Watching the first six games of the season, I've felt like taking touchbacks both when kicking and returning kickoffs would have been a better option for the Patriots. Today I decided to look at the results of the returns on both sides of the ball to see if what I was feeling was factual.
KICKS- Jake Bailey has a big leg and can easily kick it so it has no chance of being returned. Frequently this season he seems to be kicking it short and allowing a return. I'm sure he is just doing what he is told by the sideline and not freelancing. Is the call coming from Belichick or is he letting Cameron Accord make the decision?
This season the Patriots have had 13 kicks returned. Five were returned beyond the 25 yard line while six came up short. Seven the returns concluded within five yards of the 25. The two big returns did not cross midfield, but one came really close as Detroit did start their possession on their own 47.
VERDICT- While luring their oppenents to try and run back a kickoff hasn't hurt them much this season, it also hasn't been beneficial. In my opinion, it's playing with fire and not really worth it. Last week Corey Davis blew out his knee on a kickoff return which commenced on the Cleveland 2.
This season the Patriots have had 13 kicks returned. Five were returned beyond the 25 yard line while six came up short. Seven the returns concluded within five yards of the 25. The two big returns did not cross midfield, but one came really close as Detroit did start their possession on their own 47.
VERDICT- While luring their oppenents to try and run back a kickoff hasn't hurt them much this season, it also hasn't been beneficial. In my opinion, it's playing with fire and not really worth it. Last week Corey Davis blew out his knee on a kickoff return which commenced on the Cleveland 2.
RETURNS- The Patriots have returned 12 kickoffs this season. Marcus Jones has returned 8 kickoffs for an average of 24.38 yards. Currently that is good enough for 5th in the league.
In total the Patriots have had five returns which had them start their possession inside their own 25 and five returns which had them starting beyond the 25. Nine of the returns were within five yards of the 25. Their worst return left them at their own 17 against Pittsburg. They had two returns which gave them slightly better than normal field position. Both of those kicks were returned to the Patriots' 34 and were taken from 3 yards inside the endzone.
While everyone loves huge kickoff return, I just feel like whenever you think your team has one, there ends up being yellow laundry on the field. This year has been no different as a Patriots' return to their own 39 against Green Bay was negated by a holding penalty.
RECENT PATRIOTS' RETURN HISTORY-
In total the Patriots have had five returns which had them start their possession inside their own 25 and five returns which had them starting beyond the 25. Nine of the returns were within five yards of the 25. Their worst return left them at their own 17 against Pittsburg. They had two returns which gave them slightly better than normal field position. Both of those kicks were returned to the Patriots' 34 and were taken from 3 yards inside the endzone.
While everyone loves huge kickoff return, I just feel like whenever you think your team has one, there ends up being yellow laundry on the field. This year has been no different as a Patriots' return to their own 39 against Green Bay was negated by a holding penalty.
RECENT PATRIOTS' RETURN HISTORY-
- Last kickoff return for a touchdown was in 2018 by Cordarrelle Patterson.
- 2017 Dion Lewis had a kickoff return for a touchdown
- Patriots ending the season in the upper echelon of the NFL in recent years:
- 2019 Brandon Bolden 22.39
- 2018 Cordarrelle Patterson 28.83
- 2017 Dion Lewis 24.78
- 2014 Danny Amendola 24.1
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