Punter Jon Ryan's hope - closer to reality

[HarveyWallbangers]

The numbers looked good, but Ryan did have two punts that didn't have good hang time and almost had two blocked. The coverage units bailed him out on the two line drives. He needs to hit the boomers, but his misses need to be better.

[woodbuck27]

The numbers looked good, but Ryan did have two punts that didn't have good hang time and almost had two blocked. The coverage units bailed him out on the two line drives. He needs to hit the boomers, but his misses need to be better.

Puting you on the spot Harvey.

Does Jon Ryan make OUR team?

[HarveyWallbangers]

I think so, but it might end up being more because of his competition. If he doesn't show consistency, a guy on another roster might be on this team come the regular season.

[Patler]

I think so, but it might end up being more because of his competition. If he doesn't show consistency, a guy on another roster might be on this team come the regular season.

I agree Harvey. Coaches abhor blocks and run backs. They will gladly give up a few yards in distance for increased hangtime and/or faster "get-off" time.

Ryan still has a month to improve. If he can improve some, they may be willing to go into the season with him, thinking he may continue to improve.

[The Leaper]

Ryan almost ate a couple balls last night. Granted, the first one was a poor snap at his feet, but the second was a perfect snap and he still almost was blocked. If he doesn't improve his ability to get the kick off, I don't care if he averages 60 yards a kick...he won't stick around. I'll take 35 yards every time over 4 blocked punts on the season.

[woodbuck27]

Ryan having strong NFL preseason

Rob Vanstone, Leader-Post

Monday, August 14, 2006

Regina-born Jon Ryan got a charge out of his NFL preseason debut.

He also put a charge into the football, punting for an average of 46.3 yards for the Green Bay Packers in their 17-3 loss to the host San Diego Chargers on Saturday.

Sequentially, Ryan had punts of 41, 55, 51 and 38 yards. The best punt was the 51-yarder, which he angled out of bounds. He was also the holder on a 23-yard field goal by Billy Cundiff.

"I think it went well, for my first game,'' Ryan, 24, said Sunday.

"I was happy with it. In terms of the statistical numbers, if someone were to have told me before the game that I'd have a 46-yard average and a 41-yard net, I would definitely have taken it.

"But once you look back at it, you think, 'Oh, man, I could have hit that punt better,' or, 'I could have got a little more hang time there,' but I think it's always like that.''

Ryan also took a few moments to soak in the surroundings.

"It did kind of hit me a couple of times when I was standing on the sideline and you walk across the field and you walk by (Chargers star) LaDainian Tomlinson,'' Ryan said with a chuckle.

"Still, when I walk by Brett Favre, it's kind of like, 'Man, is this really happening? Am I really here?' It still kind of hits me every now and then that it's kind of a crazy situation.''

Ryan has enjoyed his interaction with Favre -- the Packers' superstar passer.

"If I walk by him, he actually knows my name, so I thought that was pretty good,'' Ryan said. "It's cool just to kind of be around him and just to see how he interacts with the media and the fans and the other players. You can learn a lot from a guy like that.''

The Sheldon-Williams Spartans and University of Regina Rams alumnus signed with Green Bay as a free agent in January, after he punted for a CFL-record average of 50.6 yards with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last season.

Ryan is competing with incumbent B.J. Sander for the Packers' punting job. Sander punted three times for a 36.7-yard average, with a net of 33.7. Ryan and Sander, who have become friendly rivals, alternated punts throughout the game.

"It is kind of a weird situation, because we've been here since March 20,'' Ryan said. "When you work with a guy for six, seven, eight hours a day, you get a bit of a relationship and you become kind of friends. But, at the same time, when you're on the field you definitely want to outperform him every time.

"He's a good guy and I enjoy hanging out with him, but I don't feel bad at all when I beat him on the field.''

Ryan has also consistently outpunted Sander in mini-camp and training-camp sessions. However, the preseason opener was the biggest test to date. Did Ryan experience some jitters?

"Maybe a little bit,'' he said. "We had a little scrimmage last week at Lambeau Field and 64,000 people showed up. That was kind of a good way to get the nerves out. I wouldn't say I was used to it, but it was good to get those nerves out last week so they weren't quite as bad (Saturday) night.''

The Packers' next game is Saturday at home against the Atlanta Falcons.

"From what I've heard, with the kickers and punters, they're going to take their time with the decision and not rush into anything and kind of let things play out during the preseason and make a decision late in August or early September,'' Ryan said. "I've still got a ways to go.''

© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2006

[woodbuck27]

Harvey, Patler and the Leaper.

Your all saying it's a wait and see.

I agree it's not a done deal, yet, it obviously appears that he's edging closer to his dream, and his Familys dream of him being a Green Bay Packer.

Jon Ryan's Father and Family are a BIG Packer fans.

[Patler]

I agree that Ryan is probably leading the coompetition with Sander, but he is faced with the same thing all rookie punters face, the need for improved hang time and reduced get off time over what was ever required rom them before. It normally seems to take punters several years to get to the standards NFL teams want for those.

I'm not 100% convinced that the punter who will punt against the Bears is currently on the Packer roster. Nor am I convinced that the placekicker who will kick against the Bears is currently on the roster.

[pittstang5]

Patler,

My feelings are the same. Does anyone out there know who could be available, i.e. who's carrying multiple kickers and/or punters? I would assume that a current FA like Eddinger wouldn't replace one of the Pack's kickers or punters. I think TT would have signed someone by now.

[woodbuck27]

I agree that Ryan is probably leading the coompetition with Sander, but he is faced with the same thing all rookie punters face, the need for improved hang time and reduced get off time over what was ever required rom them before. It normally seems to take punters several years to get to the standards NFL teams want for those.

I'm not 100% convinced that the punter who will punt against the Bears is currently on the Packer roster. Nor am I convinced that the placekicker who will kick against the Bears is currently on the roster.

Seeing Ted Thompson as I do. Don't hold your breath for anything different any time soon Patler.

I see Cundiff being OUR kicker (to at least start the 2006 season) and Jon Ryan OUR punter for some years (the Packers - lucked out with this young man and fact, his family loves OUR team and it's closer to home doesn't hurt).

I've always felt since the news of his interest in us began, that Jon Ryan is a serious upgrade from BJ Sander. I'm not concerned over jinxing Jon Ryan. I as Irish as they come too.

Jon Ryan will be OUR punter in 2006, and I expect that decision will be second guessed by Packer fans even into 2007 and whenever.

How in HELL could a Canadian born and developed punter at a Small Canadian University and the CFL's ALL TIME record holder as a punter, ever become a Green Bay Packer in such a vital role as punter? Therein, lies the answer.

Answer:

He's just plain and simple DAM good at his craft. He's had to prove it and he has wherever he's played, and he will continue to improve and prove his value to us.

Go Jon Ryan. GO GREEN BAY PACKERS !!

[Patler]

Woodbuck

My hesitancy regarding Ryan has nothing to do with him being from Canada. It has everything to do with him having four punts blocked last year. That's four more than all the NFL punters had last season.

[woodbuck27]

Woodbuck

My hesitancy regarding Ryan has nothing to do with him being from Canada. It has everything to do with him having four punts blocked last year. That's four more than all the NFL punters had last season.

I won't ask YOU, to back that up Patler. I respect that you have the facts down pat.

Instead - I'll do my own research on that matter.

A questions that I'll try to answer is:

What were the consequence of those four blocked punts, that you claim Jon Ryan had last year - with the Winnepeg Blue Bombers Vs. the benefits he gave to his team?

Patler. How easy will it be for him to adjust according to the speed of the NFL would be a matter of his dedication to a solid work ethic - that I believe he possess's. Is he willing to give, what it will take?

Yes !

I will add that it's not up to the punter in the NFL game to stand out there naked - to the opposing teams punting rush. He needs ST protection on punting attempts and certainly he can't lolly doll around. His punting style has to and can change to meet OUR teams needs for him. Nothing will likely give us his leg strengrth, as he is exceptional in that regard.

He will demonstrate the requirements to certainly be an upgrade over BJ Sander and go on from there. He has proven that from his first day with us.

If the Packers cut him before he plays in the regular season. I believe it would be a serious miscalculation. It would be an error to choose BJ Sander over Jon Ryan, on Ted Thompson's behalf. He won't choose that nail in his coffin.

Ted Thompson not that foolish, and he's certainly under a microscope in Green Bay, now. BJ Sander was terrible last season. End of that !

I have said before, that maybe we don't have OUR future punter in TC but the best we've had since Craig Hentrich departed, is in my eyes -

Jon Ryan. Our future punter.

[woodbuck27]

Lions punter coming off his best season, and hopes to get better

8/12/2006, 3:30 p.m. ET
The Associated Press

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — While the Detroit Lions struggled to 5-11 and fired coach Steve Mariucci late in the season, punter Nick Harris was busy putting together his best season, one that made him one of the NFL's most reliable specialists.

Harris led the NFL with 34 punts downed inside the 20-yard line and tied his career best with a 60-yard kick at Minnesota. His 43-yard average also was a career best. The first number was the most important as it forced opponents to start drives on a long field.

Practice and instinct, he said, make it happen.

"When you start with a ball around the 50, you need good hang time," Harris said, "but when you're closer in, you don't need it to hang as much. You just want to get it as close to the returner as you can.

"I just try to put it between the 12 and the 7. After a while you get a feel for it."

In practices, he concentrates on a spot a few yards inside the end zone, but adds that he can just sense the energy required for a certain distance.

"I've always had a feel for what a 37-yard punt is or what a 32-yard punt feels like."

Teammates have downed 114 punts inside the 20 during his five-year career.

Denver drafted him in the fourth round out of California in 2001 and he appeared to have a shot at the starting job there. The Broncos decided to keep longtime punter Tom Rouen, who doubled as placekicker Jason Elam's holder, and waived Harris at the end of the preseason.

Cincinnati claimed him and made him its starter, but released him five games into the 2003 season. The Lions signed him six days later to fill in for the injured John Jett. Harris performed well enough to keep the job and has been Detroit's punter since.

Working with special teams coach Chuck Priefer, whose punters have landed an NFL-best 170 kicks inside the 20 since 2000, has only helped.

"The biggest thing about him is that he takes an active interest in my mechanics," Harris said. "He doesn't cookie-cutter it and say this is how you should punt.

"He looks at the way I do things and works with that."


Comment: woodbuck27

Why can't the name Jon Ryan be inserted here next season Packer fans?

GO PACKERS !

[Willard]

I can't find the source, but I remember reading aboot ( ) Ryan's 4 blocked punts last year. I have come close to posting this disturbing fact a couple of times, but hoped the NFL ST coaches would be capable of , well -- coaching -- to eliminate the problem.

My guess is all opposing ST coaches know Ryan's history and will send the dogs in for the block rather than optimizing for a return. This will only get more pronounced if Ryan does have any kicks blocked.

Ryan has a cannon for a leg. There is too much potential to give up on him now. Coach Stock needs to earn his paycheck and get this straightened out. Otherwise we may be seeing Ingle Martin (the new Ultimate Weapon!) taking snaps with the punt team!

[woodbuck27]

I can't find the source, but I remember reading aboot ( ) Ryan's 4 blocked punts last year. I have come close to posting this disturbing fact a couple of times, but hoped the NFL ST coaches would be capable of , well -- coaching -- to eliminate the problem.

My guess is all opposing ST coaches know Ryan's history and will send the dogs in for the block rather than optimizing for a return. This will only get more pronounced if Ryan does have any kicks blocked.

Ryan has a cannon for a leg. There is too much potential to give up on him now. Coach Stock needs to earn his paycheck and get this straightened out. Otherwise we may be seeing Ingle Martin (the new Ultimate Weapon!) taking snaps with the punt team!

That's funny.

Jon Ryan's OUR punter. Count on it - and I'm a careful man with predictions, but this one is too obvious.

Maybe Ted will be a little gunshy after what we just saw with Underwood falling to rotten luck but I don't believe he should second guess himself with the Mark Roman release.

If he toss's Ryan in favor of Sander? That would be masochistic - maybe time for a quick wardrobe change into something restrictive.

That isn't happening.