StJacques
All-Pro
Offline
I think it is worthwhile to take a closer look at the punters in this game, especially because the importance of the two defenses rates so highly in the minds of pre-game prognisticators, and good punting gives a defense the advantage of improved field position.
Punting statistics are hard to follow, because yardage gained in the punting game -- yards per punt, net yardage -- can be misleading if the punter is asked to put the ball down inside the 20.
Punting is about field position. It is about the transition from offense to defense and the advantage given to the latter by well-executed special teams play.
And Saints fans might find it interesting to learn that the Jets punter is none other than former Saint Steve Weatherford.
But I find the following statistics interesting, which you can pop-up in a separate browser instance to follow along:
Punting Avg (yds per punt, NFL Rank): Saints 46.5, rank=9; Jets 40.7, rank=28
Net Punting Avg (yds per punt - avg return, NFL Rank): Saints 40.6, rank=11; Jets 37.7, rank=24
Punts Inside the 20: Saints 2; Jets 4
Touchbacks: Saints 0; Jets 2
Ratio of Inside the 20 to Touchbacks (my personal stat): Saints 2 to 0; Jets 4 to 2
Observation: Morestead definitely gives the Saints the advantage in yardage and the Saints punting unit as a whole has the advantage in change of field position. Morestead is also more likely to down the ball inside the 20 when called upon to do so.
Field Position Advantage from Punting: Saints
There are other statistics to look at which would require a lot of individual comparison, especially with respect to "longest return," which is not shown and might make the Net Punting Avg figures appear skewed, but I think there is enough with the above to at least give Saints fans confidence that we have the advantage in the punting game.
And finally; a separate but related note on kickoffs. The Jets kicker Jay Feely has kicked off 15 times, had 14 returned, with no touchbacks and one out of bounds. Morestead has kicked off 24 times, had 18 returned, with 5 touchbacks and one out of bounds. I'm just guessing someone must wonder.
Punting statistics are hard to follow, because yardage gained in the punting game -- yards per punt, net yardage -- can be misleading if the punter is asked to put the ball down inside the 20.
Punting is about field position. It is about the transition from offense to defense and the advantage given to the latter by well-executed special teams play.
And Saints fans might find it interesting to learn that the Jets punter is none other than former Saint Steve Weatherford.
But I find the following statistics interesting, which you can pop-up in a separate browser instance to follow along:
Punting Avg (yds per punt, NFL Rank): Saints 46.5, rank=9; Jets 40.7, rank=28
Net Punting Avg (yds per punt - avg return, NFL Rank): Saints 40.6, rank=11; Jets 37.7, rank=24
Punts Inside the 20: Saints 2; Jets 4
Touchbacks: Saints 0; Jets 2
Ratio of Inside the 20 to Touchbacks (my personal stat): Saints 2 to 0; Jets 4 to 2
Observation: Morestead definitely gives the Saints the advantage in yardage and the Saints punting unit as a whole has the advantage in change of field position. Morestead is also more likely to down the ball inside the 20 when called upon to do so.
Field Position Advantage from Punting: Saints
There are other statistics to look at which would require a lot of individual comparison, especially with respect to "longest return," which is not shown and might make the Net Punting Avg figures appear skewed, but I think there is enough with the above to at least give Saints fans confidence that we have the advantage in the punting game.
And finally; a separate but related note on kickoffs. The Jets kicker Jay Feely has kicked off 15 times, had 14 returned, with no touchbacks and one out of bounds. Morestead has kicked off 24 times, had 18 returned, with 5 touchbacks and one out of bounds. I'm just guessing someone must wonder.
