Status of Kickers and Punters.

[Eukaryote]

Now I admit I don't know much about (American) football, but I do know that the kickers and punters are the least known and respected types of football players. I was wondering what's with that, because I don't really like it. I don't think Punters are all that great, because their job seems simple, but the punter still makes his fair share of difference right? And I've always thought that kickers ought to be the 2nd most prestigious job. (after quarterback) Doing kickoffs, field goals, and conversions seems like a lot of responsibility to me.

Your thoughts?

Oh, it seems all of the above is BS. Sorry.

 

[Red Door]

Punters and Kickers are more well-known than most Offensive Lineman. Punters are important because they give teams good or bad field position and they also can screw your team with one bad punk. Kickers are very important to the game and can win and lose games for you.

 

[Azale]

Their position as athletes in comparison with the other skill positions and the line positions is tenuous at best, plus the fact that if there are any former athletes in media position...that bias continues into their media careers. ESPN is dominated by former athlete personalities (good or bad) and those who pander to the athletes, and pumping up the kicker or the punter is usually not a good way to pander.

Plus they are pretty weird guys most of the time. Easy to stereotype and isolate.

 

[ummmm........]

I think most people who follow football probably have a good understanding of the value of special teams, so I need a fifth "they are already valued as they should be" option.

The stereotype is promulgated mostly just for tv color, I think. Kind of like the 'big dumb lineman' or whatever . . .

 

[downtown]

They're not unknown here at Ohio State. Our special teams guys are more important than some of our WRs.

 

[Eukaryote]

Plus they are pretty weird guys most of the time. Easy to stereotype and isolate.

Being "weird" doesn't seem like a good reason for degrading somebody. If your mean they're annoying or a-holes just say so. But being out of the ordinary doesn't make you less of a person.

So anyway, seems I was wrong on this one. My bad.

 

[skadistic]

I always thought it was just a running gag.

 

[skadistic]

I always thought it was just a running gag.

 

[Darkness]

Kind of like the 'big dumb lineman' or whatever . . .

This is quite possibly the dumbest stereotype ever. Offensive Linemen are often among the most intelligent players on the team.

 

[illram]

Well they can win or lose the game, so they are important. They lead difficult and conflicted lives as we all saw firsthand in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.

 

[azzaman333]

Now I admit I don't know much about (American) football, but I do know that the kickers and punters are the least known and respected types of football players. I was wondering what's with that, because I don't really like it. I don't think Punters are all that great, because their job seems simple, but the punter still makes his fair share of difference right? And I've always thought that kickers ought to be the 2nd most prestigious job. (after quarterback) Doing kickoffs, field goals, and conversions seems like a lot of responsibility to me.

Your thoughts?

Oh, it seems all of the above is BS. Sorry.

Speaking from an Australian perspective, pretty much the only players we give even know about that are in the NFL are ex-Aussie Rules players which generally means they're punters because of the way Aussie Rules is played. Personally, I only knew Sav Rocca and Ben Graham.

 

[holiday_hawk]

a good kicker or punter makes a huge difference, if you've got Shayne Graham then you can be as bad as the bengals and still win games or if you've got a punter like Shane Lechler then your job on d is a lot easier knowing that the other team has a long way to go to score

 

[Fetus4188]

I think special teams get pretty good attention these days, at least the kicks and return men do. How about long snappers, though? That's not easy.

 

[cubsfan6506]

Thing is all they cand do is mess up, barring a field goal of 55 yards or a punt inside the five.

 

[Azale]

Being "weird" doesn't seem like a good reason for degrading somebody. If your mean they're annoying or a-holes just say so. But being out of the ordinary doesn't make you less of a person.

So anyway, seems I was wrong on this one. My bad.

No...I mean weird. They often don't fit in with the rest of the team and they have their own little thing they do. Especially the kickers that are not really established in the league.

I never said I approved of it, it's just the nature of the beast. Maybe if the kicker felt he was more a part of the team he would be better, maybe he would win a few more games for you over the course of a year...I personally think it should be a coaches job to make sure there is a positive atmosphere conducive to winning games for ALL of the players, not just the skill or line players.

 

[mrt144]

being a kicker requires a skillset very different from any other player on the team. being able to kick a football accurately through goal posts is the biggest requirement and thusly attracts very different types of people to the position other than the trained and conditioned athlete.

 

[MadScotsMan]

I get the weird part, because props are the weird ones in rugby


PS I'm not a prop, but my brother is.