Special teams are the most overlooked part of the game. Over the course of a season, it will be the difference in many of the games. Even if it only swayed two games the difference between an 8-4 season and a 6-6 season is huge.
Pat Signal!!!! New Panther
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Special teams are the most overlooked part of the game. Over the course of a season, it will be the difference in many of the games. Even if it only swayed two games the difference between an 8-4 season and a 6-6 season is huge.
Ask the Steelers how important a good punter is. Matter of fact ask some of the prior Pitt coaches.
I do see your point, but I think a punter plays a big role and oftentimes shapes how offenses are called. If you have a terrible punter, chances are great you take more chances on offense knowing that you'll get no advantage giving the ball back. Call me crazy but I always thought football is oftentimes a game of field position. You chances of scoring technically will always be greater with better field position, right? So if you can keep your opponent pinned back in their own territory, the types of calls you can make on offense expands.
Ask the Steelers how important a long snapper is!!! Some people are just flat out stupid and prove it in their posts.
Not at all, just that a punter does not make a significant impact on wins.
Did you read the initial comment I replied to?
Sorry, but a punter does not make an "enormous difference" and Pitt did not win some games "largely because of him" as suggested. A quarterback, running back, pass rusher, etc. make an "enormous difference," not a punter. With that said, I want good players at every position on the team and am excited to have Christodoulou at Pitt.
Special teams are critical and have great impact on wins and losses. A Strong kicking game is a big piece of the puzzle.. Hopefully this guy's legit.
Ok, so when faced with the question of whether you would have an average punter and an excellent player at any of the other 22 or 23 positions or an excellent punter and just an average player at another position, which would you choose?
Burgh's response (to the post he quoted and rebutted) was certainly on topic and I think an absolute no brainer. Swervin is the only person to respond logically. He said TE. I couldn't disagree more, but it certainly is a reasoned response that shows he can read and comprehend.
And the Steelers make it clear that they care very, very little about P in relation to their other positions. It is clearly the position they think is the least important of their starters and one could argue of their 46 man gameday (much smaller in NFL than NCAAF, but still significant) roster, even though I'd probably put it somewhere in the late 30s.
No one is saying its the most important position on the team. Just that special teams are a vital part of game. That was my point about the Steelers. They have lost games because of that cockiness on punters. Now you see them trying to find one.
Rip I have no idea what makes you think that you know what is important to a team and what isnt. Its my opinion on a blog. I suggest since you know so much maybe you should be running a team. Because those coaches dont care what any of us think. Why even have a punter on the roster? Just keep the offense on the field for 4 downs every posession, the other team doesnt play defense. Why play field position and pin teams deep in their part of the field? Field position means nothing in a game. Is that what you want to hear?
There are 3 separate but equally important facets of the game, Offense, Defense, and Special Teams.
You are certainly entitled to your opinion, however it is simply that not some assailable truth.
With your unwarranted condescending arrogance are sure you're not a PSU fan?
Except no one said it wasn't important. You and others are inventing an argument, unless you think a P is more important than another starting position. If you don't, you agree with Burgh. My opinion is just like any others, including yours. I am just actually staying on point and not inventing arguments or slights. In fact, I am happy to discuss it in a way to clearly define where each of us stand.
The Steelers are not making it a priority to find a P. They clearly place the P position in a low priority. That is clear as day if you follow their roster building and transactions, so they are not a very good example.
On an NFL roster, I would say the P is perhaps the 38th most important player. I would take all 22 starters and K over the P, plus #4 WR, #2 TE, #2 QB, #2 RB, #3 OT, #3 G/C, #3 & 4 CB, #3 S, and (if we are talking a 3-4 D) #3 ILB, #3 & 4 OLB, and #4 and 5 DL.
College is a little different because you have so many more backups options, but still it probably wouldn't be much higher of a priority in my book.
How about you?
What opinion are you speaking to? Who in this thread said special teams aren't important? But, I will say that, certainly, special teams are not as important as offense and defense. Certainly make a difference, but there is no chance they are as important. It is as simple as math, really.
It's apples and oranges. In the NFL the median quality of the punting is so high there is very little difference from team to team. In college football a high quality punter is a weapon that can have huge impact on field position. They are pretty hard to find and identify in the recruitibg process. Many of them are full time position players for their HS team, and/or handle all punting and kicking duties.
