When looking back on an NFL season, it can be easy to quantify a team’s performance on offense and defense. Telling statistics such as yards gained/allowed, points gained/allowed and turnovers are readily available and heavily discussed.
It can be a little harder to gauge special teams play, an equally-important phase that is often referred to as the game’s third phase.
Each year Dallas Morning News NFL writer Rick Gosselin breaks down the special teams performances of all 32 NFL teams and develops an overall ranking based on 22 statistical categories. Gosselin released his 2009 study Sunday, and the Chargers finished seventh overall.
The highly-popular study, which is analyzed by dozens of NFL coaches, takes a look at common special teams statistics such as kickoff return average, net punting average and field goal percentage, but it also breaks down other telling numbers such as average starting field position, opponent’s average starting field position, points scored on special teams and giveaways/takeaways in the kicking game.
Teams are awarded points based on where they finished in each category. For example, the Chargers tied for the league lead in field goals made so they received one point in that category. Punter 
In 2009, the Chargers scored three special teams touchdowns – a
San Diego’s coverage units were led by
The Cleveland Browns, led by Pro Bowl returner Joshua Cribbs, finished first in Gosselin’s study. The Chargers’ seventh-place ranking marked the fifth-consecutive year in which they’ve been in Gosselin’s top 10. San Diego tied for tenth in 2008 and finished second in 2007.
