Let’s call this a blind taste test, if you will. Below are the stats for two different punters:

Punter A: 29 punts, 41.3 yard average, 31.8 yard net, 6 touchbacks, 4 inside-the-20, 55 long
Punter B: 26 punts, 39.6 yard average, 32.1 yard net, 0 touchbacks, 9 inside-the-20, 60 long

If you didn’t sniff out a trick question from the beginning, it should be obvious by now. Punter A is Ryan Plackemeier during his Redskins tenure. Punter B is Durant Brooks, who was waived due to poor performance. Both have extremely comparable stats (Plack is a hair longer, Brooks was better inside the 20).

I think you could make a semi-fair case that Plackemeier has suffered some tough breaks. I can think of at least three instances off the top of my head where balls should have been downed inside the two-yard line but were touchbacks. But even if you give him those, the two punters are still awfully comparable. One key difference is potential. Plackemeier is a few years into his NFL career, while Brooks still has room to grow.

One very safe conclusion here is that next year, more than one punter will be a part of training camp. Oh, and the Redskins won’t use a draft pick on one.

Posted by Michael Phillips in • Professional Football
(0) Comments | Permalink