Mike Dragosavich released

[upstater1]

I was expecting this.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Answer from Coach Belichick:

We're planning on not doing a lot of punting this year.

OK, fine -- so why did the Patriots tie up two (!!) practice squad places with punters a year or so back (note: having punters on your practice squad is a complete waste if the aim is to have guys who can help out in preparing for future opponents)? (And if they're not doing a lot of punting because they have great field position, I'd rather have one who can put it out of bounds at the five yard line than one who booms it into the end zone or has to rely on Kelley Washington doing heroic acrobatics.)

 

[ctpatsfan77]

OK, fine -- so why did the Patriots tie up two (!!) practice squad places with punters a year or so back (note: having punters on your practice squad is a complete waste if the aim is to have guys who can help out in preparing for future opponents)? (And if they're not doing a lot of punting because they have great field position, I'd rather have one who can put it out of bounds at the five yard line than one who booms it into the end zone or has to rely on Kelley Washington doing heroic acrobatics.)

Well, as I've mentioned before, there are studies that show that if you're anywhere between the 10-yard lines, you're almost always better off going for it than you are kicking (exceptions being situations such as 4th-and-30s, down one or two points with five seconds to go at your opponent's 15, etc.).

 

[WhoaDirty]

I don't understand why people like that Hanson isn't competant.

He helped the Pats Punting unit achieve the following

1. rated 2nd in the league with a 5.357 YPR
2. rated 2nd in the league in punts returned by %(31.8)
3. ranked last in number of punts (44)
4. ranked 10th in NET yardage with 39.7.

The areas that Hanson could improve are the following:

1. Hanson ranked 16th in number of touchbacks with 6.
   
2. Hanson also ranked 23rd (by %) in number of punts inside the 20 with only 29.5%.

But, overall, Hanson hardly stinks and hardly worthy of the contempt that most people want to throw at him.

Plus his leg should be really fresh after last year.

 

[NEPatriot]

Answer from Coach Belichick:

We're planning on not doing a lot of punting this year.

Does it mean that we are not going to do a lot of field goal kicks in 08.?

sound good to me.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

I don't understand why people like that Hanson isn't competant.

He helped the Pats Punting unit achieve the following

1. rated 2nd in the league with a 5.357 YPR
2. rated 2nd in the league in punts returned by %(31.8)
3. ranked last in number of punts (44)
4. ranked 10th in NET yardage with 39.7.

The areas that Hanson could improve are the following:

1. Hanson ranked 16th in number of touchbacks with 6.
   
2. Hanson also ranked 23rd (by %) in number of punts inside the 20 with only 29.5%.

But, overall, Hanson hardly stinks and hardly worthy of the contempt that most people want to throw at him.

Yes, Patriots were ranked last in number of punts. Bravo: Tom, Randy and Wes. That says nothing about Chris.

Yards/ Punt 41.4 ranked 26th. Although the coverage team did a good job covering the punts, the punter sucked.

 

[Pats726]

I was expecting this.

You might have been the only one who was...I REALLY thought he had a good shot at sticking...but I am wondering if there weren't other factors...

 

[castlelong1]

PFW in Progress is surprised, as he was at Larry Izzo's event last night.

Sounds like a guy already knowing he has a practice squad spot.

 

[Pats726]

Sounds like a guy already knowing he has a practice squad spot.

You beat me to that...I don't think they had the time for a young punter..OR a roster spoy...but would sign him later to the PSqd..THAT I think would be the route for him..Good call!! I AGREE!!

 

[castlelong1]

I don't understand why people like that Hanson isn't competant.

He helped the Pats Punting unit achieve the following

1. rated 2nd in the league with a 5.357 YPR
2. rated 2nd in the league in punts returned by %(31.8)
3. ranked last in number of punts (44)
4. ranked 10th in NET yardage with 39.7.

The areas that Hanson could improve are the following:

1. Hanson ranked 16th in number of touchbacks with 6.
   
2. Hanson also ranked 23rd (by %) in number of punts inside the 20 with only 29.5%.

But, overall, Hanson hardly stinks and hardly worthy of the contempt that most people want to throw at him.

I agree. Some people look at total yards and stuff. The Patriots don't want a guy than can boot it long but can't make good coffin corner kicks. They won't be punting from there own 20 much. A guy that can pin the other team inside their own 10 is worth more than the guy who kicks it out of the endzone.

If Hanson can do that well, we don't need long punts. In a year, there will be 10 punts from 40 to 40 yard line and maybe 1 from inside their own 20.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I agree. Some people look at total yards and stuff. The Patriots don't want a guy than can boot it long but can't make good coffin corner kicks. They won't be punting from there own 20 much. A guy that can pin the other team inside their own 10 is worth more than the guy who kicks it out of the endzone.

If Hanson can do that well, we don't need long punts. In a year, there will be 10 punts from 40 to 40 yard line and maybe 1 from inside their own 20.

That is a good point . . . when I have some more time (i.e., not this week), I'll take a look and see where the Pats' punts were launched from.

 

[BadMoFo]

OK, fine -- so why did the Patriots tie up two (!!) practice squad places with punters a year or so back (note: having punters on your practice squad is a complete waste if the aim is to have guys who can help out in preparing for future opponents)? (And if they're not doing a lot of punting because they have great field position, I'd rather have one who can put it out of bounds at the five yard line than one who booms it into the end zone or has to rely on Kelley Washington doing heroic acrobatics.)

Well Mike the Brit, I know you possibly like the kicking aspect of the game more than we might. But in America, that is the last thing we worry about.

I don't understand the two punters in the practice squad, but maybe at the time, they actually looked like they'd be here. How did Belly know Baugher was going to get crazy on his pops.

 

[DaBruinz]

Yes, Patriots were ranked last in number of punts. Bravo: Tom, Randy and Wes. That says nothing about Chris.

Yards/ Punt 41.4 ranked 26th. Although the coverage team did a good job covering the punts, the punter sucked.

The coverage team had help because of the hand time that Hanson's kicks were getting. It wasn't just them.

Miller, who everyone touted, put up numbers similar to Hanson. But far be it from anyone to remember that.

 

[Mike the Brit]

Well Mike the Brit, I know you possibly like the kicking aspect of the game more than we might. But in America, that is the last thing we worry about.

I don't understand the two punters in the practice squad, but maybe at the time, they actually looked like they'd be here. How did Belly know Baugher was going to get crazy on his pops.

Yes (cue European "so why do they call it FOOT-ball then?" comment).

But seriously that's my point. I mean there must be, what, thirty or forty competent punters coming out of college football every year (and a lot more playing rugby or Aussie Rules football). Just pick one, give him the job for the next fifteen years and forget about it. Bound to be an upgrade on Ken Walter. Why has it got to be so hard?

(Oh, and didn't Danny B. unload on the old man after the Pats dumped him?)

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Well Mike the Brit, I know you possibly like the kicking aspect of the game more than we might. But in America, that is the last thing we worry about.

I don't understand the two punters in the practice squad, but maybe at the time, they actually looked like they'd be here. How did Belly know Baugher was going to get crazy on his pops.

As has been stated numerous times, Baugher was cut before the incident with his father, not after.

 

[Mark Morse]

Dragosavich had a huge flaw in a three step delivery. From the rookie camp and other Organize Activities reports, Drago can really boom them.

No NFL team can afford to go into camp with 3 spots occupied by P's. They will have several more cuts to make before they can sign their rookies. I could see them deciding all their special teams players before they start the regular camp. This way they would have more spots available for players that can give the veterans a break during the summer practices and pre-season game.

I am betting that Drago gets a look see from another team unless he will sign one of those "don't sign with anyone else" practice squad deals. It has been done in the past.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Dragosavich had a huge flaw in a three step delivery. From the rookie camp and other Organize Activities reports, Drago can really boom them.

No NFL team can afford to go into camp with 3 spots occupied by P's. They will have several more cuts to make before they can sign their rookies. I could see them deciding all their special teams players before they start the regular camp. This way they would have more spots available for players that can give the veterans a break during the summer practices and pre-season game.

I am betting that Drago gets a look see from another team unless he will sign one of those "don't sign with anyone else" practice squad deals. It has been done in the past.

I don't think the current CBA allows that; in any case, they can't form a practice squad until after the last cutdowns.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Answer from Coach Belichick:

We're planning on not doing a lot of punting this year.

I started a thread about this last year ... punting is on it's way out
in the NFL for the better teams. Give it a few more years and the league may do away with it. Too many injuries all for the sake of 40 yards difference in field position. The game would be so much greater without punting ... way - way better.

 

[spacecrime]

It's interesting. When Pats signs you, it doesn't mean that you are on the team for sure.

When the Pats sign you? Why the Pats?

Every team has about 80 players right now, some have 80 + their unsigned rookies, for a total of over 2500 players. Over third of them, almost 1000 players, will be cut by opening day.

 

[spacecrime]

I started a thread about this last year ... punting is on it's way out
in the NFL for the better teams. Give it a few more years and the league may do away with it. Too many injuries all for the sake of 40 yards difference in field position. The game would be so much greater without punting ... way - way better.

This is silly. THe NFL is not going to do away with punting.