I genuinely thought the title was going to be a bait and switch, because how could anyone write about the bucs punters and keep it interesting. The line about it being snuff film piqued my interest, I forgot my skepticism and was rewarded with a fun read to start my day.
I’m looking forward to seeing where Joe Theismann winds up on the Bottom 5 Punters column for Washington. I still (vaguely) remember his awesome 1-yard punt in 1974
It is what Columbus would have renamed High Street had Jim Tessel's Buckeyes won a couple more natties instead of imploding from the stupidest scandal ever
Watching Browning's scissor kick in the Week 18 punt video immediately reminded me of synchronized swimming.
The Bucs punter woes matched the Packers placekicking troubles in 2023 and 2024. Extra points were edge-of-seat plays. As one wag put it, who thought it'd be harder to replace Mason Crosby than Aaron Rodgers?
I'm sure they're not the only ones, but the Seahawks have had at least two negative-yardage punts in their history. Not blocked, not a botched snap, not even weather-related because both happened in a dome. The punter just caught the snap and booted the ball straight up and it never got back to the line of scrimmage (or barely crossed the line of scrimmage before bouncing backwards). You can see them in this YouTube video, though I suggest you mute the highly annoying podcasters talking over them.
As a thanks to Mike for this amazing content I didn't know I needed, we should crowd-source more terms for bad punts. I've got "dying quail", who's next?
I’m fascinated by how large a role the mental side is for punters/kickers. There is no other position in football where guys more consistently go from All-Pro to being cut the next season. If they lose even a little confidence, it’s like they have forgotten how to kick-something they have obsessively practiced for years. We are so used to this happening with kickers that we don’t appreciate how odd it is. If even one quarterback got so mentally screwed up that they forgot how to throw, we would lose our fucking minds
One little hitch in the delivery and all hell breaks loose. But it is also something hard for coaches to understand, anyone to fix, etc. And kickers don't like talking about slumps bc it seems like such a way to bring on a slump.
Why not just grab an Aussie, the state of Victoria is positively filled with young men who lack the athleticism to play AFL football but walk onto suburban grounds every winter Saturday and roost the ball 50-60 metres without any effort (metres not yards)
Aussie punters, like Pacific Islander tackles, have been a success story. I remember a few seasons ago, the best two punters by most measures were Seahawks Dickson and the then Texans punter, both Aussie.
I still don’t think they use them creatively enough, these guys are used to kicking the ball a long way even while under pressure and on the run or even while swiveling, I’ve always thought that opens up the option for more fake punt attempts and if it isn’t looking like he’ll make a first down then he can just chuck the ball on his boot before getting to the LOS and still get a decent punt off, but if he thinks he will make it then he can take the punt and run (pun intended)
No team will adopt that original strategy until one does, successfully, following which every team shall, which shall be followed by endless debate on votes to banish the strategy from the game. Fun!
I've played 'Footie', and it ain't that simple. No the kick doesn't go a long way (especially by NFL standards; bear in mind you're kicking from 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage, and need height every bit as much as distance) when you're under pressure, never mind swiveling. And if you get hit even lightly while coming down from the punt (which I presume is legal once you've started running with the ball) you go absolutely flying. Which is quite the injury risk.
To sum up the differences, kicked height is more of a detriment than an asset in Aussie Rules (really for the exact same reason passed height is; kicking is a [actually the] form of passing). So of course the Aussie kicked lengths are longer. Length is the (anyways, a) point.
And there's a real good health reason why landing underneath a punter is a foul, never mind actually (accidentally, even lightly) shoving him without getting any piece of the ball. (contacting the ball has no health ramifications, just shows any after effect was a natural byproduct of legitimately blocking the thing)
All of a sudden, prioritizing Riley Dixon early in free agency makes sense. Now, is he the latest through the revolving door or the field position flipper they’ve been looking for?
One thing Aaron pointed out to me today was that the Bucs had great luck when it came to opponents missing FGs. So, like, they could finally solve their punting problems, then lose games because opponents aren't missing chopshots anymore.
I think this is an excellent way to balance this duty with your FOA one. Anything interesting enough to merit many more words than you can use in a FOA Chapter you/we look at here.
I'm honestly fascinated by punter stats and wonder why more of them aren't widely available. We can look up power (yards per punt) and accuracy (In-20 punts/touchbacks) but not consistency. If Punter A has two punts of 40 yards each, and Punter B boots a 50-yarder but then a 30-yarder, they would have the same average, but I'm guessing that most coaches would prefer Punter A.
I genuinely thought the title was going to be a bait and switch, because how could anyone write about the bucs punters and keep it interesting. The line about it being snuff film piqued my interest, I forgot my skepticism and was rewarded with a fun read to start my day.
I’m looking forward to seeing where Joe Theismann winds up on the Bottom 5 Punters column for Washington. I still (vaguely) remember his awesome 1-yard punt in 1974
1 Sammy Baugh
2 Reggie Roby
3 Tress Way
damn this list is goooooood
Had to Google Tress Way. It sounds like the section of downtown dominated by salons.
He was, like, their MVP before Jayden showed up
It is what Columbus would have renamed High Street had Jim Tessel's Buckeyes won a couple more natties instead of imploding from the stupidest scandal ever
"he’s a swell dude by Important NFL Person standards." Great way to say most INP are d-bags.
"He is well-fed, by Dickensian orphanage standards."
"He is well-mannered, by rabid racoon standards."
"He is hirsute, by Hair Club for Men standards."
Watching Browning's scissor kick in the Week 18 punt video immediately reminded me of synchronized swimming.
The Bucs punter woes matched the Packers placekicking troubles in 2023 and 2024. Extra points were edge-of-seat plays. As one wag put it, who thought it'd be harder to replace Mason Crosby than Aaron Rodgers?
I'm sure they're not the only ones, but the Seahawks have had at least two negative-yardage punts in their history. Not blocked, not a botched snap, not even weather-related because both happened in a dome. The punter just caught the snap and booted the ball straight up and it never got back to the line of scrimmage (or barely crossed the line of scrimmage before bouncing backwards). You can see them in this YouTube video, though I suggest you mute the highly annoying podcasters talking over them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82HdSidA1lE
...goes to Wikipedia, thought he'd heard the name recently...yep, Camarda is on the Bills. Great.
We now know how the AFC Championship Game will end.
Not with a boom but a scamper?
Oh no
Were any of those punters left-footed? Asking for a UNC friend.
My brain actually checked out on that detail, despite watching them for about 2 hours.
As a thanks to Mike for this amazing content I didn't know I needed, we should crowd-source more terms for bad punts. I've got "dying quail", who's next?
A flubinacci.
Illegally gut-shot Peregrine falcon? Windshield-struck titmouse?
I mean ... "roost" was pretty awesome in the last comment.
Runt.
Texas Leaguer. Baltimore Chop. Dud bottlerocket.
I’m fascinated by how large a role the mental side is for punters/kickers. There is no other position in football where guys more consistently go from All-Pro to being cut the next season. If they lose even a little confidence, it’s like they have forgotten how to kick-something they have obsessively practiced for years. We are so used to this happening with kickers that we don’t appreciate how odd it is. If even one quarterback got so mentally screwed up that they forgot how to throw, we would lose our fucking minds
One little hitch in the delivery and all hell breaks loose. But it is also something hard for coaches to understand, anyone to fix, etc. And kickers don't like talking about slumps bc it seems like such a way to bring on a slump.
I hear one foolproof method is to tell your kicker "Hey dipshit, make your fucking kicks." And then kick them.
Why not just grab an Aussie, the state of Victoria is positively filled with young men who lack the athleticism to play AFL football but walk onto suburban grounds every winter Saturday and roost the ball 50-60 metres without any effort (metres not yards)
See, there's your answer right there: you have to be able to play in yards.
🤣
Aussie punters, like Pacific Islander tackles, have been a success story. I remember a few seasons ago, the best two punters by most measures were Seahawks Dickson and the then Texans punter, both Aussie.
I still don’t think they use them creatively enough, these guys are used to kicking the ball a long way even while under pressure and on the run or even while swiveling, I’ve always thought that opens up the option for more fake punt attempts and if it isn’t looking like he’ll make a first down then he can just chuck the ball on his boot before getting to the LOS and still get a decent punt off, but if he thinks he will make it then he can take the punt and run (pun intended)
No team will adopt that original strategy until one does, successfully, following which every team shall, which shall be followed by endless debate on votes to banish the strategy from the game. Fun!
I've played 'Footie', and it ain't that simple. No the kick doesn't go a long way (especially by NFL standards; bear in mind you're kicking from 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage, and need height every bit as much as distance) when you're under pressure, never mind swiveling. And if you get hit even lightly while coming down from the punt (which I presume is legal once you've started running with the ball) you go absolutely flying. Which is quite the injury risk.
To sum up the differences, kicked height is more of a detriment than an asset in Aussie Rules (really for the exact same reason passed height is; kicking is a [actually the] form of passing). So of course the Aussie kicked lengths are longer. Length is the (anyways, a) point.
And there's a real good health reason why landing underneath a punter is a foul, never mind actually (accidentally, even lightly) shoving him without getting any piece of the ball. (contacting the ball has no health ramifications, just shows any after effect was a natural byproduct of legitimately blocking the thing)
All of a sudden, prioritizing Riley Dixon early in free agency makes sense. Now, is he the latest through the revolving door or the field position flipper they’ve been looking for?
One thing Aaron pointed out to me today was that the Bucs had great luck when it came to opponents missing FGs. So, like, they could finally solve their punting problems, then lose games because opponents aren't missing chopshots anymore.
And that picture? They got a stud.
This was worth being a paid subscriber for!
I think this is an excellent way to balance this duty with your FOA one. Anything interesting enough to merit many more words than you can use in a FOA Chapter you/we look at here.
39 comments! 39! no fancy tracking metric needed Mike.
I'm honestly fascinated by punter stats and wonder why more of them aren't widely available. We can look up power (yards per punt) and accuracy (In-20 punts/touchbacks) but not consistency. If Punter A has two punts of 40 yards each, and Punter B boots a 50-yarder but then a 30-yarder, they would have the same average, but I'm guessing that most coaches would prefer Punter A.