Punter

All this talk about WR...LB...DB...etc....wheres the Punter talk? JEEEEZ!

Haha...

I say they bring Pat McAfee back home to Pittsburgh...he's probably the best FA out there. Let him and that Brad Wing kid compete.

YEAH PUNTERS!!! Hahah

 

Just keep Ben out on every 4th down, and have him drop back to punt when necessary.

REDEFINE THE GAME


Though, in all seriousness, I do find it hard to understand why being the punter of the Pittsburgh Steelers appears to be the most difficult job on the team, judging by how many we seem to get through.

 

There's a line of thought that punting on 4th downs is antiquated dating back to the early days of football when games were won 3-0.

Here's a short video on a coach that doesn't punt. There was a a special on him a few years ago that went into far greater detail and really broke down the line of thinking, but I don't have time to look for it.
[video=youtube;AGDaOJAYHfo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGDaOJAYHfo[/video]

 

I had a coach once who didn't punt. it didn't matter where we were on the field. I remember going for it on a 4th and 11 from our own 6. they play only gained 4 yards but we got a facemask penalty. we ended up scoring on that drive and he said "see boys, you never know what can happen". we lost that game and many more.lol

 

Love this way of approaching football.

 

even if you limited the punting from the 50 in. I like it. I do think the onside kick is underused. I hate the pooch punt, and would much rather go for it. good stuff here.

 

I've got the study this was based on bookmarked at home. Will post it later. If I remember correctly the author tracked a couple thousand games.

 

thanks strummer, I would like to see it when you get the chance.

 

I was reading an article by former Vikings punter Chris Kluwe were he talks about how his being outspoken on the topic of gay marriage may have cost him a job in the NFL and definitely with the Vikings. Now the interesting part that pertains to this topic is that his coaches came to him and said the special teams unit was crap and could he take something off his punts. Now if you go back and look at the loads of horrible kicks from Steeler punters this season one of the things that jumps out is that the coverage is almost always there except for the famous Ravens game. So could it be these guys are being asked to kick it so the coverage team is in place before it comes down?

 

Of course...depending on the situation/etc...the punters are told (or expected) to punt it a certain way. Just like how kickers squib...or kick away from a returner and so on.

 

Here you go.

http://www.nber.org/papers/w9024

 

Sure did seem like we've punted awful for a while. But a lot of that has to do with situational play calling on 2nd and 3rd down. Use 2nd down to put yourself in position to get a makeable 3rd down play, rather than 3rd and long all the time. And if, the team is at the outer range of field goals, make it 4 down territory, by using 3rd down to put yourself into position to either make the 1st down, or get closer. Versus, a long drop back that ends in a 7 yard sack.

 

As long as we don't draft one, I'm fine with whoever we bring in....

 

Or the fact that Kluwe wasn't that good when he went to the Raiders and was released.

 

Couldn't agree more. I don't think we'll be seeing another wasted 4th round pick on a punter ever again. At least that's what I hope.

 

Thanks. I have seen similar research on pulling the goalie in hockey when you are down by a goal. The statisticians believe you should pull the goalie with something like 7 minutes left to increase your chances of a tie. You will lose often, but the probability suggests the risk is worth it in the long run.

 

you know, they punt a lot at Baylor, so...

 

They should be able to find a punter once the draft is over and sign one as a UDFA.