Punter Matt Araiza

[Cntrygal]

On holding, Araiza said he doesn't have game experience, but since he knew NFL teams would require it, he's been training and working on it throughout the offseason with former NFL punters, holders, and kickers.

— Sal Capaccio 🏈 (@SalSports) April 30, 2022

[Cntrygal]

Why new Bills punter doesn’t like ‘Punt God’ nickname, takes draft position personally

The buzz around Matt Araiza’s name during the draft process has been different than most kicking specialists experience during the run up to the NFL Draft.

Araiza has a booming left leg, averaging 51.1 yards per punt over the course of his college career. He had an 86-yard bomb last season at San Diego State. Fans and media affectionately began referring to him as the “Punt God.”

While Araiza is OK with Buffalo Bills fans continuing to call him that because of the fun everybody has had with it, he’s not a huge fan.

“To be honest I don’t necessarily love the nickname,” Araiza said. “I understand it’s a huge compliment but I think it’s a little too much.”

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[Frog Balls]

OK - how about Saint Matthew, patron of Hang Time.

[sukie]

Paraphrasing Rich Eisen

Buffalo Fans… you not only drafted a punter. On the rare occasion where Josh Allen’s offense stalls inside his own 10… This guy can flip the field inside the other 20.

[John Doe]

The reason that Araiza does not have experience as a holder is that he was also his team's field goal kicker.

So as on the plus side, we have a competent backup kicker.

[swiper]

I don't get what all this hubbub is about this punter. Yeah I saw that 98 yard punt. He looks good, but he's a punter. Who cares?

[sukie]

Ray Guy was just a punter.

[zone]

I don't get what all this hubbub is about this punter. Yeah I saw that 98 yard punt. He looks good, but he's a punter. Who cares?

The game is all about field position... a punter is the QB of 4th down and a good one makes a difference.

[swiper]

The game is all about field position... a punter is the QB of 4th down and a good one makes a difference.

Well some of it is leg strength, and some of it (more if it with the Bills) is about being able to coffin corner kick it. How is this guy placing the ball where he's supposed to. Wasn't the guy we had last season pretty good at placing the ball? The Bills don't get stuck inside their 10 yardline too often. So it doesn't make that big a difference if he can't place it.

[sukie]

Well some of it is leg strength, and some of it (more if it with the Bills) is about being able to coffin corner kick it. How is this guy placing the ball where he's supposed to. Wasn't the guy we had last season pretty good at placing the ball? The Bills don't get stuck inside their 10 yardline too often. So it doesn't make that big a difference if he can't place it.

If all he is doing is booming 70-80 yards his average would be 70-80. He averages 51. You think placement wasn’t brought up when scouting him? You need to move away further from NYC… it’s making you bitter. LOL

[Woodman]

The game is all about field position... a punter is the QB of 4th down and a good one makes a difference.

Sometimes all the difference it takes to win a football game.

[DraftBoy]

The leg strength thing is less about the length of his punts and more about hang time and being able to cut the ball through swirling wind. Our current punter really struggled with the wind last season.

[YardRat]

He was sixth in the nation in net average and had as many touchbacks and returns (36) as he did kicks inside the 20. Only 17 fair catches out of 79 punts. His average hang time was less than 4 seconds (3.96, while Stout was 4.36). He only punted five times the rest of his college career, and he's "learning" how to hold for kicks.

I care more about how he is going to catch the ball in the winds, both on punts and holding for kicks, than having a huge leg.

There are legitimate reasons he wasn't the first or second punter taken.

[Woodman]

He was sixth in the nation in net average and had as many touchbacks and returns (36) as he did kicks inside the 20. Only 17 fair catches out of 79 punts. His average hang time was less than 4 seconds (3.96, while Stout was 4.36). He only punted five times the rest of his college career, and he's "learning" how to hold for kicks.

I care more about how he is going to catch the ball in the winds, both on punts and holding for kicks, than having a huge leg.

There are legitimate reasons he wasn't the first or second punter taken.

Maybe somebody else holds .... just a thought.

[Woodman]

Case Keenum maybe

Frank Reich used to hold.

[DraftBoy]

He was sixth in the nation in net average and had as many touchbacks and returns (36) as he did kicks inside the 20. Only 17 fair catches out of 79 punts. His average hang time was less than 4 seconds (3.96, while Stout was 4.36). He only punted five times the rest of his college career, and he's "learning" how to hold for kicks.

I care more about how he is going to catch the ball in the winds, both on punts and holding for kicks, than having a huge leg.

There are legitimate reasons he wasn't the first or second punter taken.

Being anti-fun is my thing, get your own schtick.

[Jimkelly12203]

The game is all about field position... a punter is the QB of 4th down and a good one makes a difference.

word.

[Woodman]

He was sixth in the nation in net average and had as many touchbacks and returns (36) as he did kicks inside the 20. Only 17 fair catches out of 79 punts. His average hang time was less than 4 seconds (3.96, while Stout was 4.36). He only punted five times the rest of his college career, and he's "learning" how to hold for kicks.

I care more about how he is going to catch the ball in the winds, both on punts and holding for kicks, than having a huge leg.

There are legitimate reasons he wasn't the first or second punter taken.

He was just playing possum.

He knew we would draft him so he sorta laid down.

[Goobylal]

Case Keenum maybe

Frank Reich used to hold.

The players practice so little that there's no time for backup QBs to practice holding with STs anymore. So it's the duty of the punter.

[Woodman]

The players practice so little that there's no time for backup QBs to practice holding with STs anymore. So it's the duty of the punter.

I'm sure it is .... just not sure somebody else couldn't if needed.