Don't get me wrong here. I think the reason the Jets lost was Zach. Period. End of subject. With that said, what about Braden Mann in all of this? We were stuck in a field position battle in that game and Mann failed us in catastrophic fashion. This after him knowing he was another problem in the first NE game. Against the Bills he slipped on the kickoff and gave the Bills the ball at midfield. Luckily, Jordan Whitehead bailed us out of that situation. But it seems like we're having kicking problems every other week between shanked punts, slips, out kicking coverage, flat kicks. How many more excuses does he get? I'm tired of his constant mistakes. Just as we're revealing the truth about Zach, I think Braden Mann should start to feel some heat as well. I don't know if that means this season, but definitely in the offseason. What are your thoughts? Are you firmly in the camp of supporting him or do you think he's easily replaced?
I said right before the kick, watch the Pats return this for a TD… then the flat line drive kick and I was thinking that’s gonna be returnable… Mann has been very average + not worth his draft position. He rarely flips the field position, never seems to get off the huge kick when needed. He’s also so inconsistent that he was just worried about getting that kick off vs placement (out of bounds)… He’s not terrible, but really average.
He is coming into the biggest year of his contract next year. We would save a million dollars releasing him this offseason. But who will replace him?
Can't waste time worrying about the punter when the QB can't complete a 5 yard swing pass. The only reason the Jets were put in a position to lose that game is because they have the worst starting QB in the NFL.
I think @Jonathan_Vilma posted his stats/rankings during the summer and from what I remember, it wasn't flattering. He's definitely had a few shanks (week 1 was the worst) but I think his stats show he's been a bit better this season than previous years. I'd lose zero sleep if Douglas let him walk this off season but wouldn't give much push back if he resigned him either.
He was one of the worst punters in the league his first two seasons. He’s been significantly better this year. He shanks one too many, but I’d hardly say he’s been an issue. I’d still explore other options and the dipshit has to boot the ball out of bounds, but he’s been a top 15 punter this year which is all you can ask for.
ONLY reason I can think is that Mann knew a FG wins the game for the Pats, and wanted to get the ball deep, far away from FG range. If Mann had targeted the sidelines and shanked it, or the wind blew it out of bounds faster than preferred, then the Pats coulda taken over at the 50, needing just one completion for a game winning FG try. Say all that happened. We'd be killing Mann for not kicking it deep, just like the other 8 punts that game. Oh well....sucks.
Mann is certainly replaceable, but allowing that punt return TD is an entire special teams breakdown, not just Mann.
Eh this maybe who he is. He was bombing punts before in college. Suddenly he’s moreso a directional punter with an average leg who shanks one too often.
If we want a new punter we can shop for one in the offseason. Mann is probably better than anything that we can find on the scrapheap this season.
Like most people are saying.... he's easily replaceable. We only spent a 6th rounder on him. If I'm JD I'm looking at spending a 6th or 7th to replace him. He's way too inconsistent and sucks at the most important times....
Seems to me that's when you should worry most about your punter. When you have a QB, you punt less, and field position is less important. Who gives a shit about a punter then?
He hasn't been complete shit this year like he was last year, but he hasn't justified the lack of real competition at the position. Way too much respect is paid to Boyer for roster consideration. If he was such a good coach, why does he need a drafted punter? A mercenary gunner? Are there really no players of the caliber of Eric Smith on the team?
