Question on fielding punts

[Tunescribe]

I understand why it's important to field punts pretty much everywhere in the field of play. But I don't quite see advantage in fair-catching the ball INSIDE the 10 yard line, which our guys do consistently. My guess is this has something to do with how close the coverage guys are when the ball is fair caught; i.e., if the ball bounces up in the air inside the 10 or bites and rolls toward the goal line and is downed, it can put the offense in a deep hole. But generally speaking, isn't letting the ball go when it's headed inside the 10 a better choice? Chances are good it will skip into the end zone, or maybe even bounce back and help field position. Fair catching the ball at the 8 makes no sense to me. Anyone know the prevailing coaching wisdom on this matter?

 

[Synovia]

. But generally speaking, isn't letting the ball go when it's headed inside the 10 a better choice? Chances are good it will skip into the end zone, or maybe even bounce back and help field position.

Yes and no.


Moving the ball from the 10 to the 1 is a significantly more negative thing than moving the ball from the 10 to the 20.

Bellichick may feel that due to the quality of the offense, theres not a whole lot of difference between starting at the 10 and the 20, but when you start at the 1 or 2, the QB is dropping back into the end zone, and thats dangerous.

 

[Patspsycho]

I understand why it's important to field punts pretty much everywhere in the field of play. But one thing I don't quite see advantage in fair-catching the ball INSIDE the 10 yard line, which our guys do consistently. My guess is this has something to do with how close the coverage guys are when the ball is fair caught; i.e., if the ball bounces up in the air inside the 10 or bites and rolls toward the goal line and is downed, it can put the offense in a deep hole. But generally speaking, isn't letting the ball go when it's headed inside the 10 a better choice? Chances are good it will skip into the end zone, or maybe even bounce back and help field position. Fair catching the ball at the 8 makes no sense to me. Anyone know the prevailing coaching wisdom on this matter?

Fair catching at the 8 makes better sense than the risk of it being downed at the goal line or the 1. You say "chances are good" but that is still a gamble. You want as much space as you can have to work with.

 

[Sicilian]

Yes and no.


Moving the ball from the 10 to the 1 is a significantly more negative thing than moving the ball from the 10 to the 20.

Bellichick may feel that due to the quality of the offense, theres not a whole lot of difference between starting at the 10 and the 20, but when you start at the 1 or 2, the QB is dropping back into the end zone, and thats dangerous.

That's my guess too. It's a risk reward thing. The risk of it being downed near the goal line outweighs the benefits of a few extra yards to start the drive.

 

[Ghost of Ben Dreith]

All the teams do this now. It used to be a common practice to have the returner put his feet on the 10 and if it was over his head, he let it go. Now you have returners fair catching on the 5 - 6 yard line.

It really makes no sense to me unless they think the coverage teams have gotten better at downing balls inside the 5. Somebody must have done a statistical analysis though since like I saie earlier.....all the teams are fair catching inside the 10 now.

 

[jmt57]

Recently on a radio interview Bill Belichick spoke about how the 'coffin-corner' punt was a lost art. He went on to explain that it had been replaced with a 'rugby-style' punt that is kicked very high and lands flat. What this does (or should do) is eliminate those quick rolls into the end zone, and allow the coverage team time to get downfield and down the punt before it gets to the end zone.

What does this have to do with fair catching a punt? The new method of punting will/should result in more punts downed inside the ten, and inside the five yard line. Therefore the corresponding strategy of the return team is to move the point where they either fair catch the ball or let it go back a few yards. Whereas it used to be an absolute no-no to fair catch a punt anywhere at all inside the ten yard line, that imaginary line has been pushed backed two or three yards now.

 

[Spiral]

All the teams do this now. It used to be a common practice to have the returner put his feet on the 10 and if it was over his head, he let it go. Now you have returners fair catching on the 5 - 6 yard line.

Ditto. The rule of thumb used to be that you stood on the ten yard line, and didn't back up. I also don't know why this has changed.

 

[Tunescribe]

Recently on a radio interview Bill Belichick spoke about how the 'coffin-corner' punt was a lost art. He went on to explain that it had been replaced with a 'rugby-style' punt that is kicked very high and lands flat. What this does (or should do) is eliminate those quick rolls into the end zone, and allow the coverage team time to get downfield and down the punt before it gets to the end zone.

What does this have to do with fair catching a punt? The new method of punting will/should result in more punts downed inside the ten, and inside the five yard line. Therefore the corresponding strategy of the return team is to move the point where they either fair catch the ball or let it go back a few yards. Whereas it used to be an absolute no-no to fair catch a punt anywhere at all inside the ten yard line, that imaginary line has been pushed backed two or three yards now.

Thanks. Amazing how they concluded the safest bet is now to fair catch inside the 10.

 

[DarrylS]

I suspect that BB has some type of statistical chart, that he works with the guys who field punts... if it comes down on the 8 for example, you should catch it as 42% of the time it is downed inside the 5... not much is left for chance on this team..

 

[Synovia]

I suspect that BB has some type of statistical chart, that he works with the guys who field punts... if it comes down on the 8 for example, you should catch it as 42% of the time it is downed inside the 5... not much is left for chance on this team..

Well, theres going to be a 'points expected' curve based on field position, and it goes down drastically as you get inside the 10. Inside the 5, you really can't do anything but run the ball, for fear of giving up a safety.

 

[Spiral]

In Ernie Adams we trust.

 

[Batman]

it reduces the element of chance that the punt hits one of your players on a bounce. stops the ball being downed with punters being better at getting the ball to hit the floor with reduced amount of bounce.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Excellent question.

I'm with those who say that BB has done a risk/reward analysis that takes into account the danger for safetys and sack/fumble/TD recoveries from starting inside the 5. Done the math on the expected value of points from the enemy. And yes, he doesn't JUST take a study at face value but he puts it in context and therefore factored in that he beileves more often than not that THIS offense can start at the 10 or thereabouts and move the ball for at least a few 1st downs. Gotta luv the Economics degree background.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Recently on a radio interview Bill Belichick spoke about how the 'coffin-corner' punt was a lost art. He went on to explain that it had been replaced with a 'rugby-style' punt that is kicked very high and lands flat. What this does (or should do) is eliminate those quick rolls into the end zone, and allow the coverage team time to get downfield and down the punt before it gets to the end zone.

What does this have to do with fair catching a punt? The new method of punting will/should result in more punts downed inside the ten, and inside the five yard line. Therefore the corresponding strategy of the return team is to move the point where they either fair catch the ball or let it go back a few yards. Whereas it used to be an absolute no-no to fair catch a punt anywhere at all inside the ten yard line, that imaginary line has been pushed backed two or three yards now.

That pretty summarizes what I was going to say. The rule of thumb use to be, if it's inside the 10 , let it go and it will carry into the end zone.

The new style of punting changes that. But, I'd like to see professional punters be able to do both.

 

[RayClay]

it reduces the element of chance that the punt hits one of your players on a bounce. stops the ball being downed with punters being better at getting the ball to hit the floor with reduced amount of bounce.

Shoot, you beat me. The balls not round, if it shoots off and hits one of our players it's TD other side. Plus they do drop those punts and kill them. That's what BB wants our punters to do.