Shane Lechler - FA Target? - New England Patriots Forums

VJCPatriot · 02-15-2009, 02:01 PM

I say yes. This is probably outside of anybody's radar but he could be a remarkable improvement to special teams and 'dear god anybody but Hanson' has escaped fans lips not more than once last season, no?

Shane Lechler Stats, News, Photos - Oakland Raiders - ESPN

What Lechler offers - a strong leg, long hangtime on punts, and the ability to actually pin teams within the 20. He's a field position machine that can save you yards even when your offense fizzles and goes 3 and out. Don't think BB values that? Look at how much he emphasizes good ST play. Just a thought. The other alternative is to draft a punter in round 4-5 but Lechler is a proven ST weapon.

farn · 02-15-2009, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VJCPatriot

I say yes. This is probably outside of anybody's radar but he could be a remarkable improvement to special teams and 'dear god anybody but Hanson' has escaped fans lips not more than once last season, no?

Shane Lechler Stats, News, Photos - Oakland Raiders - ESPN

What Lechler offers - a strong leg, long hangtime on punts, and the ability to actually pin teams within the 20. He's a field position machine that can save you yards even when your offense fizzles and goes 3 and out. Don't think BB values that? Look at how much he emphasizes good ST play. Just a thought. The other alternative is to draft a punter in round 4-5 but Lechler is a proven ST weapon.

Dante is strong. He's got huge legs. Let's pick up Dante and CONVERT him to punter ! Millen strikes again.

I'm not sure Hanson is really as bad as some on the board say... is he really our most pressing upgrade ?

VJCPatriot · 02-15-2009, 02:10 PM

Punter is not most pressing but it definitely can be upgraded upon. Reducing the number of shanks and increasing the yardage that the opposing team has to move the ball before they can score can only help out the defense.

farn · 02-15-2009, 02:21 PM

Didn't Hanson win ST player of the week this season ? Not saying by a long shot that he's the greatest american hero - but wasn't Lechler so-so at best in the game against the Pats in bad weather ? (A game doesn't make a season, just playing devil's advocate).

VJCPatriot · 02-15-2009, 02:32 PM

Let me break down the numbers for you that will go beyond the less than meaningfull player of the week award scenario.

Overall punt yardage
#1 Lechler 4,391
#27 Hanson 2,143

Please note that there are only 32 teams in the NFL and therefore only 32 starting punters. Therefore in total yards Hanson was among the 5 WORST punters in the NFL.

Net punt average
#1 Lechler 41.2
#24 Hanson 36.4

I refuse to rank Cassel's 1 total punt for the season in the net punting yards metric.

In the 20 (IE coffin corners)
#3 Lechler 33
#20 Hanson 19

In every meaningful Punting statistic, Lechler is the #1 punter or a top 3 punter in the NFL. Meanwhile Hanson is a bottom third punter in those same statistics. Looking at overall stats for the 2008 season it is clear that Lechler is one of the premier punters in the league and Hanson is not even average, he's consistently in the bottom third.

Punter stats courtesy of NFL.com:
NFL Stats: by Player Category

PatsChamp88 · 02-15-2009, 02:35 PM

Quote:

In the 20 (IE coffin corners)
#3 Lechler 33
#20 Hanson 19[/B]

That's not the stat you want to look at unless you list attempts or in the 20 %.

farn · 02-15-2009, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VJCPatriot

Let me break down the numbers for you that will go beyond the less than meaningfull player of the week award scenario.

Overall punt yardage
#1 Lechler 4,391
#36 Hanson 2,143

Please note that there are only 32 teams in the NFL and therefore only 32 starting punters. Somehow Hanson manages to come in #36!

NFL Stats: by Player Category

This part was the best. I didn't realize there was so much disparity. To be fair, Oakland gives their kickers WAAAY more opportunities. But I wonder if he's going to command the tag like the falcon's kicker.

VJCPatriot · 02-15-2009, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatsChamp88

That's not the stat you want to look at unless you list attempts or in the 20 %.

If you can find more situationally specific stats you're welcome to list them here and add to the mounting body of evidence against Hanson.

VJCPatriot · 02-15-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farn

This part was the best. I didn't realize there was so much disparity. To be fair, Oakland gives their kickers WAAAY more opportunities. But I wonder if he's going to command the tag like the falcon's kicker.

The thing is that the Raiders can franchise either Asomugha or Lechler. I don't think they can franchise both. And since franchising Asomugha is a no-brainer, that means that Lechler should be an unrestricted free agent.

PatsChamp88 · 02-15-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VJCPatriot

Please note that there are only 32 teams in the NFL and therefore only 32 starting punters. Therefore in total yards Hanson was among the 5 WORST punters in the NFL.

I'm happy his total yards is low if it were high we would have a terribad offense (see Oakland for example). That ends that theory