How many roster spots will be taken up by special teams players

[MrChadRico]

So this dawned on me today. Teams usually carry a handful of players on the roster to be special teams guys. (Not counting punters and kickers obviously) and the notion of using up valuable roster spots for what in the current NFL game equates to basicly a handful of punts and kickoffs resulting in touch backs seems ridiculous to me anymore.

Right now we have ...
Cethan Carter
River Craycraft
Keion Crossen
Sam Eguavion
Clayton Fedjelium
Blake Fergison (long snapper)
Cameron Goode
Sedrick Rewine
Duke Riley
Brennan Scarlett
And close to a dozen other camp guys who's ceiling is "special teams guy"

My question is how many do we really need and why do teams like ours carry so many of these type guys on the active roster. It seems like an outdated approach to assembling a roster.

 

[PhinFan1968]

Can’t pay 53 starters and/or direct backups.

 

[Feverdream]

I think we may carry a LS, and maybe 2 more guys who are on the team because of their special teams play (about 20% of snaps in a normal game).
I would say that a number of players on your list are not special teams only kind of guys... for instance, both Crossen and Riley are decent defensive back ups.

I'm gonna guess that Carter will be cut and that Scarlett, Eguavoen, and Redwine are going to really struggle to make this team.

 

[fansinceGWilson]

So this dawned on me today. Teams usually carry a handful of players on the roster to be special teams guys. (Not counting punters and kickers obviously) and the notion of using up valuable roster spots for what in the current NFL game equates to basicly a handful of punts and kickoffs resulting in touch backs seems ridiculous to me anymore.

Right now we have ...
Cethan Carter
River Craycraft
Keion Crossen
Sam Eguavion
Clayton Fedjelium
Blake Fergison (long snapper)
Cameron Goode
Sedrick Rewine
Duke Riley
Brennan Scarlett
And close to a dozen other camp guys who's ceiling is "special teams guy"

My question is how many do we really need and why do teams like ours carry so many of these type guys on the active roster. It seems like an outdated approach to assembling a roster.

Every team tries to get 2-3 ST aces, but they must have some value on either O or D. Quite a few will be in a battle to make the team and they know their spot is decided by being the better ST. Very few make the team strictly on ST

 

[AdamD13]

A bit off topic, but still having to do with ST, I am curious to what the plans are for who will be returning kicks.

I remember Hill saying he wanted to. I would prefer he doesn’t along with Waddle and Holland, but they never let me vote.

I wouldn’t be opposed to Miami using a roster spot for a return specialist.

Injuries on NFL punts are up 50%: What's the cause? What's the fix?

The league's health and safety team issued a call to action regarding punts, but pushback from some coaches helped delay any potential rule changes.

www.espn.com

Speaking in a series of interviews in February, NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills said the uptick in special teams injuries required "attention immediately" from league decision-makers. But when the NFL's owners, executives and coaches gathered in March for their annual league meetings, there was no consensus on what to do. The NFL largely tabled the concerns amid indecision from the competition committee and pushback from some coaches, who proposed that the spike -- specifically in ACL and soft-tissue injuries -- was the result of pandemic-related roster moves. Special teams plays accounted for 30% of ACL tears and 29% of muscle injuries to lower extremities -- even though they represent only 17% of plays in a typical NFL game.

 

[Austin Tatious]

River Cracraft and Trent Sherfield….with Mack Hollins gone I’d expect one or both of those guys in here for ST’s. MM (and WW too for that matter) know both of them and it’s interesting that we signed them quickly. I can’t comment on whether Cray cray has good hands but I believe he’s returned punts and Sherfield can be a gunner. Ultimately there may only be room for one of them but we will get a chance to see them in camp. They will get their chance.