percyhoward
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I mean besides the fact that we probably won't punt that much.
I was comparing our special teams coverage stats this preseason to last preseason, and found something interesting.
PUNT COVERAGE
2007 preseason
11 punts covered
(5 ret/1 FC/3 downed/1 TB/1 OB)
avg return yds (punts that were returned only): 26.0
avg return yds (all punts): 11.8 yds
returns of: (includes FC/downed, doesn't include OB/TB)
<10 yards: 6
11-19 yds: 2
20+ yards: 1
avg punt from: own 40 yd-line
avg ret on 5 punts from inside own 40: 26.0 yds
avg ret on 6 punts from between own 41 and opp 40: 0 yds
WARNING: The above numbers are extremely skewed by one 91-yard punt return. Remove it from the equation, and the numbers improve drastically...
2007 preseason (Jacoby Jones' 91-yard TD excluded)
10 punts covered
(4 ret/1 FC/3 downed/1 TB/1 OB)
avg return yds (punts that were returned only): 9.8
avg return yds (all punts): 3.9 yds
returns of: (includes FC/downed, doesn't include OB/TB)
<10 yards: 6
11-19 yds: 2
20+ yards: 0
avg punt from: own 43 yd-line
avg ret on 4 punts from inside own 40: 9.8 yds
avg ret on 6 punts from between own 41 and opp 40: 0 yds
Jones 91-yarder was the only return of more than 15 yards we allowed in preseason 2007. Yeah, I know it counted. But it wasn't typical of the punt coverage in those first 3 games. When you take it out, we allowed less than 10 yards a return on returned punts, and less than 4 yards per return on all punts. That last number is pretty impressive. So why get excited about what happened in 2007 preseason? Look at the red highlighted part.
In 2008, our average punt has come from almost 20 yards farther back upfield, giving the coverage team more ground to have to cover.
2008 preseason
12 punts covered
(7 ret/3 FC/1downed/0 TB/1 OB)
avg return yds (punts that were returned ony): 13.3
avg return yds (all punts): 7.8
returns of: (includes FC/downed, doesn't include OB/TB)
<10 yards: 7
10-19 yds: 1
20+ yards: 3 (all in same game)
avg punt from: own 24 yd-line
avg ret on 11 punts from inside own 40: 8.5 yds
avg ret on 1 punt from between own 41 and opp 40: 0 yds
That was one terrible start in San Diego, but not bad since, especially considering where the ball has been when we've punted (on average, our own 24). Where you punt from does affect the return yardage you allow.
There is no way our average punt will come from our own 24-yard line this season. There's also no chance that we'll continue to see the 11-to-1 ratio of punts from inside our 40 to punts from beyond our 40.
As for our coverage on kickoffs...Don't ask.
I was comparing our special teams coverage stats this preseason to last preseason, and found something interesting.
PUNT COVERAGE
2007 preseason
11 punts covered
(5 ret/1 FC/3 downed/1 TB/1 OB)
avg return yds (punts that were returned only): 26.0
avg return yds (all punts): 11.8 yds
returns of: (includes FC/downed, doesn't include OB/TB)
<10 yards: 6
11-19 yds: 2
20+ yards: 1
avg punt from: own 40 yd-line
avg ret on 5 punts from inside own 40: 26.0 yds
avg ret on 6 punts from between own 41 and opp 40: 0 yds
WARNING: The above numbers are extremely skewed by one 91-yard punt return. Remove it from the equation, and the numbers improve drastically...
2007 preseason (Jacoby Jones' 91-yard TD excluded)
10 punts covered
(4 ret/1 FC/3 downed/1 TB/1 OB)
avg return yds (punts that were returned only): 9.8
avg return yds (all punts): 3.9 yds
returns of: (includes FC/downed, doesn't include OB/TB)
<10 yards: 6
11-19 yds: 2
20+ yards: 0
avg punt from: own 43 yd-line
avg ret on 4 punts from inside own 40: 9.8 yds
avg ret on 6 punts from between own 41 and opp 40: 0 yds
Jones 91-yarder was the only return of more than 15 yards we allowed in preseason 2007. Yeah, I know it counted. But it wasn't typical of the punt coverage in those first 3 games. When you take it out, we allowed less than 10 yards a return on returned punts, and less than 4 yards per return on all punts. That last number is pretty impressive. So why get excited about what happened in 2007 preseason? Look at the red highlighted part.
In 2008, our average punt has come from almost 20 yards farther back upfield, giving the coverage team more ground to have to cover.
2008 preseason
12 punts covered
(7 ret/3 FC/1downed/0 TB/1 OB)
avg return yds (punts that were returned ony): 13.3
avg return yds (all punts): 7.8
returns of: (includes FC/downed, doesn't include OB/TB)
<10 yards: 7
10-19 yds: 1
20+ yards: 3 (all in same game)
avg punt from: own 24 yd-line
avg ret on 11 punts from inside own 40: 8.5 yds
avg ret on 1 punt from between own 41 and opp 40: 0 yds
That was one terrible start in San Diego, but not bad since, especially considering where the ball has been when we've punted (on average, our own 24). Where you punt from does affect the return yardage you allow.
There is no way our average punt will come from our own 24-yard line this season. There's also no chance that we'll continue to see the 11-to-1 ratio of punts from inside our 40 to punts from beyond our 40.
As for our coverage on kickoffs...Don't ask.
