In case you didn’t know, special teams is a whole third of the game. Every coach knows this is where seasons are won and lost. Never underestimate the least intimidating guys on the field. Football Outsiders had the Carolina Panthers ranked 18th in special teams DVOA. Let’s dig into how this unit performed in 2018:
Graham Gano
2018 Stats: 14/16 FG (87.5%) 30/33 XP (90.9%)
2017 Stats: 29/30 FG (96.7%) 34/37 XP (91.9%)
In his tenth NFL season, seventh with Carolina, placekicker Graham Gano displayed both spectrums of his capabilities. Throughout his career, Gano has proven that he has range to match any kicker in the league (57% from 50+ yards) but is plagued by inconsistency. On some days, producing all-time moments like this:
GANO. 63 yards for the win ?? (via @wzaldridge) pic.twitter.com/C7sksknNwo
— Sports ON Tap (@SONTHighlights) October 7, 2018
On other days, you’ll get the Gano who misses a 34-yard field goal and an extra point that essentially swings the game, as we saw when the Panthers lost by one point in Detroit this past season. As it stands now, Gano (cap hit of $4.25 million average per year) is the third-highest paid kicker in the NFL. This is only to future hall of famer, Stephen Gostkowski, and Robbie Gould who just signed a franchise tag.
All in all, you’d expect more consistency and production from a top three paid kicker in the NFL. Panthers fans will always point to the one who got away: Harrison Butker. After drafting Butker in 2017, Carolina chose Gano in what seemed to be a dead-even kicking competition through training camp. Butker ($555k cap hit) has arguably been as productive (89.9 FG%) as Gano since being claimed by the Kansas City Chiefs at about an eighth of the price. Ouch.
An injury ended Gano’s 2018 season, placing him on injured reserve for the final four games. This may be an explanation of Gano’s struggles in the back half of the year, but he will need to perform like a top three kicker next year for the Panthers to justify keeping him around.
2018 Overall Grade: B-
2019 Predictions: Gano continues his inconsistent play and the Panthers consider outside options heading into 2020.
Michael Palardy
2018 Stats: 45.2 yards per punt (15th in the NFL)
2017 Stats: 46.0 yards per punt (12th in the NFL)
Oh, punting. An average punter is about as much as you can ask for. As goes for most special teams players, if we aren’t complaining about him he’s probably doing a great job.
At least he’s got a good personality:
.@GrahamGano and Michael Palardy end practice with the #CrossbarChallenge ? pic.twitter.com/QSMmwnX3w4
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) June 12, 2018
2018 Overall Grade: B+
2019 Predictions: Palardy gets a shot to show off that cannon he’s been hiding from us on a fake punt pass.
Damiere Byrd
2018 Stats: 11 punt returns (9.5 yards per return)
2017 Stats: Seven kick returns (32.7 yards per return), one touchdown
Damiere Byrd seems to have taken Brenton Bersin’s spot as the Panthers lovable sixth wide receiver. After sparking the offense and return game in 2017, Byrd was handed the keys for full-time punt return duty in 2018. Byrd lasted eight games before suffering his third consecutive season-ending injury.
Damiere Byrd. ?
Out of a cannon.pic.twitter.com/GmgJY6oumo— Sporting News (@sportingnews) December 24, 2017
The Panthers finished 19th in the NFL in average punt return yardage, finishing at an 8.2 clip. Production of this unit seems to have dropped off after Byrd’s injury (replaced by journeyman Kenjon Barner) and didn’t give the Panthers much of a boost. It will be interesting to see how Carolina decides to address this position. If the past is any indicator, they’ll give Byrd one more shot to stay healthy and provide a spark in the return game.
2018 Overall Grade: C
2019 Predictions: Byrd makes the roster and scores two touchdowns.
JJ Jansen
Long snappers don’t get any love, but it’s time to change that. JJ has been a model of consistency for Carolina for the past ten years. I can’t remember a missed snap that didn’t involve Amini Silatolu somehow knocking the ball off of its path to the holder. Kudos to you Mr. Jansen.
2018 Overall Grade: A+
2019 Predictions: Snaps the game-winning kick in Super Bowl 54.
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
