Post 32 - The Top 10 Kickers and Punters of 2015
Hello! And welcome to my corner!
Barring my Mock Drafts, I haven't done anything on here for a long time. Too long, in fact. Couple that with the fact it's the offseason, I figured this is the perfect time to get into a new series or articles. And what better than positional rankings?
In the coming weeks I'll be revealing my top 10 at each position and eventually my top 100 players in the NFL. Unlike the traditional rankings, though, I'm basing these rankings entirely on the 2015 season and the 2015 season only. Not looking further than that and without influence from their name alone.
Without further ado, then, here are my top 10 kickers and punters from 2015:
10. Matt Prater, Detroit Lions
Prater went 22/24 on field goals this year, with a long of 59-yards1409. He also went 36/39 on the new, longer PAT's. Prater continues to show off one of the stronger legs in the NFL and is still, evidently, one of the more accurate kickers in the NFL. He does, however, play in a dome, which drops him down the rankings.
9. Adam Vinatieri, Indianapolis Colts
The oldest player in the NFL went 25/27 on field goals, with and long of 55-yards, and 32/35 on PAT's. Vinatieri has always been one of the most accurate kickers in the NFL, and he showed that once again. He missed his first two field goals of the year, but was perfect for the rest of year, which is some feat.
8. Chandler Catanzaro, Arizona Cardinals
Not a lot went wrong for the Cardinals this season and that includes the kicking game. Catanzaro went 28/31 on field goals, with a long of 47-yards, and went 53/58 on PAT's. Though his long isn't as long as most other kickers, the Cardinals moved the ball very well, he only had 2 attempts from 50+ yards. He does kick in a dome though, which is certainly an advantage, which is why he's slightly lower than he could be.
7. Dan Bailey, Dallas Cowboys
Bailey was actually one of the few bright spots for the Cowboys last year. He went 30/32 on field goals with a long of 54-yards. He was also one of six kickers to make all of his PAT's (minimum of 10 attempts), going 25/25. He is also one of the more clutch kickers in the NFL and showed that again this year. But, like some of the others, he plays in a dome, which keeps him down.
6. Brandon McManus, Denver Broncos
McManus was key part of the Broncos Super Bowl run, and did his part all year. He went 30/35 on field goals, with a long of 57-yards, and went 35/36 on PAT's. Though he doesn't play in a dome, playing at Mile High Stadium in the thin air is an oft-forgotten advantage, which keeps him slightly down the list.
5. Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers kicking game was a state early in the year. The Steelers lost long-time reliable kicker Shaun Suisham to injury, then replacement Garrett Hartley suffered the same fate, then Josh Scobee - the Jags long-time kicker, failed to adjust to Heinz Field and was cut, which finally gave Boswell his shot. Boswell went 29/32 with a long of 51-yards, and went 26/27 on PAT's.
4. Graham Gano, Carolina Panthers
Like the rest if the Panthers team, Gano was constantly very good. He went 30/36 on field goals, hitting a 52-yarder as his long, and he added 56/59 PAT's. Unlike most of the people above him, though, he kicked most of his field goals outdoors, and not in high altitude.
3. Steven Hauschka, Seattle Seahawks
Another outdoor kicker, sense a trend? Hauschka is just another member of the Seahawks who does and will feature in the top 10 of their position. He went 29/31 on field goals with a long of 54-yards, adding 40/44 PAT's.
2. Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens had a very bad season, luckily for them though, Tucker didn't. He went 33/40 - not his best - with a long of 52-yards. He did however go 29/29 on PAT's and kicked several clutch field goals. Furthermore, he played just 2 games in a dome/high altitude, and had to kick at Levi Stadium, which tried to swallow him.
1. Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots
It seems unfair that the Patriots have a great offense, defense and the best kicker in the NFL. Gostkowski went 33/36 on field goals, including a long of 57-yards, and he was perfect on PAT's, converting all 52 of his attempts. Until the playoffs... (I had to get one dig at the Patriots).
10. Thomas Morstead, New Orleans Saints
45.6 average yards per punt, 40.7 nets average yards per punt. Not everything went right for the Saints last season, but at least Morstead remained in the upper echelon of punters in the NFL. He pinned the opposition within their own 20 yard line twenty times but only kicked for 4 touchbacks. He also only allowed 194 yards and no touchdowns on 24 returns.
9. Marquette King, Oakland Raiders
44.5 Avg, 40.7 Net Avg. Despite his Avg not being that high, King has one of the stronger legs in the NFL, he had a season long of 70-yards against the Ravens and also had a 65-yarder against the Chargers. Not only can he flip field position, then, but he can pin opponents deep. He placed forty punts within the opposition 20 and only 4 of those went for a touchback. He also only allowed 201 yards and no touchdowns on his 30 returns.
8. Dustin Colquitt, Kansas City Chiefs
44.4 Avg, 40.8 Net Avg. One of the reasons the Chiefs were able to turn their season around last season was their ability to flip field position. Though not having the strongest leg in NFL, Colquitt was consistently able to pin teams with poor field position. He had thirty seven punts down within the 20 yard line but only 5 touchbacks, whilst allowing just 170 yards and no touchdowns on his 26 returned punts.
7. Colton Schmidt, Buffalo Bills
46.3 Avg, 41.3 Net Avg. Schmidt showed off both strength and accuracy this season. His 46.3 AVG was tenth in the NFL. Meanwhile, twenty two of his punts ended in the 20 and only 3 went for touchbacks, whilst only allowing 353 yards and no touchdowns on 40 returned kicks.
6. Donnie Jones, Philadelphia Eagles
47 Avg, 41.6 Net Avg. Like, Schmidt, Jones excelled with both power and accuracy. He was seventh in the NFL in Avg, allowing him to flip the field. When asked to pin opponents back, he had them starting in their own 20 twenty nine times. Though he did kick 8 touchbacks, which is a little high. Nevertheless, on the 42 kicks he had returned, returners only got 215 yards and no touchdowns.
5. Pat McAfee, Indianapolis Colts
47.7 Avg, 41.7 Net Avg. McAfee is possibly the best punter in the NFL, but last year wasn't the best that he could do. On the 36 punts that were returned, returners picked up 386 yards and 3 touchdowns. Nevertheless, he is able to completely flip field position and he downed the ball twenty nine times in the 20 with 6 touchbacks. He can hit too and is also one of the leaders of the Punters are People too movement.
4. Sam Martin, Detroit Lions
46 Avg, 42 Net Avg. Possible part of the reason the Lions were able to turn their season around was Martin, he was able to flip field position and pin opponents deep. He had twenty five punts in the 20 with only 3 touchbacks. He also only gave up 263 yards and no touchdowns on 43 returns.
3. Chris Jones, Dallas Cowboys
45.2 Avg, 42.5 Net Avg. Although Jones does have the advantage of kicking in a dome, he still had a very good season. He pinned opponents inside their own 20-yard line twenty seven times and amazingly only had one touchback. Furthermore, he gave up just 162 yards and one touchdown on 24 returns.
2. Sam Koch, Baltimore Ravens
46.7 Avg, 42.9 Net Avg. As I mentioned when talking about Justin Tucker, the Ravens had a bad year, but Tucker and Koch combined to make one of the most effective special teams units in the NFL. Koch is possibly the best directional punter in the NFL., he is very capable when it comes to not allowing any/big returns. He had fifteen kicks out of bounds and twenty nine kicks that pinned the opponent inside their 20-yard line with only 5 touchbacks. He also only allowed 176 return yards and no touchdowns on 35 returns.
1. Johnny Hekker, Los Angeles Rams
Barring my Mock Drafts, I haven't done anything on here for a long time. Too long, in fact. Couple that with the fact it's the offseason, I figured this is the perfect time to get into a new series or articles. And what better than positional rankings?
In the coming weeks I'll be revealing my top 10 at each position and eventually my top 100 players in the NFL. Unlike the traditional rankings, though, I'm basing these rankings entirely on the 2015 season and the 2015 season only. Not looking further than that and without influence from their name alone.
Without further ado, then, here are my top 10 kickers and punters from 2015:
Kickers:
10. Matt Prater, Detroit Lions
Prater went 22/24 on field goals this year, with a long of 59-yards1409. He also went 36/39 on the new, longer PAT's. Prater continues to show off one of the stronger legs in the NFL and is still, evidently, one of the more accurate kickers in the NFL. He does, however, play in a dome, which drops him down the rankings.
9. Adam Vinatieri, Indianapolis Colts
The oldest player in the NFL went 25/27 on field goals, with and long of 55-yards, and 32/35 on PAT's. Vinatieri has always been one of the most accurate kickers in the NFL, and he showed that once again. He missed his first two field goals of the year, but was perfect for the rest of year, which is some feat.
8. Chandler Catanzaro, Arizona Cardinals
Not a lot went wrong for the Cardinals this season and that includes the kicking game. Catanzaro went 28/31 on field goals, with a long of 47-yards, and went 53/58 on PAT's. Though his long isn't as long as most other kickers, the Cardinals moved the ball very well, he only had 2 attempts from 50+ yards. He does kick in a dome though, which is certainly an advantage, which is why he's slightly lower than he could be.
7. Dan Bailey, Dallas Cowboys
Bailey was actually one of the few bright spots for the Cowboys last year. He went 30/32 on field goals with a long of 54-yards. He was also one of six kickers to make all of his PAT's (minimum of 10 attempts), going 25/25. He is also one of the more clutch kickers in the NFL and showed that again this year. But, like some of the others, he plays in a dome, which keeps him down.
6. Brandon McManus, Denver Broncos
McManus was key part of the Broncos Super Bowl run, and did his part all year. He went 30/35 on field goals, with a long of 57-yards, and went 35/36 on PAT's. Though he doesn't play in a dome, playing at Mile High Stadium in the thin air is an oft-forgotten advantage, which keeps him slightly down the list.
5. Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers kicking game was a state early in the year. The Steelers lost long-time reliable kicker Shaun Suisham to injury, then replacement Garrett Hartley suffered the same fate, then Josh Scobee - the Jags long-time kicker, failed to adjust to Heinz Field and was cut, which finally gave Boswell his shot. Boswell went 29/32 with a long of 51-yards, and went 26/27 on PAT's.
4. Graham Gano, Carolina Panthers
Like the rest if the Panthers team, Gano was constantly very good. He went 30/36 on field goals, hitting a 52-yarder as his long, and he added 56/59 PAT's. Unlike most of the people above him, though, he kicked most of his field goals outdoors, and not in high altitude.
3. Steven Hauschka, Seattle Seahawks
Another outdoor kicker, sense a trend? Hauschka is just another member of the Seahawks who does and will feature in the top 10 of their position. He went 29/31 on field goals with a long of 54-yards, adding 40/44 PAT's.
2. Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens had a very bad season, luckily for them though, Tucker didn't. He went 33/40 - not his best - with a long of 52-yards. He did however go 29/29 on PAT's and kicked several clutch field goals. Furthermore, he played just 2 games in a dome/high altitude, and had to kick at Levi Stadium, which tried to swallow him.
1. Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots
It seems unfair that the Patriots have a great offense, defense and the best kicker in the NFL. Gostkowski went 33/36 on field goals, including a long of 57-yards, and he was perfect on PAT's, converting all 52 of his attempts. Until the playoffs... (I had to get one dig at the Patriots).
Punters:
10. Thomas Morstead, New Orleans Saints
45.6 average yards per punt, 40.7 nets average yards per punt. Not everything went right for the Saints last season, but at least Morstead remained in the upper echelon of punters in the NFL. He pinned the opposition within their own 20 yard line twenty times but only kicked for 4 touchbacks. He also only allowed 194 yards and no touchdowns on 24 returns.
9. Marquette King, Oakland Raiders
44.5 Avg, 40.7 Net Avg. Despite his Avg not being that high, King has one of the stronger legs in the NFL, he had a season long of 70-yards against the Ravens and also had a 65-yarder against the Chargers. Not only can he flip field position, then, but he can pin opponents deep. He placed forty punts within the opposition 20 and only 4 of those went for a touchback. He also only allowed 201 yards and no touchdowns on his 30 returns.
8. Dustin Colquitt, Kansas City Chiefs
44.4 Avg, 40.8 Net Avg. One of the reasons the Chiefs were able to turn their season around last season was their ability to flip field position. Though not having the strongest leg in NFL, Colquitt was consistently able to pin teams with poor field position. He had thirty seven punts down within the 20 yard line but only 5 touchbacks, whilst allowing just 170 yards and no touchdowns on his 26 returned punts.
7. Colton Schmidt, Buffalo Bills
46.3 Avg, 41.3 Net Avg. Schmidt showed off both strength and accuracy this season. His 46.3 AVG was tenth in the NFL. Meanwhile, twenty two of his punts ended in the 20 and only 3 went for touchbacks, whilst only allowing 353 yards and no touchdowns on 40 returned kicks.
6. Donnie Jones, Philadelphia Eagles
47 Avg, 41.6 Net Avg. Like, Schmidt, Jones excelled with both power and accuracy. He was seventh in the NFL in Avg, allowing him to flip the field. When asked to pin opponents back, he had them starting in their own 20 twenty nine times. Though he did kick 8 touchbacks, which is a little high. Nevertheless, on the 42 kicks he had returned, returners only got 215 yards and no touchdowns.
5. Pat McAfee, Indianapolis Colts
47.7 Avg, 41.7 Net Avg. McAfee is possibly the best punter in the NFL, but last year wasn't the best that he could do. On the 36 punts that were returned, returners picked up 386 yards and 3 touchdowns. Nevertheless, he is able to completely flip field position and he downed the ball twenty nine times in the 20 with 6 touchbacks. He can hit too and is also one of the leaders of the Punters are People too movement.
4. Sam Martin, Detroit Lions
46 Avg, 42 Net Avg. Possible part of the reason the Lions were able to turn their season around was Martin, he was able to flip field position and pin opponents deep. He had twenty five punts in the 20 with only 3 touchbacks. He also only gave up 263 yards and no touchdowns on 43 returns.
3. Chris Jones, Dallas Cowboys
45.2 Avg, 42.5 Net Avg. Although Jones does have the advantage of kicking in a dome, he still had a very good season. He pinned opponents inside their own 20-yard line twenty seven times and amazingly only had one touchback. Furthermore, he gave up just 162 yards and one touchdown on 24 returns.
2. Sam Koch, Baltimore Ravens
46.7 Avg, 42.9 Net Avg. As I mentioned when talking about Justin Tucker, the Ravens had a bad year, but Tucker and Koch combined to make one of the most effective special teams units in the NFL. Koch is possibly the best directional punter in the NFL., he is very capable when it comes to not allowing any/big returns. He had fifteen kicks out of bounds and twenty nine kicks that pinned the opponent inside their 20-yard line with only 5 touchbacks. He also only allowed 176 return yards and no touchdowns on 35 returns.
1. Johnny Hekker, Los Angeles Rams
47.9 Avg, 43.7 Net Avg. Hekker, like Jones, Martin and McAfee has the advantage of kicking indoors, but his talent is undeniable. He has great leg strength and is an excellent directional punter too. He pinned opponents inside their 20-yard line forty one times and had just 6 touchbacks. Though he did give up one touchdown, he allowed just 289 yards on 40 returned kicks.
There we have it, my top 10 kickers and punters from the 2015 NFL season. What do you think? Think I've got it right or am I completely wrong? Let me know!
Next up? The Top 10 Safeties of 2015.
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