The position I am not sold: Punter (1 Viewer)

[Saint Taysom]

Both punters are shaky af. I’d be open to signing a new guy and cutting both loose.

KR/PR isn’t very impressive either, but Bowden is serviceable.

I lived through the days of Patrick Newman fair catching EVERY punt he went back to receive… so I know a great returner is a luxury

 

[jdpower13]

Tried to look at what other teams in the nfl had 2 punters this preseason and here's what I found :

Saints		Punts	Average	Net average	Inside 20
	Blake Gillikin	5	40.8	38.2	2
	Lou Hedley	9	42.1	41.3	3
Cardinals
-Recently cut	Matt Haack	5	43	33.2	0
	Nolan Cooney	5	51.8	47.6	3
Steelers
	Braden Mann	6	45.7	45	2
-Apparently winning the job with his recent performance	Pressley Harvin III	5	38.2	37.8	5
Packers
	Pat O'Donnell	2	51.5	44.5	1
	Daniel Whelan	4	37	35.3	3
Eagles
-Recently cut	Ty Zentner	6	40.8	38.7	1
	Arryn Siposs	2	37.5	37.5	1
Patriots
	Bryce Baringer	6	53.3	47.3	4
	Corliss Waitman	3	38.3	36.7	2
Bengals
	Brad Robbins	7	45.7	41.4	2
	Drue Chrisman	1	40	40	1
Browns
	Corey Bojorquez	12	54.9	44.4	5
	Joseph Charlton	2	48.5	26	0
Commanders
-Their main punter Tress Way has a back injury	Michael Palardy	2	52	52	2
-Cut	Colby Wadman	4	45.5	44.3	0

2024 NFL Complete Stats - Punting

Get the latest stats from across the NFL on CBS Sports. News, scores, and statistics for your favorite teams and players throughout the 2024 season.

www.cbssports.com

I don't know if any of those that are going to get cut would be an upgrade tbh, maybe Mann if he figured things out but Jets fan were done with him because of his consistency issues and apparently he's been inconsistent in camp with the Steelers as well...

Edit : Updated Gillikin and Hedley's stats, didn't have the chargers game when I first did the post I think. Also added the Commanders punters.

 

[madsaint1967]

If this is our only worry, we should have a great year!

 

[BooBirdSaint]

So I'm wondering if Gillikins performance is an injury issue or is he just trying something new in preseason? He's been with the team 2 full seasons and his stats are very consistent. I think his season average is 43 and so far his preseason avg is 41 off only 5 punts. What's the concern? A short punt that bounced to a net of 47? Didn't he also kick the ball with a hangtime that allowed Kawaan to catch it inside the 2 in the Chiefs game? IDK but some of you are pretty quick to kick players to the curb...

 

[2024InjuryApocalypse]

I disagree on this one. Harty was not good at returning the last we saw of him.

Yeah, and he fumbled vs. MIN which led to a Vikings score.

 

[2024InjuryApocalypse]

So I'm wondering if Gillikins performance is an injury issue or is he just trying something new in preseason? He's been with the team 2 full seasons and his stats are very consistent. I think his season average is 43 and so far his preseason avg is 41 off only 5 punts. What's the concern? A short punt that bounced to a net of 47? Didn't he also kick the ball with a hangtime that allowed Kawaan to catch it inside the 2 in the Chiefs game? IDK but some of you are pretty quick to kick players to the curb...

He shanked one so bad vs KC I think it decapitated a beer vendor in the stands (I think only traveled like 23 yards, too).

 

[2024InjuryApocalypse]

Man probably has one return for a touchdown lol

I feel like in 2019-20 he was really good. Off the top of my head he had a TD vs SEA and he also had a lot of good returns in the playoff loss to MIN. He also had a punt return TD called back for an unnecessary block in the back in the playoff loss to TB. Last 2 years, he did not impress though.

 

[B4YOU]

Tried to look at what other teams in the nfl had 2 punters this preseason and here's what I found :

Saints		Punts	Average	Net average	Inside 20
	Blake Gillikin	5	40.8	38.2	2
	Lou Hedley	9	42.1	41.3	3
Cardinals
-Recently cut	Matt Haack	5	43	33.2	0
	Nolan Cooney	5	51.8	47.6	3
Steelers
	Braden Mann	6	45.7	45	2
-Apparently winning the job with his recent performance	Pressley Harvin III	5	38.2	37.8	5
Packers
	Pat O'Donnell	2	51.5	44.5	1
	Daniel Whelan	4	37	35.3	3
Eagles
-Recently cut	Ty Zentner	6	40.8	38.7	1
	Arryn Siposs	2	37.5	37.5	1
Patriots
	Bryce Baringer	6	53.3	47.3	4
	Corliss Waitman	3	38.3	36.7	2
Bengals
	Brad Robbins	7	45.7	41.4	2
	Drue Chrisman	1	40	40	1
Browns
	Corey Bojorquez	12	54.9	44.4	5
	Joseph Charlton	2	48.5	26	0

2024 NFL Complete Stats - Punting

Get the latest stats from across the NFL on CBS Sports. News, scores, and statistics for your favorite teams and players throughout the 2024 season.

www.cbssports.com

I don't know if any of those that are going to get cut would be an upgrade tbh, maybe Mann if he figured things out but Jets fan were done with him because of his consistency issues and apparently he's been inconsistent in camp with the Steelers as well...

Edit : Updated Gillikin and Hedley's stats, didn't have the chargers game when I first did the post I think.

WFT is also carrying 2 punters. Tress Way will win the job. Palardy will be released.

 

[Whodat GT]

Corlis Waitman was a starter last year for the Broncos

 

[Saintscuffy]

Here is someone looking for a job

 

[fishing4food]

In 2022, Gillikin had a 46.4 yard average kick. Same as Morestead whom the Saints let go. I like Thomas, was sad to see him leave.
OP is correct. Not impressed so far with our punters. I do like our special teams coverage. They've looked solid this pre-season.

 

[guillermo]

So I'm wondering if Gillikins performance is an injury issue or is he just trying something new in preseason? He's been with the team 2 full seasons and his stats are very consistent. I think his season average is 43 and so far his preseason avg is 41 off only 5 punts. What's the concern? A short punt that bounced to a net of 47? Didn't he also kick the ball with a hangtime that allowed Kawaan to catch it inside the 2 in the Chiefs game? IDK but some of you are pretty quick to kick players to the curb...

The stats may be very consistent, but you can see him shanking a punt and later booming the next one.

That is my problem with him, as with the kickers, it is not only the power. Consistency is the name of the game.

 

[Poison]

I’m biased because Hedley is an Aussie, and while I think he’s got to show more to unseat Gillikin who will be favoured due to incumbency, I thought he was more than serviceable against the Chargers. He had a couple of nice punts that pinned the opposition deep and I don’t remember any noticeably bad ones. Seems to be trending in the right direction, but I’m obviously not seeing these guys at camp.

 

[SaintRob]

He’s a Jet

 

[BreesusSaves]

Don't look at averages for punters.

What matters for a punter is did they land that punt inside the 5, 10 yard line when your team is up by 2 with 45 seconds left in the game?