Jump to content
[[Template core/front/custom/_customHeader is throwing an error. This theme may be out of date. Run the support tool in the AdminCP to restore the default theme.]]

Is Ray Guy the best punter ever to play in the NFL?


Standale Connection
 Share

Recommended Posts

For what it's worth, former Packer and current Titan Craig Hentrich has a 42.9 yards per punt average in 13 seasons. Guy averaged 42.4 yards in 14 seasons.

 

 

 

That may be but Guy still placed more balls inside the 5 than anyone I ever saw. His hangtime was phenomenal too.

 

The real test is he won games.

 

-NFL Postseason Record for Highest Punting Average in a game with 56.0 average.

 

-"Hang-time" came into the NFL lexicon during his tenure. One of his punts hit the hanging scoreboard in the Louisiana Superdome. Another was tested for "helium!"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pretty sure he was the best. I wonder how many games they won mainly because of him? Of course if he was punting a lot, that wasn't a good game for the Raiders; but there are probably at least a few that he 'iced' for them late...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Mutine Bullfrog

Longest Punt

98 Steve O'Neal, N.Y. Jets vs. Denver, Sept. 21, 1969

94 Joe Lintzenich, Chi. Bears vs. N.Y. Giants, Nov. 16, 1931

93 Shawn McCarthy, New England vs. Buffalo, Nov. 3, 1991

AVERAGE YARDAGE

Highest Average, Punting, Career (250 punts)

45.85 Shane Lechler, Oakland, 2002-05 (442-20,266)

45.10 Sammy Baugh, Washington, 1937-1952 (338-15,245)

44.68 Tommy Davis, San Francisco, 1959-1969 (511-22,833)

Highest Average, Punting, Season (Qualifiers)

51.40 Sammy Baugh, Washington, 1940 (35-1,799)

48.94 Yale Lary, Detroit, 1963 (35-1,713)

48.73 Sammy Baugh, Washington, 1941 (30-1,462)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Punting is a very under appreciated part of the game, as field position is a very important part of winning and losing. It's also hard to judge punters from stats. Average gross doesn't tell the story without knowing what the hang time is. Low punts that outkick the coverage are dangerous plays. Net punting average is an indicator, but if a team has lousy ST's that number may not reflect how good or bad a punter may be.

 

There isn't any stat to measure how good a directional punter a player might be. Inside the 20 stats don't tell the story very well either. Most NFL fans don't pay any attention to punting until their team has a lousy one. When they do, a new appreciation for a good one is sure to increase.... trust me on that one as a Jets fan.

 

The Jets signed that Aussie punter, Ben Graham, and people do appreciate what he brings to the team. Great accuracy, very good both directionally and in distance. He has two different types of punts. The "torpedoe" (Aussie name for it) which is the spiral punt for distance, and the "drop punt", which tumbles, is difficult to catch, and tends to deaden when it bounces.... great for putting the ball inside the opponent's 10.

 

Graham was voted a team captain in this, his second year in the NFL at 32 years old. As an ex-Australian football star, it helps that he is 6'4" and 220, and he has great hands and good speed. We're still waiting on him getting involved in "football plays".... he's chompin at the bit to lay some lumber on someone. In the Miami game, a Dolphin ST'er started to trash talk him after a bad punt. Graham threw an elbow that almost put the guy on the ground.... luckilly, he looked around first, and got away with it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sammy Baugh was in my view. Talk about a lethal weapon...to have one of the best throwers in NFL history punting? You'd never be able to setup a return...he also kicked quite often in pisspoor conditions in an era when not many people followed the NFL.

 

Give me Baugh any day of the week.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information