loofasisgeek

Seeing Moormans 75 yd punt from back of endzone got me thinking... BB seems to value 5 yd differences in field position and Special Teams play in general a great deal. I don't think I have seen too many punts blocked on short ball-on-the-one snaps. Why not have the punter stand 4-5 yards closer to the LOS?

MrClutch

It's easier to block the punt if they're too close to the LOS?

Grogan's neck roll

MrClutch is correct, blocks would be easier, given the minimum two steps a punter takes prior to kicking.

Additionally, for the punter to get protection as a kicker, the offense must be in scrimmage kick formation, which means the punter must be a minimum of 7 yards behind the center.

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RayClay

Yeah, that would have been my guess.

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loofasisgeek

"It's easier to block the punt if they're too close to the LOS?"

Hey how about you stand the punter 20 yards back? It would be EVEN harder to block the punt. Duh.


Try to think past the dogma.

Would 3 yds closer be too close? How much more likely is a block for each yard closer? You say that it would be easier to block. Any stats to back that up? Any anecdotal evidence?

QB's don't always take snap under center, they sometimes go shotgun depending on the situation. They don't alway's drop back 5 steps - they sometimes drop 7 or 3 - depending on the situation.

So why would punting not be the same?

So you lose the protections that 7 yards gets you. That IS serious. Would you ever choose to run that risk?

Va_Pats_Fan

BB actually talked about this in a presser last year. There is an ideal distance. Too close, and the push from the line can get you. Too far, and the angles from the side are too oblique and a rusher can get to the punter quickly.

Tunescribe

You need to consider how far the center can snap it as well. The distance is pretty scientifically determined, considering the rush, the fact the punter is stepping forward, and rushing angles from the edge. Watch where everybody is when the ball leaves the punter's foot -- everyone is pretty close and it's often like the punter's in a quarterback-like pocket.

Canada's #1 Pats Fan

Because we don't have Moorman punting for us, that's why.

Va_Pats_Fan

Did you see the safety in Denver a few years back. That ball was in the 15th row.....

Tunescribe

Actually, it hit the goal post. The fact is he wasn't trying to snap it 20 yards back with any kind of accuracy.