shelby
01-13-2009, 04:38 PM
Bobby April and his special teams units are building a bittersweet legacy in Buffalo.
For the fifth straight season they had one of the best special-teams records in the NFL. Yet once again the team could not parlay its overall kicking game excellence into a playoff appearance.
The Bills ranked among the top 10 by one measure or another in all four primary kicking and coverage categories.
Fans probably did not need to look at the statistics to see the Bills’ bomb-squadders getting the job done.
“If you notice, we usually gang tackle the opposing returner,” said April, the Bills’ special teams coordinator for the last five seasons. “The opponent usually has one guy tackling us. That’s a great indicator of how well you’re playing.”
Rookie Leodis McKelvin finished third in the NFL with a kickoff return average of 28.2 yards. The Bills’ average drive start after kickoffs (the 32.4 yard line) was the eighth best total this decade.
“He believes he’s taking every one back,” April said of McKelvin.
Buffalo’s Roscoe Parrish led the NFL in punt return average at 15.3 yards.
Overall on returns, the Bills were No. 1 on punts and No. 7 on kickoffs (although the average drive starting position is the more important figure).
On kickoff coverage, they ranked second in opponents’ kickoff return average and ninth in average drive start after kickoffs. On punt coverage they ranked 23rd in terms of opponents’ average punt return allowed. But in terms of net punting, which factors in the effectiveness of the punter and likewise is the better indicator of success, the Bills were seventh best in the NFL.
The only other teams that ranked among the top 10 in all four return-and-coverage disciplines, by one measure or another, were Oakland and Atlanta.
The showing was satisfying for the coaches because the Bills bid goodbye to four stalwart special teamers after last season — Coy Wire, Sam Aiken, Josh Stamer and Mario Haggan.
“The guys really did a good job, and a lot of them were playing for the first time,” April said. “A lot of times first-year players, even if they’re really good, it’s tough for them to play good. These guys for the first time playing have done a good job. They’ve played hard. They really scrapped. They get after it.”
April uses a complex grading system to measure the value of his players. Every man can earn points for doing his job on every special teams play. Players are awarded from three to 15 points for making a block. A solo tackle is 12. An assisted tackle is either five or eight. A touchdown return is 25. A game-winning field goal or a blocked kick is 30. A missed tackle is minus-5. And so on.
John Wendling was the points winner for the season among the coverage men. Second was Blake Costanzo and third was George Wilson.
Punter Brian Moorman, a Pro Bowler in 2006 and 2007, quietly posted one of his finest seasons. He had a career-best net average of 39.13 yards, which ranked eighth in the NFL. However, Moorman allowed fewer returns (just 31 percent) than any punter ranked ahead of him, and only one punter in the league, Atlanta’s Michael Koenen, had fewer punts returned than Moorman.
more... (http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/billsnfl/story/547712.html)
For the fifth straight season they had one of the best special-teams records in the NFL. Yet once again the team could not parlay its overall kicking game excellence into a playoff appearance.
The Bills ranked among the top 10 by one measure or another in all four primary kicking and coverage categories.
Fans probably did not need to look at the statistics to see the Bills’ bomb-squadders getting the job done.
“If you notice, we usually gang tackle the opposing returner,” said April, the Bills’ special teams coordinator for the last five seasons. “The opponent usually has one guy tackling us. That’s a great indicator of how well you’re playing.”
Rookie Leodis McKelvin finished third in the NFL with a kickoff return average of 28.2 yards. The Bills’ average drive start after kickoffs (the 32.4 yard line) was the eighth best total this decade.
“He believes he’s taking every one back,” April said of McKelvin.
Buffalo’s Roscoe Parrish led the NFL in punt return average at 15.3 yards.
Overall on returns, the Bills were No. 1 on punts and No. 7 on kickoffs (although the average drive starting position is the more important figure).
On kickoff coverage, they ranked second in opponents’ kickoff return average and ninth in average drive start after kickoffs. On punt coverage they ranked 23rd in terms of opponents’ average punt return allowed. But in terms of net punting, which factors in the effectiveness of the punter and likewise is the better indicator of success, the Bills were seventh best in the NFL.
The only other teams that ranked among the top 10 in all four return-and-coverage disciplines, by one measure or another, were Oakland and Atlanta.
The showing was satisfying for the coaches because the Bills bid goodbye to four stalwart special teamers after last season — Coy Wire, Sam Aiken, Josh Stamer and Mario Haggan.
“The guys really did a good job, and a lot of them were playing for the first time,” April said. “A lot of times first-year players, even if they’re really good, it’s tough for them to play good. These guys for the first time playing have done a good job. They’ve played hard. They really scrapped. They get after it.”
April uses a complex grading system to measure the value of his players. Every man can earn points for doing his job on every special teams play. Players are awarded from three to 15 points for making a block. A solo tackle is 12. An assisted tackle is either five or eight. A touchdown return is 25. A game-winning field goal or a blocked kick is 30. A missed tackle is minus-5. And so on.
John Wendling was the points winner for the season among the coverage men. Second was Blake Costanzo and third was George Wilson.
Punter Brian Moorman, a Pro Bowler in 2006 and 2007, quietly posted one of his finest seasons. He had a career-best net average of 39.13 yards, which ranked eighth in the NFL. However, Moorman allowed fewer returns (just 31 percent) than any punter ranked ahead of him, and only one punter in the league, Atlanta’s Michael Koenen, had fewer punts returned than Moorman.
more... (http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/billsnfl/story/547712.html)