Like Montgomery, Shepherd got cut for fumbling a punt along with that bounce-off INT. Monty's was a special case; reports have it that he defied orders in not downing the ball.
It's uncommon for special teams play to affect the outcome of a game. That requires a big play: a punt or kick return TD, a blocked FG in close or a punt blocked deep in the opponent's territory, an onside kick recovery late in a close game, a fake FG or punt for a first down late in a close game, a kick or punt fumble recovery, a last second long FG to tie or win.
None of these things are common, most are rare. Good special teams play boils down to not giving up a big play as it is getting one.
9 extra yards on a couple of punt returns per game is better than the zero alternative, however that's an insignificant impact on a game's outcome. Some folks went gaga over getting a decent punt returner, but it's more a case of escaping the embarassment of incompetence than anything else. Unless the returner takes one to the house, or at least rips off a long one into the opponent's Red Zone, you're not gaining that much.
If you're not going rip off a long retrun, then not fumbling the d*mn ball is by far the most important thing. That pretty much goes for the rest: don't screw up is Job #1.
Ervin came in his first game with something like 56 punt return yards. That was game #1 and just 1 aspect of what ST is capable of.
Keep in mind we could block a Punt
We could strip n recover a fumble in a return
We could pin them deep inside the 5 yard line
We could do a fake and pick up a 1st down
We could make a long 55 yarder.
we could punt 65+ yards
We could get a return to the 50 yard line.
we could block a punt
We could play fake on a short FG and go for 7
We could onside kick
btw, These were just off the top of my head
These... along with points you made etc..
It’s really not so unusual or in inconceivable as you’ve offered in mitigating what a good ST performance can bring to the table.
Any combination of the above can change the entire outcome of a game. The game is often about momentum and ST is a key factor in momentum that is often overlooked and under appreciated. The part of momentum that’s non quantifiable but very real is how it impacts the attitude throughout all 3 phases.
This is the deep playoffs. Trick plays are far more common. If we take the attitude of fear and extreme complacency on ST? GB will write their own ticket home.
I mean this wholeheartedly, I sincerely hope we don’t go conservative and play not to lose. There is nothing worse than a timid approach that will ultimately kill momentum. We need 1 foot on the brake and one on the gas