Maybe if we had a better OC, punting wouldn't be the issue. IMO, Rex doesn't seem to think a punter is a priority. The only punter I really liked the last few years coming into the NFL was Huber.
It has seemed to me like Conley has been playing just fine. What I like about his kicks is that he doesn't appear to be outkicking his coverage and tends to pin returners against the sideline with directional kicking that has been minimizing returns against him.
there you go. that is it exactly he had some great kicks against dallas i recall, and some good ones in oakland. He's had some nice pinning kicks too inside the 10 against the pats and ravens though, he wasn't great, although he did pin brady back once or twice. he hasn't flat out shanked any like weatherford did at the end of last season. i think he'll be fine
Weatherford wasn't bad at all. He choked in the playoffs, but he was more than decent in the regular season. The averages don't tell the whole story though. Half of Weatherfords punts landed inside the 20 as opposed to 32% for Conley. Which means Weatherford had to tone down on his punts often to keep the ball from a touchback (only 4 TB and 42 inside 20. 2 TB and 10 inside 20 for Conley). Its not a huge difference, obviously, but it shows that most of Weatherfords kicks came from around our own 40-50 yard line, meaning he didn't always kick it with full power. He has a 45.6 yard average this year on 29 punts and ONLY 4 inside 20, meaning he had room to punt.
Conley sucked but looked better for the Pats game. I was ready to cut him after the Ravens game but he is who we have.
With punters and kickers it always seems to be a grass is greener scenario. You make the change, and the new guy is no better than what you already had. It's maddening.
Averages don't tell the story. 42 kicks inside 20. 20 kicks inside 10. 4 touchbacks. Find me a better punting season. Edit: Just saw Jetsnboys post. Whatever, there was a double rainbow today.
which is why we shouldnt compare weatherfords last year, to this year since its all that matters. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe weatherford and Conley have nearly even punts inside the 20 through 5 weeks...
Wrong. weatherford's tailspin began at the end of the regular season. it was either the patriots game or a game or two before that. after that, he was incredibly inconsistent. his performance dropped off big time. he was booting the hell out of the ball the first half of the season and then he was garbage
Fact is, good punters and kickers are working and it could well be that Conley was the best of what was left over in the Punting talent pool. We've had quite a few guys come and go at that position and I think that doesn't change anytime soon. Conley is it folks. Just keep your fingers crossed that the occasional wind gust doesn't turn a 45yd punt into a 25yd'er.
if we use the anti-conley logic on another position, then we should get rid of sanchez and look for another team's qb cut to start for us- like trade for orton or carson palmer.
He really does suck. When we punt from the endzone it is always an adventure. Mr. T obviously does not believe in putting any money, or talent, in this position.
