Ben Graham's punting, Neil Rackers' regular-season field goal kicking and LaRod Stephens-Howling's overall dominance helped Arizona finish an NFC West-leading eighth in Rick Gosselin's annual special-teams rankings.
The Seahawks were 11th, the Rams tied for 18th and the 49ers 21st.
I like these rankings because they are thorough. Gosselin ranks every team in 22 special-teams categories, then adds up the rankings to produce point totals. The system values all 22 categories the same, a potential weakness, but I think the overall rankings are still telling.
The 49ers' 4.4-yard average on punt returns was an NFL worst. The Cardinals were first in punts downed inside the 20 (42) and first in field goal percentage (94.7). The Seahawks were last in opponents' gross punting average (47.2).
The Seahawks were 11th, the Rams tied for 18th and the 49ers 21st.
I like these rankings because they are thorough. Gosselin ranks every team in 22 special-teams categories, then adds up the rankings to produce point totals. The system values all 22 categories the same, a potential weakness, but I think the overall rankings are still telling.
The 49ers' 4.4-yard average on punt returns was an NFL worst. The Cardinals were first in punts downed inside the 20 (42) and first in field goal percentage (94.7). The Seahawks were last in opponents' gross punting average (47.2).
Mike Sando | email
NFL- NFC West Blogger
- Joined ESPN in 2007
- Lives in the Seattle-Tacoma area with his wife and two sons
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Mike Sando
Sando joined ESPN.com in 2007 after nine seasons covering the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma (Wash.) News Tribune. He lives in the Seattle-Tacoma area with his wife and two sons.
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