Punting strategy -- kick out of bounds

[Willard]

If its good enough for the Calgary Stampeders than the Pack should at least try it out! Thanks for the link, Woodbuck.

[Row 67]

I totally agree with you. I was thinking the same thing when I read an article about Ryan that said he had a rocket for a leg, but his "hang time" needs work because he can out-kick the coverage. I thought - cripes, if he can kick it 65 yards, have him kick it out of bounds. If it goes out of bounds after 40 yards, who cares?

[CaliforniaCheez]

So why is a 65 yard punt with a 25 yard return worse than a 43 yard punt with a 5 yard return?

[havanother]

I wish Nfl punter's could move a little red arrow to the corner of the enzone and blast a ball two inches in front of the pylons, but I also wish I could spin my golf ball 15 yards straight right using the R2 button on my wedge. It's all about risk assesment. Do you kick it straight down the middle and let your guys down it? or do you go for the corner and risk a shank that puts the opposition on their own 40? If your guys don't down it the worst that happens is they're on their own 20. Their are very few scenario's in real football that the coffin corner makes sense. If you can punt the ball 65 yards and it doesn't go out of bounds the returner now has the entire width of the field to run. The only time a coffin corner makes sense is on a fourth and over five from the opposition's 40 to the 50 yard line. You can't go for the first down, it's out of range for most FG kickers and you can still get enough hang time to get coverage on a possible return.

[woodbuck27]

I also have wondered why NFL teams went away from directional punting towards the corner like they did years ago. Is it because punters aren't as good as punter years ago?

IMO, it's more because Special Teams coaches spend so much more time worrying about get-off times and hang-times nowadays that they forget about the intent of the play and end up ruining half the punters that come up from the college ranks (see BJ Sander). And it's all a waste anyway because 98% of the time opposing teams don't make any real effort at blocking the punt.

Ryan averaged about 10-yards better than any punter in the NFL last year. We'll see how much better he does with all the "expert" coaching he gets this year.

As the article (see link my last post) informed us. Coaching a punter is essential, but I agree - don't destroy his natural gift, rather use it strategically.

Jon Ryan just has more than most punters will ever give you. The Packers only need to coach him within reason, not expect him to be a bionic man. Jon Ryan will deliver on what we need of him as a punter. Many here have some doubts that a Canadian from a small City - small College - CFL team (The Winnepeg Blue Bombers) could be all that he's. . . PROVEN HE IS in HIS PAST.

Jon Ryan's certainly, a very gifted - talented - hard working -accomplished at his young age - punter. He's an outstanding young man. Be happy for him when he wins the job, then pull for him for "the Packer" I believe he will be.

GO PACKERS ! HOLD THE FAITH !!

[HarveyWallbangers]

So why is a 65 yard punt with a 25 yard return worse than a 43 yard punt with a 5 yard return?

I think it has more to do with that 25 yard return is more likely to be a 80 yard TD return--than the 5 yard return will be returned for a TD. More than anything else, coaches just don't want the special teams to screw up (e.g. fumble on returns or give up long returns on coverage).

[Partial]

So why is a 65 yard punt with a 25 yard return worse than a 43 yard punt with a 5 yard return?

Momentum from the returner = harder to tackle