Dawgs By Nature
Is there an issue with the special teams group?
Last year, the NFL season did not go the way the Cleveland Browns drew it up on paper. After winning 11 games in 2023 and making the postseason, hopes were really high. Sadly, the bottom fell out in reverse order as the Browns lost 14 games.
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There were many bright spots in 2023. The offensive line was ranked #3. QB Joe Flacco had four 300-yard games and went 4-2 in the regular season. Myles Garrett won his very first Defensive Player of the Year award. Kevin Stefanksi took home his second Coach of the Year nod while DC Jim Schwartz won the Assistant Coach of the Year trophy.
Not only were these examples, but the kicking game was outstanding. Kicker Dustin Hopkins was having a Pro Bowl season and won numerous games with his leg. He then had the misfortune of suffering a hamstring injury while attempting a tackle on a kickoff return in Week 16 against the Houston Texans, a 36-22 victory.
Up until that point, Hopkins had made 33 field goals out of 36 attempts (91.7%) and 24 of 26 PATs (92.3%).
He finished the season ranked 11th in field goal percentage, tied for fifth in the number of field goals made, and was 8-8 in field goals converted of 50-plus yards. Hopkins had a long of 58 yards, which was the league’s fifth-longest field goal ruled good that season.
In Week 5 against the undefeated San Francisco 49ers, Hopkins hit four of five field goals in the 19-17 upset, including a 50-yarder. The following week, he nailed 4-4 during an intense 39-38 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in which he converted from 44, 54, 54, and 58 yards. Yes, three kicks of 50+ yards in a single game.
The big question was, why wasn’t Hopkins voted to the Pro Bowl that year?
The AFC was represented by Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens, while the NFC selected Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers. Tucker had an 86.5% conversion of field goals, going 32-27, while Myers boasted an 83.3% success rate, missing seven field goals. Obviously, both kickers voted to the All-Star game were below Hopkins’ success rate and missed a lot more kicks than Hopkins.
So, that was a big mystery when the Pro Bowl rosters were announced.
Hopkins came to the Browns on a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers when they had Hopkins and Cameron Dicker in camp competing for the starting kicker job. When they decided on the much younger Dicker, Browns GM Andrew Berry reached out to the Chargers and worked out a deal before the veteran Hopkins hit the waiver wire.
And in his first season with Cleveland, he absolutely shone.
Fast forward to 2024. Normally, Berry brings in an additional long snapper, punter, and kicker to compete in training camp. This provides competition and helps to build Berry’s free agent list in the...
