NFL Preview: Best and worst teams at each position
Special Teams
Best: Indianapolis Colts
There are four divisions that encompass special teams in football: the kicker, the punter, kick returning and kick coverage. The Colts might be the only team in the NFL that excels at all four.
Kicker Adam Vinatieri is the oldest in the NFL, and even though he turned 42 late last season, he still was able to connect on 30 of 31 field goals and was consistent from deep. Punter/kickoff man Pat McAfee is a beast in his own right, and he constantly places the Colts in good positions defensively to start drives. Last year the Colts didn’t give up any touchdowns and outgained their opponents in overall yards.
Drafting wide receiver Phillip Dorsett with the first pick could easily help improve their return game, on top of providing Andrew Luck with more speed.
Worst: Green Bay Packers
If the basis for success was how often the Packers got Mason Crosby in position to kick field goals (finished a respectable 11th in field goal attempts), and how little they had to use punter Tim Masthay (he finished last in overall punts), then the Packers are golden in this category.
If it is judged on how those players perform, and on how the Packers perform on kick returns and in coverage, then this is clearly something heavy to worry about.
Crosby continues to be inconsistent with his field goals (particularly long ones), while Masthay will gift the Packers’ opponents with beneficial field position either from poorly placed punts or ones that are easy to return. Meanwhile, the coverage team does a poor job of tackling while giving up two separate touchdowns.
Micah Hyde’s two return touchdowns were a bright spot, but otherwise this is the Packers’ biggest weak point.