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- Mar 19, 2019
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Can special teams spring one? | By @pcraigers
The Vikings special teams return units are still in search of a big one.
Minnesota’s punt return average of 5.3 yards ranks 29th in the NFL. Marcus Sherels, who was brought back then later waived, and Chad Beebe, who is on injured reserve had longs of 15 yards. Mike Hughes’ long this season is 10 yards.
The Vikings averaged 10.5 yards per punt return in 2018, which ranked sixth in the NFL, and 9.5 yards per punt return (eighth in the NFL) helped Minnesota in a season that was founded on a historically great performance by the defense and field position.
As for kickoff return average, Minnesota’s average of 22.4 ranks 12th in the NFL, which is respectable but a decline after leading the NFL in the category in 2015 and 2016 with 28.3 and 27.3 per pop, respectively. Minnesota was fourth with an average of 24.8 in 2017 and sixth last season with 24.5 per return.
“We need to get some return game going. We haven’t done very good on that,” Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer said Tuesday, a day after Seattle limited Minnesota to 57 yards on three kickoff returns and forced two fair catches on punts.
Special Teams Coordinator Marwan Maalouf said he thinks the units are close, but a lapse by one player can have a significant impact.
“The last game, all it takes is for one guy to miss his man,” Maalouf said. “And then the timing and the spacing of kickoff return, the two opportunities we got in the last game, we were close. It’s just that one guy, and that’s the most important thing. That’s what we’ve been stressing, making sure that all 11 guys are on the same page and how one guy can ruin a return, and that’s just the reality of it. Our guys have been doing a good job. I like to think our game plan changes every week, and we keep it simple for us and try to make it difficult for the opponent. We’re close.”
Football Outsiders has some impressive drive stats that take a look at an offense’s success at gaining yards, scoring points and earning first downs, as well as a defense’s success of preventing those things and an overall net.
Minnesota ranks 12th in net yards per drive, sixth in net points per drive and seventh in net “drive success rate,” which are all positives.
If special teams can boost their return games, the Vikings could be better-positioned to make the most of offensive and defensive possessions during the final stretch of the season.
That will start Sunday against a Detroit team that allowed Minnesota’s longest kickoff return in 2019 (a 38-yarder by former Lion Ameer Abdullah).