Kicker Chad Ryland ended October as the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month.
Punter Blake Gillikin kicked off November, as announced Wednesday, as the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Gillikin has had a strong season, and Sunday’s performance against the Bears is up there as his best through nine games. The fifth-year punter averaged 46.8 yards per punt and three of his four kicks were downed inside the 20.
The most impressive and impactful of the bunch was in the fourth quarter. Joey Blount made an incredible play on the goal line to down Gillikin’s punt inside the 1-yard line. It set the Cardinals up to force a safety two plays later.
“I thought guys starred in their role. Blake, I thought, was really good,” coach Jonathan Gannon said.
After joining the team during the season last year, Gillikin has made an undeniable difference towards the Cardinals special teams efforts. He finished 2023 as the franchise single-season record holder with a 50.6-yard average on 51 punts. On 29 punts this season, Gillikin’s averaging 49.4 yards.
Faced with a bit of adversity, Gillikin said a switch flipped in Week 3.
“Specifically in the Detroit game, I felt like I didn’t hit the ball good at all,” he said. “I focused on flushing that. Over the last month, it’s been kind of playing pitch and catch with the gunners. Almost halfway through the season, just trying to keep rolling as best I can.”
The Cardinals offense has been able to drive down the field more frequently than last season. That’s allowed Gillikin to pin his opponents. His 59-yard punt in Week 8 backed up the Dolphins offense inside the 15, and a bad snap two snaps after led to the Cardinals’ first safety of the season.
“(Gillikin’s) a weapon for us,” Gannon said.
While it isn’t a stat for which he will get credit, Gillikin has held for each one of Ryland’s field goals and extra points, including his successful attempt from 55 yards on Sunday. Ryland is 10-11 on the season for field goals, including three game-winners in October.
“I view myself as a caddie as a holder, because you’re talking about lines and where are you putting the ball down and how you want it to lean,” Gillikin said. “You’re just really trying to service whoever that is. Also working with (long snapper Aaron Brewer) the best I can to have the operation smooth and repeatable, so when those situations come up, it’s clockwork.”
