The Bears Have Football's Best Special Teams
Feb 11, 2008 – 9:30 AM
And it's not just because of Devin Hester! Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News has spent the last three decades compiling a ranking of the league's special teams, using a formula he learned from former NFL coach Frank Gansz, and, for the second straight season, the Bears finished on the top of the heap. As good as Hester is at taking kicks back to the house, there are other reasons why the Bears fared so well.
The Bears blocked eight kicks, by far the most in the league, and had the league's best kickoff coverage unit. They finished third in punt coverage and second in field goals made. So Pro Bowl special teamer Brendon Ayanbadejo, Israel Idonije (three kick blocks) and kicker Robbie Gould should all be commended for their work this season.
Enough kidding around, though. As the video makes pretty clear, it's Hester who puts the special in Chicago's special teams.
It's not a coincidence that the ascension to top of the heap (the Bears were 11th in 2005) happened when Hester hit the scene. Chicago actually finished last in kickoff return yardage but, because of the short kicks and squibs, led the league in average field position. They were in the top five of opponent punting and net punting because of the way teams avoided Hester and the Bears scored more points on special teams than anyone else.
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