Saints position evaluation: Special teams a work in progress
 

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New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton and New Orleans Saints kicker Wil Lutz (3) before the Saints host the Broncos at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, November 13, 2016. (Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
Herbie Teope, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

From blocked kicks to an ineffective return game, the New Orleans Saints had their share of well-documented woes on special teams the past season.

2016 FINAL ROSTER (SPECIALISTS): Kicker Wil Lutz, punter Thomas Morstead, long snapper Justin Dresher
2016 FINAL ROSTER (RETURNERS): Travaris Cadet, Marcus Murphy, Tommylee Lewis, Jairus Byrd
INJURED RESERVE: None
2017 FREE AGENTS: Justin Drescher, Travaris Cadet

POSITION REVIEW

Rookie kicker Wil Lutz joined the roster on Sept. 6, three days after the Saints established the initial 53-man roster with veteran kicker Kai Forbath, who was promptly waived to make room for Lutz.

Lutz went 2 of 4 on field goal attempts in Week 1, and then had three kicks blocks - two on field goal attempts, one on an extra point - during the season.
Coach Sean Payton, however, maintained confidence in Lutz despite the Saints' track record of having little patience for the kicker position.

Saints position evaluation: Special teams a work in progress | NOLA.com

Re: Saints position evaluation: Special teams a work in progress
 

I can only hope whoever takes over does a much better job than the clown that got sent packing. Why it took so long to fire McNothing I'll never know!!

Re: Saints position evaluation: Special teams a work in progress
 

McNothing knows where the bodies are buried.

Really, SP has seemed to be more interested in having assistants that he is comfortable with and can control than being interested in having the best staff.

Hopefully, some of that has changed.

Re: Saints position evaluation: Special teams a work in progress
 

I still believe SP had no choice.... something had to give.

Re: Saints position evaluation: Special teams a work in progress
 

draft history once again bubbles to the surface. Those mid round picks are a key ingredient to building special teams.

Reflects on secondary and LB big time

Re: Saints position evaluation: Special teams a work in progress
 

Injuries had to have had an effect on the special teams. Players that may have been seeing time on special teams were pressed into starting duties leaving lower level scrubs to attend to special teams needs.

Re: Saints position evaluation: Special teams a work in progress
 

There was no creativity on special teams. The ball was always snapped on the same snap count.....which explains some of the blocks. We were a stale unit. We have O'Dea to help Lutz but we need someone who can scheme a special teams game plan that changes the outcome of a game......positively. :wink: