A very random thought for my 1st post back! | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

A very random thought for my 1st post back!

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phinfan2003

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We'll I'm back after being impersonated this morning (I was logged on on 2 computers and my buddy decided to use my name and post something uncalled for using my name as a joke and I got banned until I got back to the Mods. WharfRat, thanks for helping me out man!!).

Here is my random thought. I was thinking about one of the easiest jobs in the NFL (yet one of the most pressure filled) is that of place kicker. As far as practice and physical toll on their body, they have it pretty good. So I was wondering, why don't teams sign players to not only be their place kicker, but to also handle the punting duties? Conversely, why don't place kickers learn how to punt to make themselves that much more valuable to teams?

Now I know that kicking and punting are 2 completely different skills but I would think that you would have a leg up (pun intended) by having the power to be an NFL kicker. I assume the rest is just practice, placement, and fundamentals. In HS, our PK was also our P. This is a lot different than HS but how awesome would it be if Donnie Jones or Olindo Mare could handle both jobs? We could have one extra roster spot. If corners can be used as safeties and DL as LB, why not K as punters?
 
phinfan2003 said:
We'll I'm back after being impersonated this morning (I was logged on on 2 computers and my buddy decided to use my name and post something uncalled for using my name as a joke and I got banned until I got back to the Mods. WharfRat, thanks for helping me out man!!).

Here is my random thought. I was thinking about one of the easiest jobs in the NFL (yet one of the most pressure filled) is that of place kicker. As far as practice and physical toll on their body, they have it pretty good. So I was wondering, why don't teams sign players to not only be their place kicker, but to also handle the punting duties? Conversely, why don't place kickers learn how to punt to make themselves that much more valuable to teams?

Now I know that kicking and punting are 2 completely different skills but I would think that you would have a leg up (pun intended) by having the power to be an NFL kicker. I assume the rest is just practice, placement, and fundamentals. In HS, our PK was also our P. This is a lot different than HS but how awesome would it be if Donnie Jones or Olindo Mare could handle both jobs? We could have one extra roster spot. If corners can be used as safeties and DL as LB, why not K as punters?
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Firstly I would like to join your club of being impersonated and getting banned---but I cant , cause I said something nasty to a BILLS FAN!

Secondly I already posted that I didn't think Mare wouldn't make it through the season, just a gut feeling (it was before the season started). I apologise for that as I think Dr Ivel questioned it, but I just couldn't answer why at the time.

Thirdly D Jones is F***ing awesome. A weapon at last just like Reggie used to be :)
 
I think the main hurdle is that you would put a lot of wear and tear on one leg. That would make it more susceptible to injury and then you'd have two holes to fill.
 
rafael said:
I think the main hurdle is that you would put a lot of wear and tear on one leg. That would make it more susceptible to injury and then you'd have two holes to fill.
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I see your point but from what I've heard, kickers and punters have the easiest practices. They spend a lot of time sitting around. If you think about it,if a kicker was also a punter, that would only mean about an average of 6 more plays a game. That's the angle I'm taking but I do see your point.
 
I would think it would be eaiser for a kicker to learn to punt than the other way around.
 
Well, we already got a chance to see Mare punt and it wasn't pretty. I've always wondered why kickers dont just punt too though. I know that some punters take on kick off responsibilities. I don't know. You would think that coaches have to have entertained the idea. :confused:
 
If you have one doing both in a game and he gets hurt you have none.
Or we could have Wes Welker just do it all.
 
I think it does ultimately come down to the exposure for the need to fill two positions if the one player (that could fill the roles) becomes injured.

Imagine the bind you'd be in if the kicker/punter was a game time decision, or was injured in the middle of a game. Too often games are decided by field position or a missed point after or field goal. I think the risk is too great to have both skills in the hands (or foot ) of one person.

Now to carry the thought further it would be nice to have a back-up lineman with the ability to long snap and act as a utility-type lineman, you'd have a much better chance of freeing up a roster spot this way. IMO
 
Last year and before at the U of Minn Gophers we had an English kid that punted and kicked, he was pretty effective at both, better kicker but it is certainly something I have thought can be done, though the technique Rhys used would not have worked for punting in the NFL though as the game is too fast.
 
My good friend is a kicker/punter in college. The thing that normally happens is most kickers know how to do both but are naturally stronger or have potential to be reall good at 1 and when a coach sees this they tell them whitch 1 to focus on. Kickers have it easy during regular practice but take my word for it kickers need alot of practice. Kickers get there practice in 1on1 sessions.
 
Lazy1 said:
My good friend is a kicker/punter in college. The thing that normally happens is most kickers know how to do both but are naturally stronger or have potential to be reall good at 1 and when a coach sees this they tell them whitch 1 to focus on. Kickers have it easy during regular practice but take my word for it kickers need alot of practice. Kickers get there practice in 1on1 sessions.
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Makes sense.
 
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