Matt Araiza Is Out to Change the Way the NFL Views Punters
April 18, 2022 7:38 AM Subscribe
Will be really interesting to see where he gets drafted. I remember a somewhat similar excitement about Sebastian Janikowski, and Oakland ended up picking him in the first round. He didn't quite set the world on fire, but he lasted 19 years in the NFL, so he was a tremendous success in that regard. Don't think anyone is going to risk a first rounder on the Punt God though. I wonder if he's really going to be handling kicks as well. If he could save a roster spot, he'd be that much more valuable to a team.
posted by skewed at 9:49 AM on April 18, 2022
posted by skewed at 9:49 AM on April 18, 2022
I'd think the roster spot he'd save would be the backup kickers. Or does the punter already fill that roll?
posted by Keith Talent at 11:22 AM on April 18, 2022
posted by Keith Talent at 11:22 AM on April 18, 2022
Yes, the punter is sometimes the backup kicker, because they may have had experience with it in high school. However, if they've never actually been a kicker before they usually aren't very good at it. Also, for field goals and extra points usually the punter is used as the holder, which is somewhat of a special skill by itself.
So sometimes the backup kicker will be another player, such as defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh).
NFL rosters are limited to 53 players (and only 46 can dress for any single game), and it's just not practical to carry more than one kicker and one punter.
posted by AndrewInDC at 12:16 PM on April 18, 2022 [1 favorite]
So sometimes the backup kicker will be another player, such as defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh).
NFL rosters are limited to 53 players (and only 46 can dress for any single game), and it's just not practical to carry more than one kicker and one punter.
posted by AndrewInDC at 12:16 PM on April 18, 2022 [1 favorite]
I am a bit skeptical that he gets a third round pick. Of the critiques I've seen, his short punting game is the one that would be of biggest concern. There's mention on some draft reviews that he struggles a bit with coffin corners and short punts staying out of the endzone. 31% of Araiza's short punts went for touchbacks. I do wonder to what degree having faster NFL players will compensate for this.
Also, there's always the concern with the K-ball. The harder ball used for NFL kicking plays has messed with college kickers and punters in the past. My guess is that it isn't a problem for him, or else he would have taken that year of eligibility.
That said, my guess is he gets drafted in the fourth or fifth. His unholy power and that he's a lefty punter should be enough to warrant a sixth, but with this being a weaker draft than most years, he'll go mid-round.
I'd think the roster spot he'd save would be the backup kickers. Or does the punter already fill that roll?
As stated above, the punter is usually the backup kicker. Also, several teams have their punter do kickoffs as a "kickoff specialist". Rigoberto Sanchez, Jake Bailey, Jack Fox, Mitch Wishnowsky, and Brad Pinion were P/KO guys last year. I would 100% expect Araiza to fall into that category. The P/KO guys can help teams save a bit of money at K, or just keep wear and tear off of an older K, e.g. Wishnowsky and Robbie Gould for the 49ers.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 12:55 PM on April 18, 2022 [3 favorites]
Also, there's always the concern with the K-ball. The harder ball used for NFL kicking plays has messed with college kickers and punters in the past. My guess is that it isn't a problem for him, or else he would have taken that year of eligibility.
That said, my guess is he gets drafted in the fourth or fifth. His unholy power and that he's a lefty punter should be enough to warrant a sixth, but with this being a weaker draft than most years, he'll go mid-round.
I'd think the roster spot he'd save would be the backup kickers. Or does the punter already fill that roll?
As stated above, the punter is usually the backup kicker. Also, several teams have their punter do kickoffs as a "kickoff specialist". Rigoberto Sanchez, Jake Bailey, Jack Fox, Mitch Wishnowsky, and Brad Pinion were P/KO guys last year. I would 100% expect Araiza to fall into that category. The P/KO guys can help teams save a bit of money at K, or just keep wear and tear off of an older K, e.g. Wishnowsky and Robbie Gould for the 49ers.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 12:55 PM on April 18, 2022 [3 favorites]
This kid has the terrible luck of arriving the exact wrong moment. For as much hype as he's getting, there's never been less demand for a long-distance punter. In order for a 75 yard punt to consistently matter, your offense has to consistently be stopped behind its own 20 yard line. And in the age of tanking, if your offense is that bad, it's not an accident. Your team has decided to lose games to earn higher draft picks, and pinning the other team inside their 20 isn't going to help you do that.
That's to say nothing of the fact that analytics-influenced coaches are going for it on fourth down more than ever.
I really want to like this kid, I do. I love punting. But this is the special teams equivalent of a QB who can throw 75 yards, or a receiver with straight-line speed. That's great, but how do they do on an eight yard hitch? Because your offense is going to throw a lot more eight yard hitches than 75 yard bombs. Being able to throw that bomb isn't going to help your offense on 3rd and 5 from the other team's 42 any more than being able to punt 75 yards isn't going to help on 4th and 5 from the other team's 42.
posted by kevinbelt at 9:50 AM on April 19, 2022
That's to say nothing of the fact that analytics-influenced coaches are going for it on fourth down more than ever.
I really want to like this kid, I do. I love punting. But this is the special teams equivalent of a QB who can throw 75 yards, or a receiver with straight-line speed. That's great, but how do they do on an eight yard hitch? Because your offense is going to throw a lot more eight yard hitches than 75 yard bombs. Being able to throw that bomb isn't going to help your offense on 3rd and 5 from the other team's 42 any more than being able to punt 75 yards isn't going to help on 4th and 5 from the other team's 42.
posted by kevinbelt at 9:50 AM on April 19, 2022
"This kid has the terrible luck of arriving the exact wrong moment. For as much hype as he's getting, there's never been less demand for a long-distance punter. In order for a 75 yard punt to consistently matter, your offense has to consistently be stopped behind its own 20 yard line. And in the age of tanking, if your offense is that bad, it's not an accident. Your team has decided to lose games to earn higher draft picks, and pinning the other team inside their 20 isn't going to help you do that. "
Reminds me of Yost's "Punt, Pass and Prayer" offense, which would often punt on first down — to "establish the punt" — then count on either recovering it, or strong defense to force a turnover, then use fake punts to allow passes. This, somehow, was a winning strategy in the early days of college football.
posted by klangklangston at 1:12 PM on April 19, 2022
Reminds me of Yost's "Punt, Pass and Prayer" offense, which would often punt on first down — to "establish the punt" — then count on either recovering it, or strong defense to force a turnover, then use fake punts to allow passes. This, somehow, was a winning strategy in the early days of college football.
posted by klangklangston at 1:12 PM on April 19, 2022
As a fan of Iowa Hawkeye football hailing from Waterloo - hometown of Reggie Roby - I like the idea of punting making a difference. But sometimes the game moves on. Matt might tip a game or two every season, which might be enough.
posted by Caxton1476 at 1:03 AM on April 20, 2022
posted by Caxton1476 at 1:03 AM on April 20, 2022
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posted by NoMich at 7:50 AM on April 18, 2022