the field it seems like it was either a disaster or a near disaster. I know I wasn’t alone in feeling that way throughout the season. I can’t figure out where the disconnect is.
eric nyc - February 4, 2012
I completely agree
he was a boom or bust kind of guy. I htink the biggest thing with him was that there were sooo many punts he should have returned that he didn’t, and soooo many that he shouldn’t have that he did. With Quan, we always knew he would make the smart choice, but its clear that Tate is more of the “home run” threat kinda guy to give him credit
The Dealio - February 4, 2012
Quan was benched in Denver.
Cry - February 4, 2012
Return Coverage was an A
We did not give up many big plays during returns…We played our gaps well and kept the field position advantage for many games…forced offenses to long drives and kept scores low…If you notice…we rarely had a high scoring out of control game…Miles and Mays played well
ticalcaldwell - February 4, 2012
Agree with the B
Nuge was solid,and there wasnt to many mistakes on special teams
I like the idea of having a big play returner,but i am more than satisfied with just not turning it over
Pacman if used just as a return man,would be the only upgrade.Thats the only way i’d want him back,then if needed could
provide depth at corner
keithp - February 4, 2012
I would say that our special teams would get a C because they were simply average all year.
The weak link is Huber and his stats don’t lie. He would have a good game and then he would have 2 bad ones. Huber came into the NFL with a rep of having a monster leg which he has but is WAY to inconsistent.
lightskin350 - February 5, 2012 via mobile
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Cincy Jungle to post a comment.