Ranking and grading special teams and coaches for the Cleveland Browns ahead of training camp

Grading the special teams and coaches

Overall, the special team’s position shouldn’t be much worse than last year, but I don’t see them being better than last year either. This is a team that’s by and large a known commodity on that end of the field. The kickers are fine, and yes, I consider a punter a kicker. In fact, I don’t know why a team just doesn’t carry one kicker who does both jobs. It would really make things more interesting and make kickers far more valuable.

I don’t think Cade York is going to be the guy everyone thinks he is. Most kickers who get drafted don’t last in the NFL beyond a few years, and most of them don’t make it to the end of their contract. I’m supposed to believe York is different because the Bengals had a good season with their rookie kicker?

Naw, I’ve seen this song and dance before, and I’m not buying it again. York is more likely to be a journeyman kicker like Mike Nugent than he is to be Sebastian Janikowski.

As for the coaching, I think Stefanski has a lot to prove. Van Pelt has a lot to prove as well, but his failures as a coach aren’t as instrumental during Sunday, as it is for Sunday. See, Van Pelt is supposed to get everyone on the same page. So all these gaffs by rookies are on him. He’s the one who runs the cats through their paces and he didn’t do a great job last year.

Stefanski’s blunders are less about practice and more about organization and play calling, two things we’ve seen fall apart in real-time. He’s got to be better at calling plays, and he’s got to be better at knowing who to use and when.

Special Teams Grade: C

Coaching Grade: C