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by: Marwan Maalouf
posted: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 | Print Entry
filed under: Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys
The special teams matchup between Dallas and Green Bay starts with the rookie place kickers on both teams. Green Bay's Mason Crosby and Dallas' Nick Folk are having exceptional rookie seasons and are contributing positively to their respected clubs. Crosby and Folk are both accurate and proved they have strong legs by hitting field goals from 53 yards out. Folk is dangerous from the 40 to 49-yard range and is slightly more consistent from that area than Crosby. Plus, both are solid in the kickoffs, but Crosby has more power and better hang time to get more touchbacks.
The punters for both teams are also similar statistically and are having good years thus far. Dallas punter Mat McBriar has a powerful leg, good hang time and is having a repeat season that sent him to the Pro Bowl in 2006. Plus, he does a good job of directionally placing his punts and shows good touch within the 20-yard line on pooch punts. Green Bay punter Jon Ryan has a shown consistency, a quick get off and the ability to keep his shanks to a minimum. He has also been slightly better than McBriar at pinning opponents within the 20-yard line this season, but that may be because he's had a more opportunities to do so.
The Packers and Cowboys have quality veteran punt returners that are members of the secondary. The Green Bay's Charles Woodson is still capable of making someone miss and gaining positive yards on punt returns. He catches the ball smoothly and shouldn't have a problem fielding it in Dallas. If Woodson's injured foot will keep him from returning punts, backup CB Tramon Williams is capable and shouldn't limit the Packers' game plan on that unit. The Cowboys have a corner of their own that can make tacklers miss and gain positive yards in Terrance Newman. Newman is a reliable punt returner who has exceptional vision and burst if given a little space to catch the ball and make a move. Newman and Dallas WR Patrick Crayton will get the reps on punt return and Crayton is also a dangerous weapon and very capable of makinga big play on punt returns.
The kickoff return situation for both the Cowboys and the Packers isn't what it needs to be for either team to get good field position. It's a good thing that both clubs have exceptional offenses that can move the ball because this phase isn't helping anyone. The Cowboys are using WR Miles Austin to return kickoffs as well as RB Tyson Thompson. Neither has shown the consistency or decision making ability to put the Cowboys' offense in great field position. The Packers have a slight edge with WR Koren Robinson returning kickoffs since he is a downhill player that runs more north and south. However, Williams will get more chances to return kickoffs, but Robinson has the better vision of the two and gets more from his fewer reps.
Both special teams' units are capable of making plays to help their team win. So, this much-anticipated NFC matchup may be determined based on special teams play.
posted: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 | Print Entry
filed under: Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys
The special teams matchup between Dallas and Green Bay starts with the rookie place kickers on both teams. Green Bay's Mason Crosby and Dallas' Nick Folk are having exceptional rookie seasons and are contributing positively to their respected clubs. Crosby and Folk are both accurate and proved they have strong legs by hitting field goals from 53 yards out. Folk is dangerous from the 40 to 49-yard range and is slightly more consistent from that area than Crosby. Plus, both are solid in the kickoffs, but Crosby has more power and better hang time to get more touchbacks.
The punters for both teams are also similar statistically and are having good years thus far. Dallas punter Mat McBriar has a powerful leg, good hang time and is having a repeat season that sent him to the Pro Bowl in 2006. Plus, he does a good job of directionally placing his punts and shows good touch within the 20-yard line on pooch punts. Green Bay punter Jon Ryan has a shown consistency, a quick get off and the ability to keep his shanks to a minimum. He has also been slightly better than McBriar at pinning opponents within the 20-yard line this season, but that may be because he's had a more opportunities to do so.
The Packers and Cowboys have quality veteran punt returners that are members of the secondary. The Green Bay's Charles Woodson is still capable of making someone miss and gaining positive yards on punt returns. He catches the ball smoothly and shouldn't have a problem fielding it in Dallas. If Woodson's injured foot will keep him from returning punts, backup CB Tramon Williams is capable and shouldn't limit the Packers' game plan on that unit. The Cowboys have a corner of their own that can make tacklers miss and gain positive yards in Terrance Newman. Newman is a reliable punt returner who has exceptional vision and burst if given a little space to catch the ball and make a move. Newman and Dallas WR Patrick Crayton will get the reps on punt return and Crayton is also a dangerous weapon and very capable of makinga big play on punt returns.
The kickoff return situation for both the Cowboys and the Packers isn't what it needs to be for either team to get good field position. It's a good thing that both clubs have exceptional offenses that can move the ball because this phase isn't helping anyone. The Cowboys are using WR Miles Austin to return kickoffs as well as RB Tyson Thompson. Neither has shown the consistency or decision making ability to put the Cowboys' offense in great field position. The Packers have a slight edge with WR Koren Robinson returning kickoffs since he is a downhill player that runs more north and south. However, Williams will get more chances to return kickoffs, but Robinson has the better vision of the two and gets more from his fewer reps.
Both special teams' units are capable of making plays to help their team win. So, this much-anticipated NFC matchup may be determined based on special teams play.
