Rookie punter - how will the opposition play him?

[stuckincincy]

Well - you can't crush the snapper - league rules. I'd sacrifice some potential return yardage and pour in from the outside. My opposing line would be active, jumping in and out. Go after him.

Kid may have a lot of potential - but hasn't faced a regular game punt rush.

[ServoBillieves]

I think the opposition will wait for him to punt and then try to run it back, or if one of our gunners gets to the returner, he will call for a fair catch.

[stuckincincy]

I think the opposition will wait for him to punt and then try to run it back, or if one of our gunners gets to the returner, he will call for a fair catch.

That's kinda the norm. Were I calling the shots against a rookie with a key job like getting off a clean punt, I go for a block or a hurried punt. If the outside gunners scoot away and my outside rushers are untouched, it's a matter of a second or so to see if I get the punter. If I have to fair catch, or see it bounce, I don't care. That happens often enough as is.

If I'm in error, I don't lose that much. If I'm right...

[jimmifli]

I expected this thread to be satire, given the overreaction surrounding a punters release. Nope.

[Jaybird]

game plan will really need to change

[stuckincincy]

I expected this thread to be satire, given the overreaction surrounding a punters release. Nope.

No satire! A team fielding a rookie punter is a notable thing. Special team good/bad play is a big factor. Clubs routinely target rookies. Powell surely can't recognize line blocking stances etc. like an old vet can.

[Goobylal]

I think they're going to call his nasty names and try to make him cry. Maybe give him a wedgie.

[zone]

Hopefully they pull some double sessions this week and have a second practice all dedicated to punts.

[YardRat]

Teddy Bruschi is going to come out of retirement and play the 'spy' on Powell.

[stuckincincy]

Hopefully they pull some double sessions this week and have a second practice all dedicated to punts.
Yep - they have to. If the CBA allows such, of course... :tap:

[jdaltroy5]

Did you watch the game last year?

I don't think there will be much punting.

[Skooby]

Why? Has the guy never punted before?

[YardRat]

BB has a mole inside the Bills practices with a video camera. It's been awhile since he got caught the first time, but figures this move is so huge it's worth the risk to get some intel.

[BillsOwnAll]

I mean its his first NFL punt..Its not his first lifetime punt. Puntings probbally the only thing that doesnt change much from high school to the pros haha....The defense is better yes..but so is your protection and center lol. what do you think punters do at practice all week....?

[jimmifli]

No satire! A team fielding a rookie punter is a notable thing. Special team good/bad play is a big factor. Clubs routinely target rookies. Powell surely can't recognize line blocking stances etc. like an old vet can.
The needle is now pointing decidedly towards satire. Well done sir!

[BertSquirtgum]

Well - you can't crush the snapper - league rules. I'd sacrifice some potential return yardage and pour in from the outside. My opposing line would be active, jumping in and out. Go after him.

Kid may have a lot of potential - but hasn't faced a regular game punt rush.

This post is a ******.

[Mahdi]

I think we need to just accept that this team will be built around Powell now and not Moorman. Moorman had his time... Go Bills!

[TigerJ]

I think of all the positions in football, the identity of the punter, whether is a rookie or a grizzled veteran has less influence on the other team's strategy than any other position. As a punter, Powell knows he has just so much time to get the ball off. If the other team wants to rush the punter, they will do the best to get to him no matter who it is. It depends more on the situation, whether they rush the punter or concentrate on the return.

[THRILLHO]

I think he should run a fake on his first punt.

Or lets just bring him out as QB on the first play. Really mess with BB's head!

[stuckincincy]

I think he should run a fake on his first punt.

Or lets just bring him out as QB on the first play. Really mess with BB's head!

:jig:

I like it - he's a pretty big guy...240 Lb+ IIRC.

[DraftBoy]

Pretty simple I think, his very first punt you bring the house and see what happens. Same thing you do with young QB's get aggressive and get after them and see if you can't rattle them.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

Pretty simple I think, his very first punt you bring the house and see what happens. Same thing you do with young QB's get aggressive and get after them and see if you can't rattle them.

Exactly. If you can make him shank a few by bringing the house, then it could pay off all day in jitters.


I think we need to just accept that this team will be built around Powell now and not Moorman. Moorman had his time... Go Bills!

I laughed at the idea of the Bills being built around a punter but cried when I realized how true it was for the last 10 years.

[stuckincincy]

Exactly. If you can make him shank a few by bringing the house, then it could pay off all day in jitters.



Yup. Which is why I posted this thread. Going after rookies or replacement starters is Football 101.

[YardRat]

Belicheck will stack the line with 10 guys, all standing up and facing backwards toward the returner in hopes of confusing Powell and fooling him into turning around and kicking the ball in the wrong direction.

[Ground Chuck]

I would run a fake with the rookie punter. They would never expect it

[jamze132]

I would expect the defense to run a punt catcher out there...

[kishoph]

Just a wild guess, but he probably has faced a rush before.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zNm7Aisv0I

[DraftBoy]

Just a wild guess, but he probably has faced a rush before.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zNm7Aisv0I


And Rookie QB's have seen blitzes and coverages before but that doesn't necessairly make them well equipped NFL speed.

[kishoph]

And Rookie QB's have seen blitzes and coverages before but that doesn't necessairly make them well equipped NFL speed.


Apples and Oranges.

[DraftBoy]

Apples and Oranges.

Not entirely, every rookie has a learning curve they have to adjust to.

[Bill Cody]

If the coaching staff is spending 1 second worrying about Powell shanking punts because he's nervous about a rush we should have never cut Moorman

[OpIv37]

I think he should run a fake on his first punt.

Or lets just bring him out as QB on the first play. Really mess with BB's head!

Go Wildcat with Potter and Powell in the backfield. Since they're both rookies, we can have Lindell line up as a WR for some veteran experience. Bellicheck won't know if we're going to pooch punt, quickly set up for a surprise field goal, or run an actual play. Hell, the Bills would be stupid to NOT do this.

[delectrolux]

Just a wild guess, but he probably has faced a rush before.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zNm7Aisv0I

Wow, Brad Smith doesn't look anything like I thought he would...

[kishoph]

Not entirely, every rookie has a learning curve they have to adjust to.

I don't mean to downplay the adjustments that a rookie has to go through coming into the NFL, but punting has probably the least difference between college and pro. I'm really not concerned about Powell having trouble getting his punts off, first, the Bills have always done a decent job with protection on punts, next with his ability to boom a punt, teams might choose to set up for a return to get some yards back and Powell seems like a pretty tough kid, I don't think he'll be easily intimidated. Of course anything can happen, but I'd be more concerned about him being nervous and shanking one, more than having it blocked.

Here's another Powell video, when the Bills first picked him up, there was video of some of the hits he has made covering punts (he has made some big hits), but I can't find them anywhere.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/college-football/Shawn-Powell-on-his-punting-style-Notre-Dame-1101118

[BertSquirtgum]

Catch ball, kick the **** out of it. Not that hard.