Jason Baker

[Lout]

Carolina Panthers are dead last in net average punting yards.. this may not seem like much to many, but it has everything to do with starting field position for the opposing team. This could be something that many of us are overlooking, and could be one of the determining factors in why we are losing close games. Baker is averaging just over 30 yard per punt.. when a respectable average is 40+.. 10 yards per punt we are losing, which really adds up over the course of a game considering we punt 5 times per game. For those of you poor at math, that is 50 yards of field position could be the difference in a 3 point win or a 3 point loss.

Maybe we should look at the Punter position in the 7th round this year.

Note:

#32, #33, and #34 were released from their respective teams.. so we have (not only the worst Punter in the NFL), but other guys, who are doing better than him, have been cut.

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?seasonType=REG&d-447263-n=1&d-447263-o=2&d-447263-p=1&statisticPositionCategory=PUNTER&d-447263-s=PUNTING_NET_AVERAGE&tabSeq=1&season=2011&experience=null&Submit=Go&archive=false&conference=null&qualified=true

[Jesse]

Ranked 13 for inside the 20.

Ranked 6 for touchbacks.

He doesn't suck, our ST does.

[Lout]

Ranked 13 for inside the 20.

Ranked 6 for touchbacks.

He doesn't suck, our ST does.

Well, you got half of that right. Our ST does suck.. net average displays that. Lets look at punt average, which is a better indicator of how far the ball travels in the air. Baker is still #32 ranked in the NFL in punting average.

Our Special teams might suck because the ball hang time in not great enough for our special teamer's to get down and make a play.

Check this one out:

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?seasonType=REG&d-447263-n=1&d-447263-o=2&d-447263-p=1&statisticPositionCategory=PUNTER&d-447263-s=PUNTING_AVERAGE_YARDS&tabSeq=1&season=2011&Submit=Go&experience=null&archive=false&conference=null&qualified=true

[Lout]

DP

[Zcustom]

or maybe he's often kicking from the 50 or opponents 40 because our offense is deadly until we get in scoring position where we struggle then punt?

[Herbert The Love Bug]

Bring back Saurbraun!

[csx]

Baker is still #32 ranked in the NFL in punting average.

But you have to consider where they are punting from. Where do our drives typically stall?

[Car123]

But you have to consider where they are punting from. Where do our drives typically stall?

This

[Lout]

But you have to consider where they are punting from. Where do our drives typically stall?

I did consider that. You would think you would see a higher than average amount of Punts inside the 20 bringing his average down, right? Nope. He is ranked at #13 at punts inside the 20 with 8 other punters.. so that puts him at average in the NFL. He only has 4 Touchbacks too.

I don't think there is any way of explaining this besides he has a weak leg. I'd love to know his average hang time.. but I don't think there is a way of finding that.

[csx]

I've definately seen some bad punts from him. But I was just thinking you needt to grade each punt subjectively to determine if the punt acheived what needed to be done in that situation....not just how far it was kicked.

[Lout]

I've definately seen some bad punts from him. But I was just thinking you needt to grade each punt subjectively to determine if the punt acheived what needed to be done in that situation....not just how far it was kicked.

It should all average out. He will have his bad punts, and will have his great punts.. but it appears that his bad punts are outweighing the great punts. Evidenced by ranking dead last in both major punting categories.

That's like saying you need to grade each throw subjectively from Cam Newton. Bottom line, is Cam Newton is throwing 8.7 yards per pass, which is 3rd in the NFL. The great passes and bad passes average out and give you a true number.

[Darth Biscuit]

I don't think Baker has a weak leg... he usually gets good height on punts. He had a bad day against Chicago for sure... idk what the reason is. He is a decent to above avg punter imo, we don't have good punt coverage teams.

[csx]

I did consider that. You would think you would see a higher than average amount of Punts inside the 20 bringing his average down, right? Nope. He is ranked at #13 at punts inside the 20 with 8 other punters.. so that puts him at average in the NFL. He only has 4 Touchbacks too.

I don't think there is any way of explaining this besides he has a weak leg. I'd love to know his average hang time.. but I don't think there is a way of finding that.

The guys with the longest punt average have the same number or less of In the 20 punts as Baker.

[Herb]

I don't see much of a problem with our kickers. Could they both be better? Yeah, but they're not the issue. Our return game is what is a joke and our coverage unit.