Punting

[Dakota1]

Re: Punting

I would like to point out he received the special teams player of the game against NDSU. NDSU net punting average 36.6 and SDSU net punting average 36.5. Two punts with his heals on the end line. The punter has to do a one step kick to get the punt off. How about get a first down in the first quarter against NDSU?

[Dakota1]

Re: Punting

The kid came in as a true Freshman and did a good job.

[JACKGUYII]

Re: Punting

The kid came in as a true Freshman and did a good job.

I'm sure he expects much more out of himself this year. Punting was not a strength for this team in 2015 and it effected field position many times.

[91jack]

Re: Punting

Some context to this topic (Stats from MVFC website):

PUNTING G No. Yards Avg/P Ret. Avg/R TB Net/P
1. N. Dakota State 6 30 1372 45.7 117 3.9 6 37.8
2. Illinois State 6 23 894 38.9 48 2.1 0 36.8
3. South Dakota 6 33 1358 41.2 115 3.5 3 35.8
4. Youngstown State 6 29 1075 37.1 5 0.2 2 35.5
5. S. Dakota State 6 26 977 37.6 66 2.5 0 35.0
6. Northern Iowa 6 40 1667 41.7 236 5.9 4 33.8
7. Indiana State 6 34 1294 38.1 94 2.8 3 33.5
8. Southern Illinois 6 21 802 38.2 69 3.3 2 33.0
9. Missouri State 6 54 2003 37.1 203 3.8 2 32.6
10. Western Illinois 6 31 1041 33.6 171 5.5 0 28.1

We are middle of the pack in net punting average at 35 yds/punt, with NDSU #1 at 37.8 yds/punt. I'm assuming that Hale is being directed to punt shorter for better coverage and greater net yards.

PUNT RETURN AVG G No. Yards TD Long Avg.
1. Missouri State 6 8 167 1 58 20.9
2. Youngstown State 6 14 171 0 39 12.2

Also to be noted: Youngstown is #2 in the conference for punt return average.

We are #5 in the conference on punting. There is definitely room for improvement. However, looking at the numbers, the sky isn't falling here.

I do like that we only allow an average of only 2.5 yards/return but I hope at some point we actually have faith in our players to cover a punt. We do more short punts and squib kicks than any other team I've seen lately.

We averaged 37.6 yards/punt USD's 41.2 yards/punt. Of course the USD punter had 33 punts and put 17 of them inside the 20. He only had 3 that were touchbacks. Putting 85% of your kicks inside the 20 yard line(compare to touchbacks) is not a bad percentage. He had 14 punts that were more than 50 yards.

It looks like SDSU didn't have any touchbacks so that is a plus but I don't know how many punts they left inside the 20. I would like a 20 yard/punt average if all of those punts were left inside the 10 yard line. Of course, it would be better if we had a FG kicker that could knock in the 50 yards FG instead of punting from there. (Best case would be a TD but we are talking kicking here).

I'm not saying that he had a bad year and he was a freshman so I'm sure he will get better.