While teams tend to address their offensive and defensive needs in the NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders overlooked mostly during the Draft: special teams.
Issues
Last season, the Raiders ranked in the bottom quarter of the league in many special teams categories, including punt return yards allowed (30th). However, a ranking this low can be situational. The Raiders had a disappointing amount of short drives leading to long punts. A long punt, instead of a pooch or target kick typically aimed at the sidelines or one-yard line, can allow the returning team space for a decent return. While this can be dependent on the offense to get the team down the field, it can also depend on the time it takes the team’s gunners to get down the field.
Function
Allowing lengthy punt returns can make an offense’s drive significantly easier and put additional pressure on the team’s defense. While the first gunner down the field is can miss his tackle, he holds the very important task of making the returner pick a direction. Last season, there appeared to be a bit of a disconnect. The first gunner would miss his tackle, sending the returner in a certain direction. On the other hand, the second gunner down rarely made the tackle, allowing extra return yards. Perhaps it is a communication issue, but a change must be made. While shutting down a return man gets proportionately more difficult as punt distance increases, the Raiders appear to struggle.
-
Ep 161: Lions Dissapoint; NFL MVP; Week 12 Discussion
by Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 12:12 am
Positive
On the plus side, the Raiders ranked third overall in field goal percentage in 2019. That stat remains dependent on field position and kicker skill. While the Raiders find themselves in third in field goal percentage, the team ranked 27th in field goals attempted. This skewed their percentage stat in a positive, yet slightly deceptive direction.
Results
All in all, this comes down to field position and may not be reflected by the team’s special teams unit. “Special teams” is a great name for the third aspect of the NFL It can be quite difficult to truly evaluate a team’s special teams corps without taking their other teams into consideration. But, in an attempt to do exactly that, we can see the Raiders’ special teams unit is fairly subpar.
Hope
As fans have seen the Raiders bolster both their offensive and defensive rosters, special teams could make or break the team’s playoff hopes. For example, the Kansas City Chiefs owned the best special teams unit last season. Plus, a majority of last year’s playoff teams find themselves in the top half of the rankings. Meanwhile, the Raiders ranked tied for 30th.
It must be mentioned that the Cincinnati Bengals boasted the second-best special teams unit. As a result, special teams success might not be directly related to team success. Yet, it can certainly help.
-
Ep 179: Hall of Famer Drew Pearson Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2023 at 5:14 pm
Hall of Fame wide receiver Drew Pearson returns to the show to talk to […]
-
Ep 178: Patriots, Eagles, 49ers, and More With Joe Bannerby Full Press Coverage on November 18, 2023 at 3:00 am
Former NFL executive Joe Banner returns to the show to talk with Clark and […]
-
Ep 177: Hall of Famer Mel Blount Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on November 11, 2023 at 1:00 am
Former Steeler and Pro Football Hall of Famer Mel Blount joins Clark and […]
-
Ep 176: Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks Returns To The Showby Full Press Coverage on November 2, 2023 at 6:00 pm
Former Buc and Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks joins Clark and Ira […]
-
What we learned in week 12 in the NFLby LandryFootball.com on November 27, 2023 at 1:00 pm
This season continues to be one of surprises. Up seems down and vice […]
-
CFB Week 13 Film Room Reviewby LandryFootball.com on November 26, 2023 at 6:00 pm
What a weird (in the best way) day of college football. There were no […]
-
Ep 315: Week 12 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2023 at 3:46 am
-
Ep 314: Week 11 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on November 15, 2023 at 3:18 am
-
Ep 313: Week 10 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on November 9, 2023 at 1:53 am
-
Ep 312: 2023 NFL Trade Deadlineby Full Press Coverage on November 2, 2023 at 1:03 pm
-
Ep 197: Recapping Weeks 11 & 12by Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 11:26 pm
This episode is a double-dip in a good way. Kyle Senra and Jesse Hall […]
-
Ep 196: Week 11 vs Chargersby Full Press Coverage on November 17, 2023 at 9:27 pm
In this solo show, Kyle Senra previews the Green Bay Packers Week 11 game […]
-
Full Press Islanders - 11-27 - A Mixed weekend a great win and a bad lossby Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 6:25 pm
The Isles had mixed weekend with a win in Ottawa but followed it up with […]
-
Full Press Panthers - 11-27 - Florida Panthers lose back to back at home against the Winnipeg Jetsby Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Post-Thanksgiving, the Panthers did not look good in this shutout loss. […]
-
Full Press Wild - 11-27 - Recapping the two weekend games for the Wild.by Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Weekend games, Detroit, Colorado, losses. Learn more about your ad […]
-
Full Press Kraken - 11-27 - Big loss, Vancouver, outplayedby Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 2:15 pm
Recapping the loss to Vancouver. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit […]
-
Full Press Blackhawks - 11-27 - The Ups & Downs of the Blackhawks’ weekendby Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Recapping the Chicago Blackhawks’ overtime win against the Toronto Maple […]
-
Full Press Hurricanes - 11-27 - Carolina Bounces Back to Take a 3-2 Win Over Columbus at Homeby Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 2:00 pm
A huge come from behind and bounce back, win for the Hurricanes as they […]
-
11/27 - Thanksgiving Recap; Jalen Hurts, NFL News and Notesby Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 10:43 pm
Ian and John recap Thanksgiving weekend, discuss Jalen Hurts' moment, and […]
-
11/24 - Thanksgiving Recap, Jets/Dolphins, Week 12 Picksby Full Press Coverage on November 24, 2023 at 3:47 pm
Ian and John react to all of the action on Thanksgiving Day and look ahead […]
-
11/23 - Thanksgiving Day Preview, Tom Brady, Top 5 NFL Teamsby Full Press Coverage on November 23, 2023 at 3:11 pm
Ian and John discuss the Thanksgiving Day slate of games in the NFL, Tom […]
-
11/21- MNF Reaction, Eagles Handle Chiefs, NFL MVPby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2023 at 3:31 am
Ian and John react to the Eagles win over the Chiefs on Monday Night […]
-
11/20 - Week 11 Reactions, MVP Race, MNF Previewby Full Press Coverage on November 20, 2023 at 3:08 pm
Ian and John react to Sunday's NFL action, talk MVP, and preview MNF […]
-
11/17 - Ravens Handle Bengals, Injury Concerns, Week 11 Picksby Full Press Coverage on November 17, 2023 at 6:50 pm
Ian and John recap the Ravens win over the Bengals and discuss the […]
-
Ep 2: Top 5 Super Bowls Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Ian Glendon and John Sapochetti give their Top 5 Super Bowls of all time. […]
-
Ep 1: The Top 10 Quarterbacks Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 8:42 pm
On the first episode of 'According To Who?', host Ian Glendon and John […]
-
Raptors at Nets - Pelicans at Knicks - Bucks at Heat - Hawks at Cavaliersby Broken Controller Media on November 28, 2023 at 12:30 pm
-
Ep 197: Recapping Weeks 11 & 12by Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 11:26 pm
-
11/27 - Thanksgiving Recap; Jalen Hurts, NFL News and Notesby Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 10:43 pm
-
Rivalry, Royalty & Riches - Nov. 27, 2023by Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 8:00 pm
-
Full Press MMA - 11-27 - MMA Junkie’s 30 Greatest Fighters of All-Timeby Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 4:00 pm
-
Pelicans at Jazz - Nuggets at Clippersby Broken Controller Media on November 27, 2023 at 3:00 pm
-
Lakers at 76ers - Trail Blazers at Pacers - Wizards at Pistonsby Broken Controller Media on November 27, 2023 at 2:00 pm
-
Ep 161: Lions Dissapoint; NFL MVP; Week 12 Discussionby Full Press Coverage on November 27, 2023 at 12:12 am
-
Hawks at Celtics - Bulls at Nets - Raptors at Cavaliers - Spurs at Nuggetsby Broken Controller Media on November 26, 2023 at 4:15 pm
-
Trail Blazers at Bucks - Timberwolves at Bucks - Pelicans at Magic - Suns at Knicksby Broken Controller Media on November 26, 2023 at 4:10 pm
-
AEW Full Gear 2023 Review and Roman Reigns Inflated Title Streakby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again as he breaks down AEW Full Gear 2023. What […]
-
AEW Full Gear 2023 Previewby Full Press Coverage on November 17, 2023 at 8:08 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again getting you ready for AEW 2023 Full Gear […]
-
Ep 192 - Matt Morganby Full Press Coverage on November 25, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Matt Morgan is a 7-foot monster who had runs in both WWE and TNA. This […]