Placekicker/punter

[fourthandmiles]

Humor me. My intuition tells me this is a stupid question but I wonder it often and I know I am not alone. Looking at Pats1 53 man roster makes me ask.

What is there about the kicking game that would make it so difficult for the punting and placekicking to be done by the same player? Are the answers that obvious?

 

[godef]

Humor me. My intuition tells me this is a stupid question but I wonder it often and I know I am not alone. Looking at Pats1 53 man roster makes me ask.

What is there about the kicking game that would make it so difficult for the punting and placekicking to be done by the same player? Are the answers that obvious?

What the heck, kicking isn't rocket science. Can't we find a nose tackle or linebacker to do this and save even more roster spots?

 

[Pujo]

My guess is that you'd still want a backup if your kicker/punter was injured, and if you're going to have a backup you might as well use him. The kicker & punter usually back each other up, but can also focus on their own specialty.

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

In the CFL (I know, spare the jokes), the kicking duties are generally handled by one player. There is the odd case where a team will have 2 guys doing the kicking. The roster limits are much smaller as well. I believe 42 on the roster and 5 game day inactives (but don't quote me on that).

 

[RayClay]

What the heck, kicking isn't rocket science. Can't we find a nose tackle or linebacker to do this and save even more roster spots?

Lou Groza was an excellent lineman/kicker in the pre soccer era. Cappelletti was multi talented of course. I believe Vinatieri was the emergency punter.

One consideration is losing both kickers if there's an injury.

The Pats have had two excellent backup qb/punters in Tom Tupa and Tommy Yewcic.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Humor me. My intuition tells me this is a stupid question but I wonder it often and I know I am not alone. Looking at Pats1 53 man roster makes me ask.

What is there about the kicking game that would make it so difficult for the punting and placekicking to be done by the same player? Are the answers that obvious?

A quote from Boston.com, about the Vinatraitor:

A false step with punting

When recruiters came calling with scholarships, they were not interested in Vinatieri as a quarterback. His options were limited to kicking opportunities. He went to South Dakota State, where he set a season record of 38 PATs and a career scoring record of 185 points. Yet something went awry in his senior season, when he converted just 4 of 12 field goal attempts, underwhelming numbers for a pro prospect. Vinatieri's punting average that season was a healthy 43.5 yards, but on draft day, nobody called his name.

"That's my fault," said his coach at South Dakota State. "I messed him up a little bit by having him do the punting and the kicking. There are some similarities to the techniques, but a lot of differences, too. When I asked him to do both, he lost some kicking ability. It hurt him as far as the NFL went. The scouts liked his leg, but they didn't like his consistency."

 

[signbabybrady]

cool I didn't know Adam punted and kicked in College.

I can understand in this day of specialized skills in the NFL why teams would want a guy to focus soley on his duty but I have always been suprised that there isn't/wasn't someone who did both in the NFL (not that I have looked to confirm there hasn't been one).



PS: has anyone else forgiven Adam for leaving? I held a grudge for a little bit and like most was not excited to see him get 4 but after a few years with a grudge I couldn't keep it going. What happened was I was watching some highlights from the 3 titles and found myself rising to my feet and putting my hands in the air like ref when Adams kicks went thru. And it hit me my mind was in conflict with my heart and the heart won.

 

[pats1]

See Koenen, Michael. The Falcons tried it in 2006 and it didn't work.

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

cool I didn't know Adam punted and kicked in College.

I can understand in this day of specialized skills in the NFL why teams would want a guy to focus soley on his duty but I have always been suprised that there isn't/wasn't someone who did both in the NFL (not that I have looked to confirm there hasn't been one).



PS: has anyone else forgiven Adam for leaving? I held a grudge for a little bit and like most was not excited to see him get 4 but after a few years with a grudge I couldn't keep it going. What happened was I was watching some highlights from the 3 titles and found myself rising to my feet and putting my hands in the air like ref when Adams kicks went thru. And it hit me my mind was in conflict with my heart and the heart won.

When he won that SB with the Colts that hurt, because he didn't do that well last year (injuries, etc.) I have somewhat forgiven him.

 

[signbabybrady]

See Koenen, Michael. The Falcons tried it in 2006 and it didn't work.

Duh....and I am saying I am suprised no one has tried it.


I was actually very intrigued by him though they never really used him as there sole kicker. He was a punter/KO specialist (which isn't uncommon) and they used him for the really long kicks. I believe they still used Anderson for the field goals of a normal distance.

 

[dhamz]

The issue is can they both be done at an NFL level by one player - the answer is no. I'd imagine most field goal kickers can punt the ball, just not nearly as well as NFL punters.

 

[jeffbiologist]

I used to kick. Kicking requires alot more flex in the hips and use of more different muscle groups.Kicking is PLACEMENT. Punting is TIMING, and there is one primary muscle that does all the work. These are different muscle groups so its more like playing soccer/football than comparing any 2 positions in football. Of maybe another comparison would be golf with punting being the driver and kicking being the putter. The putting motion is alot easier to repeat, hence being more consistent. But with kicking you are relying on 3 guys(snapper,holder,kicker)compared to 2 in punting(snapper,punter) and the more hands that touch the ball the more possibilities for a screwup. Hope that helps.

 

[bradmahn]

cool I didn't know Adam punted and kicked in College.

I can understand in this day of specialized skills in the NFL why teams would want a guy to focus soley on his duty but I have always been suprised that there isn't/wasn't someone who did both in the NFL (not that I have looked to confirm there hasn't been one).



PS: has anyone else forgiven Adam for leaving? I held a grudge for a little bit and like most was not excited to see him get 4 but after a few years with a grudge I couldn't keep it going. What happened was I was watching some highlights from the 3 titles and found myself rising to my feet and putting my hands in the air like ref when Adams kicks went thru. And it hit me my mind was in conflict with my heart and the heart won.

I never harbored any ill-will toward Vinatieri the man, he went to the best situation for him (financially and career-wise).... but I still wish a pox on his dome.

 

[JSn]

It sucked that AV left, but really, SG is a very good kicker. When he made that 53 yarder in camp (ignore thoughts of SB 42... straining...) it was good to hear.

I'm glad Adam has done well with the Colts. I just hope they're never in position to decide a game against the Pat's by 3 points.