Lombardi Ave
FanSided

Green Bay Packers: NFC Championship Game special teams recap

By Kenn Korb

Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby (2) reacts after a missed field goal against the Atlanta Falcons during the first quarter in the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby (2) reacts after a missed field goal against the Atlanta Falcons during the first quarter in the 2017 NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next

The Return Units

Punts:

  1. Fair Catch (GB 10)
  2. Fair Catch (GB 5)

Kickoffs:

  1. Touchback
  2. Touchback
  3. Touchback
  4. *Squib* 15 yard return (GB 39)
  5. Touchback
  6. Touchback
  7. Touchback
  8. Touchback

Well, there really isn’t much to talk about in terms of statistical impact from this aspect of the special teams unit.

Out of eight kickoffs, the only one to see any return yardage (or even a return attempt at all) was one which came on a squib kickoff with three seconds remaining in the first half. Only two punts came on a day where the Falcons scored 44 points, and both of those became fair catches.

We could stop there, but I would like to take a quick dive into something I’ve noticed.

Here’s what’s bugging me: why do returners call for fair catches so deep within their own territory? I’m sure other teams do this as well, but I’ve noticed it far more often than I think should be happening with the Packers.

I don’t have exact numbers (…yet) but it has happened enough to grab my attention, and it really doesn’t make sense. Does catching the ball at your own 5 yard line really do your team any good? Sure, it might save from being pinned at the 2 or 1 maybe, but doesn’t it seem like the additional chance of maybe seeing the ball bounce either into the endzone or forward for a few yards would outweigh the certainty of having just 3 more yards?

It seems to me that would be the case, and if teams actually think about that level of minutiae (they do) then I would think they could see the exact thing which is gnawing at me here.

Then again, with how conservative teams tend to be in their game-planning overall, maybe I shouldn’t be all that surprised after all.

Home/Green Bay Packers News