Redskins Draft 2006 - Punters

[That Guy]

PUNTERS:


Current Situation:
Tom Tupa is 40 now, and though he may have 4 more years left, recent injury problems mean that competition HAS to be brought in every year until his replacement is found. Tupa is a great directional kicker, though the height on his kicks can sometimes be inconsistant. Punter is not a dire need for the Redskins, but an insurance policy greater than the inconsistant, though very lucky (on rolls and bounces) Derrick Frost is sorely needed. If a replacement is found and Tupa is healthy, Gibbs always has the option to delay a decision with the PUP list or IR if he does not want to waste a roster spot. Though I'd imagine a replacement would mean that Tupa and his salary gets dropped.



Possibilities:

-Free Agency:

Dave Zastudil (Ravens) - Young, cheap, available. Probably wouldn't have any issues with moving 30 miles down the road like rabach of last year. YPP average of 43.5 in 2005, and 41.6 career. At 28 and with 4 years of NFL experience, he should have plenty of seasons (10+) left to go.
http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/302154


Complete list of all RFA/UFA punters:
http://www.theredzone.org/2006/freea...asp?Position=P


-Draft Day:

John Torp (Colorado) - consistantly good punter, has 5 rushes for 55 yards (inc. a -14) and 1/1 passing for -2 yards. Capable of getting great height on his kicks, though distance isn't quite as flashy as other prospects, it's still very good. Career ypp average of 44.92, with a 45.16 average in 2005. Good Workouts, 1st punter taken, probable 2nd Day pick (mid-late 4th).
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player...layerId=134010
http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/playerDet...=157&player=29

Ryan Plackemeier (Wake Forest), had his team ranked #1 in net punt average (avg ypp - avg punt return yards) at 41.38ypp. He had a 47.24ypp average in 2005 and a lifetime average of 45.26. 2nd Day (mid-late 5th)
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player...layerId=134010
http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/playerDet...=749&player=81

Sam Koch (Nebraska), listed as the 18th best punter on the draft boards even though he averaged 46.51 yards per punt in 2005 (long of 84) and has an average of 44.04ypp lifetime. The Cornhuskers were ranked #2 in net punt average at 39.85. Only a 2 year starter (undrafted).
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player...layerId=123206
http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/playerDet...=463&player=37


Complete list of all available college punters:
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings...xpos&order=ASC


-Recommendation:
Call Sam Koch and get him a contract as soon as possible or consider using the late 7th to claim his rights if other choices on the Redskin board look to go undrafted. Cheaper than Tupa and much younger; getting him may not even cost a draft pick.

[That Guy]

Ones to watch for Draft 2007:
in case we can't find a good punter and stick with tupa, here are the top candidates for next year's draft.

Brandon Fields (Michigan St) P - has lead the NCAA in ypp average and is the career leader in ypp average (of currently active player) at 45.63, had an off year in 2005 (41.6ypp)
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player...3782&year=2005
http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/playerDet...g=416&player=8

Daniel Sepulveda (Baylor) P - consistantly good punter, ypp average of 46.18 in 2005, 44.85 career.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player...4774&year=2005
http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/playerDet...g=51&player=37

[ultimateskinsfan]

I say we bring buddy groom back or keep frost, he did get better towards the end of the year.

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by ultimateskinsfan

I say we bring buddy groom back or keep frost, he did get better towards the end of the year.

both averaged about 40 yards per punt. groom was better than frost, but there are better options than either out there at the same price hence the failure to mention them above.

[MTK]

If Tupa can't go I think we'll go after another veteran punter. I don't see Gibbs and co. settling on a couple of inconsistent youngsters again.

[hail_2_da_skins]

Frost was ok. Don't spend any extra money on a punter, especially a draft pick A punter is a non-football player anyway. As Dan Marino stated, "Anyone can punt the ball".

[cpayne5]

Originally Posted by hail_2_da_skins

Frost was ok. Don't spend any extra money on a punter, especially a draft pick A punter is a non-football player anyway. As Dan Marino stated, "Anyone can punt the ball".

Good punters can help win games. There's a big difference between the 5 yd line and the 20 yd line.

[Deacs55]

Originally Posted by That Guy

PUNTERS:


Current Situation:
Tom Tupa is 40 now, and though he may have 4 more years left, recent injury problems mean that competition HAS to be brought in every year until his replacement is found. Tupa is a great directional kicker, though the height on his kicks can sometimes be inconsistant. Punter is not a dire need for the Redskins, but an insurance policy greater than the inconsistant, though very lucky (on rolls and bounces) Derrick Frost is sorely needed. If a replacement is found and Tupa is healthy, Gibbs always has the option to delay a decision with the PUP list or IR if he does not want to waste a roster spot. Though I'd imagine a replacement would mean that Tupa and his salary gets dropped.



Possibilities:

-Free Agency:

Dave Zastudil (Ravens) - Young, cheap, available. Probably wouldn't have any issues with moving 30 miles down the road like rabach of last year. YPP average of 43.5 in 2005, and 41.6 career. At 28 and with 4 years of NFL experience, he should have plenty of seasons (10+) left to go.
http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/302154


Complete list of all RFA/UFA punters:
http://www.theredzone.org/2006/freea...asp?Position=P


-Draft Day:

John Torp (Colorado) - consistantly good punter, has 5 rushes for 55 yards (inc. a -14) and 1/1 passing for -2 yards. Capable of getting great height on his kicks, though distance isn't quite as flashy as other prospects, it's still very good. Career ypp average of 44.92, with a 45.16 average in 2005. Good Workouts, 1st punter taken, probable 2nd Day pick (mid-late 4th).
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player...layerId=134010
http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/playerDet...=157&player=29

Ryan Plackemeier (Wake Forest), had his team ranked #1 in net punt average (avg ypp - avg punt return yards) at 41.38ypp. He had a 47.24ypp average in 2005 and a lifetime average of 45.26. 2nd Day (mid-late 5th)
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player...layerId=134010
http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/playerDet...=749&player=81

Sam Koch (Nebraska), listed as the 18th best punter on the draft boards even though he averaged 46.51 yards per punt in 2005 (long of 84) and has an average of 44.04ypp lifetime. The Cornhuskers were ranked #2 in net punt average at 39.85. Only a 2 year starter (undrafted).
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player...layerId=123206
http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/playerDet...=463&player=37


Complete list of all available college punters:
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings...xpos&order=ASC


-Recommendation:
Call Sam Koch and get him a contract as soon as possible or consider using the late 7th to claim his rights if other choices on the Redskin board look to go undrafted. Cheaper than Tupa and much younger; getting him may not even cost a draft pick.

I vote for Ryan Plackemeier! I saw him kick all through his college career, and he is definately an offensive weapon regarding field position. But he's from California and may want to play for a West Coast team. He's also a great person!

[MTK]

Originally Posted by cpayne5

Good punters can help win games. There's a big difference between the 5 yd line and the 20 yd line.

I definitely agree. Field position is HUGE and Tupa gave us a big advantage in that area in 2004.

Frost could have blown the wildcard game against the Bucs with that shanked punt in the 4th quarter. If he had I highly doubt we'd be saying don't spend extra money on a punter right about now.

[Big C]

plackemeir is a beast. didnt he kick for them also at one point?

[bigmarley4]

Originally Posted by Deacs55

I vote for Ryan Plackemeier! I saw him kick all through his college career, and he is definately an offensive weapon regarding field position. But he's from California and may want to play for a West Coast team. He's also a great person!

Deacs, when were you at Wake? I graduated in '04, saw Plackemeirer boot the hell out of the ball for 2 years. I think he will have an awesome pro career.

[shallyshal]

Originally Posted by Big C

plackemeir is a beast. didnt he kick for them also at one point?

the ability to kick off would be a plus. we had cox at one time as a punter, kick off specialist and extra long field goal kicker. that kind of player would be very good to have. i agree that rouen consistently buried the redskins (although he sure didn't do it against the steelers, did he?).
we always had problems with parcells because he played the field positon game superbly with sean landetta.

first choice would be a healthy tupa. he is also a great holder. second choice would be to secure a young player for the next 5 years. that has not happened thus far. guys like groom look great as collegians but often flame out as pros. the pressure gets to them

[That Guy]

all 3 are great pickups, plack and torp will be drafted though. Koch was only .75ypp worse than plack (and in the same conference ), and will probably be undrafted and the same price as frost (who, btw, REALLY sucks).

Like I said, if tupa is healthy, we can bring in an undrafted guy of quality to try out in minicamp, there's nothing to lose. Two other punters will be out next year of about equal quality. this year plack was #1 in the NCAA, koch was #2, torp #5. Next year the #3 and the current NCAA punting leader (who had an off year) are coming out.

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by Big C

plackemeir is a beast. didnt he kick for them also at one point?

plack had 31 kickoffs, and was 9/18 on FG attempts in 4 years.