Kudos to our punter.

[abdul7]

Didnt see anybody mention this but lets give credit where credit is due to our very own punter Chris Hanson. Thought he had an outstanding game. Think also i for one will admit earlier in the season really went after him ! He's taken stick from a few of us here , so lets give him a good round of applause. Well done Chris and keep it going in the play-offs { hopefully we wont need you }. Like to also take this moment to wish everyone here and your families , Happy Holidays and have a great New Year. God Bless and peace to all man kind. Abdul.

 

[ShrewBeer]

chris hansen = ken walter

merry christmas

 

[Pats726]

well said...a punter IS important in any close game or field position game or in a bad weather game...He as well will do his part..and I agree an outstanding game.
And a merry one..

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

well said...a punter IS important in any close game or field position game or in a bad weather game...He as well will do his part..and I agree an outstanding game.
And a merry one..

Here's an interesting stat. Of his 42 punts, the total return yardage has been 73 yards....or less than two yards a punt, league best by far.
8 fair catches
6 touch backs
10 out of bounds
13 inside the 20...

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categoryst...erence=ALL&role=TM&season=2007&seasonType=REG

 

[stcjones]

Didnt see anybody mention this but lets give credit where credit is due to our very own punter Chris Hanson. Thought he had an outstanding game. Think also i for one will admit earlier in the season really went after him ! He's taken stick from a few of us here , so lets give him a good round of applause. Well done Chris and keep it going in the play-offs { hopefully we wont need you }. Like to also take this moment to wish everyone here and your families , Happy Holidays and have a great New Year. God Bless and peace to all man kind. Abdul.

I agree...he finally did what he is PAID to do.....PUNT!! Like you say, hopefully we won't need him AT ALL in the playoffs ....but if we do, hopefully we see the Chris Hanson we saw this past Sunday....and not the guy shanking 14 yarders!!!! GO PATS!

 

[Flying Fungi]

Here's an interesting stat. Of his 42 punts, the total return yardage has been 73 yards....or less than two yards a punt, league best by far.
8 fair catches
6 touch backs
10 out of bounds
13 inside the 20...

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categoryst...erence=ALL&role=TM&season=2007&seasonType=REG

no no no

stats mean nothing if i disagree with them--Hanson is made of glass! puhleaze!! If the waiver wire had a one-legged blind kicker Belichick would sign him over this dud!!!

oh wait

Hanson is kicking exactly as he is being instructed. He is playing situational football. Belichick is pleased with his performance sufficiently to stick with him during this unprecedented run of football.


one or the other...

 

[alamo]

chris hansen = ken walter

That's good, then! Walter was a solid punter for years, who did what Belichick asked and needed to help the team. Hopefully he'll get two rings like ken Walter did.

 

[scout]

chris hansen = ken walter

merry christmas

Its a shame you missed the last game. I'll give you a snapshot. Hanson was backed up in the endzone as the ball was on the goal line. He kicked the ball out of bounds at the 35 yard line...............of the JETS. That was clutch.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

Its a shame you missed the last game. I'll give you a snapshot. Hanson was backed up in the endzone as the ball was on the goal line. He kicked the ball out of bounds at the 35 yard line...............of the JETS. That was clutch.

Especially since he had 5 yards less to work with ....

More interesting (at least to me) stats
2007--only 12/42 punts (28.6%) have been returned for 73 yds. 6.1 ypr ---36.0 net
2006------29/69 punts (42.0%) returned for 322 yds and 2 TDs 11.1 ypr---34.6 net
2005-----42/76 punts (55.2%) returned for 408 yds-------------9.7 ypr---38.3 net
Half as many punts are being returned as recently as 2 years ago.


2004 ----35/56 punts(62.5%) returned for 361 yds 1 TD -------11.8 ypr--33.7 net
2003-----38/87 punts (43.6%)returned for 240 yds 1 TD--------6.3 ypr--33.5 net
2002-----24/70 punts (34.3%) returned for 181 yds ------------7.54 ypr--33.3 net
2001-----26/74 punts (35.1 %) returned for 124 yds-------------4.77 ypr--38.1 net
Obviously you'll lose some yardage with situational kicking but it seems that BB and special teams have decided it's better than giving up the big return and when only 12 punts have been returned in 15 games, you certainly reduce the chances of a big return.....
It may be heresy to some but I think Hanson is doing exactly as he is told kicking towards the sidelines and while there is the occasional shank or block (notice that he was wearing a glove on his right hand - Michael Jackson?-this week) it happens with all punters, especially so in the outsides in the northeast.

 

[ShrewBeer]

That's good, then! Walter was a solid punter for years, who did what Belichick asked and needed to help the team. Hopefully he'll get two rings like ken Walter did.

yeah, maybe bill will ask him for some more punts under 20 yards this week.

Its a shame you missed the last game. I'll give you a snapshot. Hanson was backed up in the endzone as the ball was on the goal line. He kicked the ball out of bounds at the 35 yard line...............of the JETS. That was clutch.

hanson has his nice moments. so did walter. but dont try to tell me that a punter who belichick picked up at the last minute out of desparation is a great punter.

 

[alamo]

hanson has his nice moments. so did walter. but dont try to tell me that a punter who belichick picked up at the last minute out of desparation is a great punter.

That's a false argument on your part, no one has ever said Hanson is great. Many people here do say he's terrible, though. But clearly he isn't terrible. He is an average punter who can be better than average with situational punting, which I think Belichick likes.

Hanson was picked up in the preseason, true, but the team has had ample opportunity to replace him since. Including picking Josh Miller up again, he's been a free agent for all but three games. But Belichick stuck with Hanson, which should tell you something.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Hanson had an outstanding punt when the Pats were backed up in their own end zone. He made an uncatchable kick that went out at the opposing team's 30. That was quite impressive. Just hoping he can continue to do that kind of thing in the future.