Patriots special teams coordinator explains league-worst three blocked punts

In his first season at the helm, Patriots assistant Cam Achord coordinated the best special teams in the league.

This year, Achord is taking responsibility for some of the NFL’s worst special teams breakdowns.

The Pats allowed their league-worst third blocked punt last weekend at Indianapolis, a block the Colts recovered for a first-quarter touchdown. Achord explained the block as resulting from poor technique and fundamentals. Fullback Jakob Johnson appeared to be at fault on the play, which Indy made with a straight rush up the middle.

“In all honesty, that starts with me and just doing the fundamentals, techniques and making sure the guys are understanding what I am asking for, looking for, and just executing our techniques better,” Achord said. “It goes back to me and making sure I am stressing that and coaching that effectively.”

As of Tuesday, the Pats’ special teams ranked 17th by Football Outsiders’ DVOA, an efficiency metric that factors opponent quality and game situation. Kicker Nick Folk and punt returner Gunner Olszewski are currently carrying that ranking, with Folk enjoying a career year on field goal attempts. Olszewski stands among the league’s best returner men a year after being named an All-Pro.

However, the Patriots punt team ranks second-worst by DVOA, trailing only the Chargers. On Sunday, they’ll face another mediocre set of special teams in Buffalo, which ranks 16th overall by DVOA.

“It goes back to just us and doing our fundamentals and techniques,” Achord said. “Like I said, it’s going to go back to me and I have to get that part fixed. I have to do that. In all honesty, it falls back on me and not the guys.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3sq4Yec