|
|
Kicker and Punter Profiles
By: John McMullen
With the draft only being seven rounds nowadays, it's almost impossible for placekickers or punters to be selected but one or two seem to go every year. Here's a look at the top placekickers and punters:
- Martin Gramatica Kansas State 5-9 170
Even with his small frame, Gramatica has a huge leg and is the most complete kicking prospect by a wide margin. NFL teams want only two things in a kicker, consistency and the big leg to give you a chance on the long field goal as well as get touchbacks for field position. Gramatica certainly has the tools to do those things. He has kicked a 65-yard field goal and some scouts even had him rated as a third round pick. A tough Alamo Bowl performance may have lowered his stock in some people's eyes but he is still the only kicker guaranteed to be drafted.
- Jeff Hall Tennessee 6-0 182
The National Champs' placekicker is probably the most consistent, efficient and pressure proven kicker but he doesn't have Gramatica's leg. He is very solid fundamentally and has a chance to be a seventh round pick.
- Kris Brown Nebraska 5-10 205
Brown is a project with a very powerful leg. He lacks consistency and misses some easy ones mainly due to poor fundamentals but he should get a shot somewhere.
Punters:
- Hunter Smith Notre Dame 6-2 218
Smith has been a real solid punter for the Irish. He's very athletic for a punter which could help if you have a shaky long snapper or on fakes. He does everything you need very well including directional punting, hanging the ball on the short ones and pooching. He has also been a pretty solid kickoff man. Smith is the only punter this year that I think has a chance to be drafted..
- Josh Bidwell Oregon 6-3 230
Bidwell is another athletic punter and he has an awesome leg. He is more consistent than Georgia Tech's Rodney Williams but still not nearly as consistent as a NFL punter needs to be. He also lacks directional skills but he will get a shot somewhere.
- Rodney Williams Georgia Tech 6-1 198
Williams has an awesome Ray Guy type leg and athletic ability but the comparisons stop there. He is very poor fundamentally and therefore very, very inconsistent. A few training camps with a good special teams coach and Williams could be something special.
|