Why are the NFL Punters Getting Better?

[LanceyHoward]

16 of the 18 leading punters in a career for average were still active in 2016. The other two retired in 2015. Why are they so much better. And I read Sam Koch of the Ravens is reinventing punting. Does anyone know why?

 

[Batman]

The first overtime Super Bowl, an epic choke/comeback, and THIS is the football thought that you have right now?

 

[cisforkoke]

Deflated balls.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

I blame soccer.

 

[JC]

16 of the 18 leading punters in a career for average were still active in 2016. The other two retired in 2015. Why are they so much better. And I read Sam Koch of the Ravens is reinventing punting. Does anyone know why?

Every generation is better than the last. Bigger, stronger and faster, why is this a surprise?

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

You can't defend a kick or a punt. You can try to block it, but good luck. The length of kicks is wholly dependent on the one doing the kicking. And obviously training techniques have improved massively over the last 30 years.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Should they be getting worse?

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Should they be getting worse?

There have been stories on this over the past five years which I'm too lazy to look up, but long story short, training and coaching have improved by light years. There are specialist punter summer camps now just like for quarterbacks.

 

[dixiehack]

There have been stories on this over the past five years which I'm too lazy to look up, but long story short, training and coaching have improved by light years. There are specialist punter summer camps now just like for quarterbacks.

There's some thought that with NCAA teams gaining an extra on-field assistant, schools may begin to hire genuine kicking coaches, as opposed to hiding a strong recruiter who can't scheme his way out of a paper bag as the "special teams" coach. If it happens, you'd expect that to improve outcomes as well.

 

[LanceyHoward]

The first overtime Super Bowl, an epic choke/comeback, and THIS is the football thought that you have right now?

I was rooting for the Falcons. I am in denial.

 

[LanceyHoward]

Every generation is better than the last. Bigger, stronger and faster, why is this a surprise?

Because 31 of the 37 leading punters of all time were active in 2012 or later. The other six guys on the list were last active in 1952 (Sammy Baugh, he kicked a lot form short punt formation) , 1969, 1964, 1997, 1968, 1964 and 1973. So punting average has improved dramatically very quickly.

 

[LanceyHoward]

Because 31 of the 37 leading punters of all time were active in 2012 or later. The other six guys on the list were last active in 1952 (Sammy Baugh, he kicked a lot form short punt formation) , 1969, 1964, 1997, 1968, 1964 and 1973. So punting average has improved dramatically very quickly.

Maybe this should be on the Hall of Fame thread but why was Ray Guy inducted? Tommy Davis's punting average is two yards a kick higher and he was a good field goal kicker.

 

[Della9250]

When you think punting, the first name for most people is Ray Guy.

But for his honors -- he was a six-time first-team all-pro, all in a row, to go with a second-team all-pro, seven-time pro bowler, the 1970s all-decade punter, the punter on the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team, and part of the Raiders group that won three Super Bowls. He led the NFL in punting average three times and was runner-up three times (all in a nine-year span). As for Davis, Guy had double the number of punts in his career.

And as a side note, the only 1970s all-decade first teamers not in are Drew Pearson, Cliff Harris and Garo Yepremian.

Second side note, with Easley and Anderson going in, the only 1980s all-decade first-teamers not in are Jimbo Covert and Sean Landeta.

 

[exmediahack]

Nobody tries the coffin corner anymore - although I think they should.

More teams go for it on 4th and less than 4 in the opponents 40-50. Before they'd almost always punt and that would lower the average.

More domes and climate controlled places.

More punt returners fair catch at the 10.

And, yes, the punters do get better each generation.

Now if only the NFL will start screwing the punters like they are the place kickers. Bitter former place kicker here.

 

[exmediahack]

There have been stories on this over the past five years which I'm too lazy to look up, but long story short, training and coaching have improved by light years. There are specialist punter summer camps now just like for quarterbacks.

This as well. Thirty years ago, I would give mowed lawns for five summers in a row to have access to a kicking camp. I loved kicking but never could figure out how to get that POP off the ball to increase range past 43 yards.

 

[LanceyHoward]

There have been stories on this over the past five years which I'm too lazy to look up, but long story short, training and coaching have improved by light years. There are specialist punter summer camps now just like for quarterbacks.

I have never seen an article that attempts to explain why the punters are getting better. I tried googling and there was an article about how average distance is increasing but not explanation as to why.

 

[justgladtobehere]

Better balls, better technique, and more focused training. There was an article that I think was in Grantland about a former kicker or punter who runs camps for high school kickers and punters. Kids are getting training at an earlier age. In terms of technique, rugby punting is a new development.

 

[jr/shotglass]

Technique is just so huge in punting, because the path of the football means so much in terms of yardage and hang time. There are many more "pretty," spiraling punts today than there were in past generations, where more punters just banged the ball. End-over-end or wobbly punts, you're more at the mercy of how the ball lands.

Rugby punting has proven somewhat effective. Aesthetically, I despise it.

There is one college game I remember where the punter dominated the game, and it was Virginia's upset of Florida State in 1995. Will Brice kicked the Cavs out of trouble when they were pinned deep, pinned FSU deep when he punted from around midfield. All night long.

 

[Guy_Incognito]

Is it more true about punters than placekickers? Both on kicks and kickoffs.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Is it more true about punters than placekickers? Both on kicks and kickoffs.

No, placekicking has undergone an even more dramatic improvement in the last 30 years.
Shottie, I was at the game in 1973 when the Raiders ended the Dolphins unbeaten streak at 18. Score was 12-7. Rookie Ray Guy was the star. When he hit his last punt for about 50 yards, Madden ran out on the field as he came off and embraced him.