How Special are Special Teams?

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Average starting field position is definitely not a good way to analyze special teams. Offense and defense have more to do with average starting field position than do the special teams.

Special teams is designed to:

1) Move the ball, net of return yards, as far as possible when kicking off.
2) Move the ball, net of return yards, as far as possible when punting.
3) Move the ball as far as possible when returning kicks.
4) Move the ball as far as possible when returning punts.
5) Generate big plays, like turnovers and TDs.
6) Kick the ball through the uprights when the coach decides to kick.

A good statistical review of special teams play should include:

1) Average starting field position of your opponent after you kicked off (since you always kick from the same spot, the 30 yard line).
2) Net punting average, net of return yardage.
3) Kickoff return average.
4) Punt return average.
5) The Schneed10 +/- big-play ratio on special teams. While muffs don't get recorded as turnovers, they impact the game just the same.
The pluses: muffs you recover, onside kicks you attempt and recover, kicks you blocked, and the kicks/punts you returned for a TD.
The minuses: muffs you lost, onsides kicks attempted on you that you lost, kicks you had blocked, and the kicks/punts you allowed to go for a TD.
6) FG %. Especially on long range 45 yards and up.

that sounds about right... opposing FG % might be worth tracking too.