Bucs Top Field-Position Stat
September 27th, 2011
Not one to buy into the “stats are for losers” line, Joe’s got a telling number to report. The Bucs lead the NFL in forcing opponents into poor field position after a kickoff.
The average start against the Bucs following a kickoff is the 16.8 yard line. Departed Rich Bisaccia’s Chargers rank 31st (29.4). The Detroit Lions, where Maurice Stovall is covering kicks, including a missed tackle on Sammie Stroughter’s long return on opening day, are 28th (25.4).
Big money kickoff specialist Michael Koenan is paying off. And so far the Bucs’ special teams have been nearly flawless in all phases. Special teams coordinator Dwayne Stukes deserves a standing ovation.
More room to work is a blessing for a very young defense.
September 27th, 2011 at 10:15 am
So many fans were complaining and down playing this signing. I know the Bucs could have done more, but this obviously was an excellent addition and is paying off big time.
September 27th, 2011 at 10:37 am
Huge signing!!!! Koenen has been impressive, the coverages on the punt and kickoffs have been fast and smothering…. I like it
September 27th, 2011 at 10:39 am
Thomas’s head is going to explode!
September 27th, 2011 at 10:54 am
great signing by Rock Star GM
September 27th, 2011 at 11:09 am
I was worried about losing Rich this offseason. Funny thing is , I haven’t thought about it since the season started. I think the special teams look better than last year!
Bravo, Coach Stukes, Bravo sir! Great work!
September 27th, 2011 at 11:10 am
Special teams has been near perfect. I was worried we were going to seriously regress on ST this year, but that has just not been the case. Well done!
September 27th, 2011 at 11:11 am
Also Koenen was a great signing. Too bad he was the only FA pickup.
September 27th, 2011 at 12:29 pm
I was just going through the game in my head and thinking how big the special teams play was.
You could easily say that the Koenen signing was the difference in that game. We got great great results from our kickoffs (their average starting point was the 16) and acceptable results on our punts (net punting average 38 yds, which came out a bit low because we had 1 of 3 punts from their side of the field).
They got acceptable results from their kickoffs (our average starting point was the 20) and terrible results on their punts (net average 25yds; they also had one of 3 punts from inside our territory).
That certainly wasn’t all Koenen (Weems returned one from 7yds deep that he should’ve sat on, and they hurt themselves with penalties on the kick returns), but I’m glad he was on our side and not theirs.
September 27th, 2011 at 1:39 pm
We took atlantas weapon that gave us bad fielding last season. And weems never got his rocks off this season yet maybe the kickoff rule destroyed what little skill he had lol
September 27th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
so far so good. People underestimate tha importance of field position
September 27th, 2011 at 2:31 pm
The Dominator strikes again. Great signing.
September 27th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
Speaking of special teams: let’s give it up to Connor Barth while were at it.
September 27th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
One of the biggest aspects of Koenen’s signing is the Falcon’s rookie punter. He’s been horrible. Even Falcon’s fans are saying his best attribute is his ability to tackle the returner. So, not only did we get a guy on our team that changes field position, but we took away theirs and that is worth every penny of Koenen’s contract.
September 27th, 2011 at 6:18 pm
I think Percy Harvin’s boneheaded play is helping out our average.
Joe do you know what our average field position is overall? That will tell the whole story. How well we cover kicks/punts, how our offense moves the ball when we don’t score, how our defense bends but doesn’t break.