PFF ranked Browns’ special teams unit 23rd in NFL in 2017

Pro Football Focus ranked all 32 teams’ special teams performances for the 2017 season, and the Cleveland Browns came in at No. 23. The number seems a tad high for a club that started the season off disastrously (a blocked punt for a touchdown) and had some big misses from rookie kicker Zane Gonzalez. We had enough of Chris Tabor, though — the unit needed a breath of fresh air. PFF did offer a positive regarding Gonzalez’ kickoffs, though:

The Browns didn’t do much well this season, and special teams as a whole are no exception. That said, rookie kicker Zane Gonzalez made an analytically-sound approach to the new kickoff rule, averaging a distance of just 61.8 on 43 kickoffs and yielding an averaging starting field position shy of the 25-yard line.

The Browns’ new special teams coach, Amos Jones, comes over from the Arizona Cardinals, who were ranked 28th by PFF this past season. Tabor takes over a unit (Chicago) that was ranked 24th. So it’s not a big trade-off rankings wise for any team involved.