Panthers Are Tops In The NFL With Something Special Teams Related. This Is Not A Joke.

[Saca312]

Woah. That's not something you hear everyday. 

The Carolina Panthers Special Teams are one of the best in the NFL at something. Surprisingly, it's not penalties.

The Panthers coverage unit as a whole has been one of the best in the NFL.

http://pantherswire.usatoday.com/2017/10/21/panthers-return-coverage-leads-nfl-through-six-weeks/

Quote

In terms of total yardage allowed on returns, the Panthers have allowed a very small number on both kickoffs and punts.

In six punts returned by opponents, the Panthers have only allowed a total of 29 yards. That’s the second-fewest total punt return yards allowed by a team in the league through six weeks. Only the 49ers have allowed fewer yards, giving up just 24 yards on 14 return attempts.

To put that number into a bit more context, Michael Palardy has punted 21 times in six games. With only six of them being fielded, that’s a credit to the Panthers’ coverage unit and to Palardy, himself, who is averaging almost 45 yards per punt. Eight of his punts have been fair caught, six have landed inside the 20 and only two have gone for touchbacks.

As far as kickoffs go, no team has allowed fewer total yards to this point on kickoff returns than the 45 the Panthers have allowed.

So, Panthers are 2nd best against punt returns and tops against kickoffs. Now, credit is certainly due to Gano and Palardy for being decent at their jobs and making life harder for the returners. However, still something pretty cool.

 

 

[brandon_87]

Kickoff numbers don't mean poo since we kick for the touchback instead if the high angle to force a return, but the bunt #s are good

[KendrickPanther]

It feels like we lose yards on Kick Returns every week. Touchbacks move the ball to the 25 still right?

[The Huddler]

1 hour ago, brandon_87 said:

Kickoff numbers don't mean poo since we kick for the touchback instead if the high angle to force a return, but the bunt #s are good

Id rather them start on the 25 everytime than than have them start <25 and then have a big return fir a TD every so often

 

 

[Marguide]

26 minutes ago, The Huddler said:

Id rather them start on the 25 everytime than than have them start <25 and then have a big return fir a TD every so often

 

 

I understand this point of view, but there is another side to this.

How often do you see returners fumble the ball? I would bet it is far more common than kick off returns for a TD. No chance of that with touchbacks.

Only 7 teams have a return average of more than 25 yards.  And since most kicks go at least a couple of yards into the end zone, only a couple of teams have an actual average starting field position beyond the 25. So many more times than not, the opposing team would have a worse starting position if we had returnable kickoffs.

But RR is risk averse so we will keep doing what we do.

[jfra78]

I have noticed the punt coverage has been good this year.  I just don't want to see another kickoff return brought out of the endzone

[PhillyB]

nice to see a perennial weakness shored up for once

[Khyber53]

This is a bigger deal than most would think. 

[thennek]

So Palardy is not as bad as everyone has said he is. 

[t96]

8 minutes ago, thennek said:

So Palardy is not as bad as everyone has said he is. 

No our coverage is better. Palardy hasn't been very good.

[bobsfoodbasics]

Keeping Palardy over Lee was the right move. 

Keeping Butker over Gano was the right move as well :/

[ForJimmy]

#ColinJones4MVP