Dave Fipp doesn’t typically get much attention as the special teams coach of the Detroit Lions. It’s understandable why, with so many recognizable former NFL players all over the coaching staff.
But Fipp has quietly emerged as one of the best special teams coaches in the league. His units have done very well in both of Fipp’s seasons in Detroit. The Lions special teams wound up among the NFL’s elite in 2022.
Longtime NFL analyst Rick Gosselin released his special teams rankings. It’s the 42nd year for Gosselin, a former Cowboys beat writer also known for his mock drafts, to compile his extensive special teams breakdown.
The Lions land at sixth in Gosselin’s rankings, which rank 22 different categories from 1-32 and tabulate the composite results. The fewer points, the better; Detroit finished with 292.5.
Interestingly, Gosselin notes the Lions had the fewest punts downed inside the opposing 20-yard line. Some of that is a function of head coach Dan Campbell’s aggressive nature in going for it on fourth downs near midfield.
The Gosselin rankings place the Lions lower than where Pro Football Focus graded Detroit’s special teams during the regular season. Fipp’s units earned the highest PFF overall special teams grade in 2022.
Assessing special teams involves some subjectivity, so when multiple evaluators come to the same conclusion, it’s a nice validation.
