How does the Seahawks special teams rank in the NFC West?
By Lee Vowell
The Seahawks may some needed changes to their special teams this offseason. Here is how the remade Seattle special teams ranks in the NFC West for 2018.
Hi, 12s. How are you doing? You Seahawks fans remember Blair Walsh, don’t you? The kicker is the reason Seattle didn’t make the playoffs in 2017, right? That is what some of you think anyway.
But don’t fret! Seattle has made a kicking changing. And probably a punter change. Possibly they have even added a kick returner. The Seahawks were clearly not happy with what their special teams did last year, so they did something about it.
First, gone is Blair Walsh. In is former Oakland Raider Sebastian Janikowski. Janikowski is most likely a future Hall of Famer, but he could also not be very effective. He missed all of 2017 with an injury. In 2016, he was 3 for 8 in kicks beyond 50 yards. That was his worst year since 2005. So let’s temper our enthusiasm a bit before we see if Janikowski can still kick. He is 40 years old.
Jon Ryan is still punting in Seattle, but for how long? The Seahawks drafted Michael Dickson in the fifth round this year. And by all accounts, Dickson is an absolute freak punting. Basically, this is goodbye Jon Ryan. We wish you well. Ryan will probably be cut any minute now.
Finally, Seattle drafted Rashaad Penny. He will probably be the starting running back before the end of the season, but he can also return kicks. I would expect Seattle to stick Tyler Lockett and Penny back deep and let there be hell upon the kickoff team.
Still, with all this change, Seattle still ranks as second in the division for special teams.
The best team in the NFC West on special teams is the Los Angeles Rams
The Rams have proven and great players kicking, punting and returning. Greg Zuerlein may have been injured at the end of 2017, but he will return and may be the best kicker in the game. Johnny Hekker has averaged over 46.3 yards per punt or better since 2013. And Pharoh Cooper is excellent returning kicks and punts.
There are lots of reasons the Rams will win a bunch of games in 2018. The third phase of the game may be the reason they win a Super Bowl.
The third best team in the division is the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco has Dante Pettis and we all root for the guy in Seattle. He played at the University of Washington. But we don’t want him to be good against the Seahawks.
At kicker, the 49ers have consistent Robbie Gould. Bradley Pinion is the punter for the 49ers and he is just meh.
The worst team in the NFC West on special teams in the Arizona Cardinals
The main reason the Cardinals are the worst is D.J Foster. He might be great returning punts, but who knows? Foster has rarely done it.
At kicker is 937 year-old Phil Dawson. Dawson, though, was 4 for 5 on kicks beyond 50 yards in 2017. In other words, better than Blair Walsh. Andy Lee is a good punter, though.
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As I wrote about earlier, I think the Seahawks can steal some games with their return game. I also think Michael Dickson will be a great addition in field position. And to think, with a better kicker, Seattle could have been 11-5 last year and made the playoffs. Seattle will be better because of the special teams in 2018.