kabnt2005 Posted May 18, 2012 Posted May 18, 2012 I agree: the reason you don't see punters and kickers on practice squads normally is that there are not 32 good punters and 32 good kicker sin the league If someone is talented enough to catch a coach's eye for the PS, he is likely talented enough to go play for another team right away It would be no use to put him on the PS honestly. Another team with punter issues will just pluck him off of it.
K-9 Posted May 18, 2012 Posted May 18, 2012 Seems people have been challenging Mormans from Palmyra to Salt Lake City. Why can't we just let these good people alone? GO BILLS!!!
Mark Long Beach Posted May 18, 2012 Posted May 18, 2012 (edited) I think this is the year where Brian Moorman finally gets overtaken..... You dont draft a punter unless he is REALLY good.....and from what I hear not only does this kid kick that ball out of the park on kickoffs but has ridiculous hangtime on his punts........ Brian has been one of the most consistant players on our team....and just like other players who deserved better like Lee Evans, Aaron Schrobel, etc he is gonna be let go right as this team becomes good again. ...wait. We drafted a kicker to boot it out of the endzone on kickoffs (Potter out of W MI). But we ALSO signed a UDFA punter (Powell out of FL St). Potter isnt likely a threat to supplant Lindell since he's not noted for his FG. But he may still stick to the roster just for his kickoffs. Powell IS a threat to Moorman, because he's good and Moorman has been getting worse. And I REALLY like Moorman, He's been one of our very best players over the last decade. He was our number one jersey seller for many years! Which is sad in its own way. Edited May 18, 2012 by Mark Long Beach
MRW Posted May 18, 2012 Posted May 18, 2012 Here's how I think about loyalty. Chan needs to loyal to the whole team and all the fans who want to see the Bills win again. So if Powell is the better punter, he gets the job. Loyalty to the team and fans outweighs loyalty to one player, even one who has been good & loyal to us. That's why Bill Walsh dumped Montana in favor of Young. And from Chan's quote in the article, he's completely upfront that there is a competition for the job. That's respectful to both players. I don't think, for as great a career Moorman has had with the Bills, he's owed consideration above and beyond that.
Dennis in NC Posted May 18, 2012 Posted May 18, 2012 (edited) If Powell was drafted to be a kickoff guy, then it might be possible for Potter to stick a spot as a punter plus the kickoff specialist. Cater, the former Bills punter who worked with Potter, said in articles that he was booming kickoffs (tried on spec) into shrubberies well past the back of the end zone. That might be an extra incentive in not tying up that extra roster spot that could prompt a shift for Chan and Buddy. ... If Potter can show it. ... Potter was reportedly working with former Chargers punter Darren Bennett, of Aussie extraction, on that and the end-over-end punts that are more difficult to field/catch and typically have a more favorable bounce. Buffalo News article James, you are confusing Potter and Powell here. Pretty easy to do. In the article, it mentions Shawn Powell in HS kicking off and sending the ball OVER the evergreens at the back of the end zone. Powell may be able to handle long kickoffs as well as punting. The way this kid studies punting is impressive, too. Greg Cater was either his HS coach or a kicking coach he consulted with (the latter, I think). He also worked with Darren Bennett on Aussie-style kicking. I really believe Shawn Powell will beat out Brian Moorman for the punting job this year. I am very excited about that possibility. Edited May 18, 2012 by Dennis in AZ
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted May 19, 2012 Posted May 19, 2012 i put powell beating moorman at less than 10% with punters and kickers, you go with who you know.
jasman Posted May 19, 2012 Posted May 19, 2012 My brother-in-law is a FSU fan and as a result I've watched quite a few FSU games. He really stood out to me as an excellent punter, but I never thought he would end up in Buffalo. I would hate to see Moorman go, but no doubt about it, this guy will challenge him. Field position seems to be a big area of concern this year with the drafting of a kick-off specialist and the signing of a punter who can seriously challenge Moorman.
BillnutinHouston Posted May 19, 2012 Posted May 19, 2012 (edited) I suspect every GM tries to guard against falling in love with a player, then staying in love too long. A healthy detachment is needed (see the Patriots), and I believe Moorman is a prime example where it will come into play this year. My first reaction to this article was, can the guy function as a holder? Sometimes that role is even more critical than punting. If he can hold for kicks and if Lindell becomes comfortable with him, I think the time has come for a change. Edited May 19, 2012 by BillnutinHouston
KOKBILLS Posted May 19, 2012 Posted May 19, 2012 i put powell beating moorman at less than 10% with punters and kickers, you go with who you know. We'll see...Sooner or later it's time though...No one can play forever...
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted May 19, 2012 Posted May 19, 2012 We'll see...Sooner or later it's time though...No one can play forever... Maybe....but one shank or fumbled snap in the pre-season, and Powell is gone.
CardinalScotts Posted May 19, 2012 Posted May 19, 2012 If I were coaching and expected to make a playoff run, I would want the veteran punter as things get tight
Chandler#81 Posted May 19, 2012 Posted May 19, 2012 Going only by memory, I believe Punter has the shortest list of players in team history. Spike Jones, Cater, Maguire, Kidd, Mohr, Brian and a couple others (chime in). Granted, it's only one position so there's only one guy, but as a team, the Bills have been very fortunate to find long term punters through their history. Especially considering the weather challenges! Team history tells us If Powell wins the job, we just got even better for the long haul. May the best man win!
Offside Number 76 Posted May 19, 2012 Posted May 19, 2012 http://deadspin.com/5496097/bills-entice-potential-ticket-buyers-with-punt-from-own-end-zone-shining-moment No more of this?
eball Posted May 19, 2012 Author Posted May 19, 2012 i put powell beating moorman at less than 10% with punters and kickers, you go with who you know. Really? Even if "who you know" has had declining stats for three years running and is no longer considered an elite NFL punter? Doesn't make sense to me. I honestly believe this will be a truly open competition, and if Moorman can hold off the rookie, he deserves the job.
Doc Posted May 19, 2012 Posted May 19, 2012 Really? Even if "who you know" has had declining stats for three years running and is no longer considered an elite NFL punter? Doesn't make sense to me. I honestly believe this will be a truly open competition, and if Moorman can hold off the rookie, he deserves the job. There will definitely be an open competition. There was one last year, and Moorman won.
UConn James Posted May 19, 2012 Posted May 19, 2012 Buffalo News article James, you are confusing Potter and Powell here. Pretty easy to do. In the article, it mentions Shawn Powell in HS kicking off and sending the ball OVER the evergreens at the back of the end zone. Powell may be able to handle long kickoffs as well as punting. The way this kid studies punting is impressive, too. Greg Cater was either his HS coach or a kicking coach he consulted with (the latter, I think). He also worked with Darren Bennett on Aussie-style kicking. I really believe Shawn Powell will beat out Brian Moorman for the punting job this year. I am very excited about that possibility. Yup. I flipped the names. Not mindin' my Ps and Qs, I guess. Will fix the OP. i put powell beating moorman at less than 10% with punters and kickers, you go with who you know. With kickers, sure, I can see that with high-pressure-50-yarder-to-make-the-playoffs. You need someone who is highly accurate, has the leg, and can handle the situation. Punter has less of a consideration in accuracy and more to do with what I guess one'd call "touch" for pin-down situations, and a boomer leg when either a long punt (i.e. from own endzone) or hang time is needed. Given the givens, I think now might be the best window to make a change, if Powell can show well or at least show an upward progression that will soon bypass Moorman's decline.
Matt in KC Posted May 19, 2012 Posted May 19, 2012 So, Powell has a big leg, can kick directionally, and can hold for FGs. Can he cover and tackle if needed (without breaking)?
Stealth Posted May 19, 2012 Posted May 19, 2012 The sooner the Bills start becoming a team that wins consistently the better. A 3 page thread on punters lol
Cash Posted May 19, 2012 Posted May 19, 2012 I agree: the reason you don't see punters and kickers on practice squads normally is that there are not 32 good punters and 32 good kicker sin the league If someone is talented enough to catch a coach's eye for the PS, he is likely talented enough to go play for another team right away That's one reason, and the other is that it's called the *practice* squad for a reason. Those 8 guys practice with the team throughout the week. I don't think any team runs an in-season practice that has any use for an extra kicker or punter. I believe Gailey even made a very similar point when Levi Brown was cut (and not offered a spot on the PS), basically saying that they don't have any practice reps available for a 4th QB, so it made no sense to put him on there. Likewise, there's no practice reps available for a 2nd K or P. And he can play special teams! LOL So, Powell has a big leg, can kick directionally, and can hold for FGs. Can he cover and tackle if needed (without breaking)? According to the Buffalo News article linked in this thread, he's 6'4", 245 lbs. Doesn't mean he can run, but he should be able to give/take a hit or two. I'd guess he'll outweigh every returner in the NFL by at least 25-30 lbs. Speaking of that article, man is it well-written. After I finished it I basically penciled this guy in for the All-Pro team. Definitely someone to pay attention to in preseason. If he beats out Moorman, I'll be sad to see Brian go, but as others have mentioned, Moorman's performance has noticeably slipped the past few years. At 36, his best years are probably behind him, and the numbers back up what we were perceiving during games. This might be the end of an era. And if so, I'll wish him well. Really like Moorman a lot -- the guy was absolutely elite at his position for a few years, he was always a total class act, he's still one of the best FG holders I've ever seen, he has the best passer rating in team history, and he's crazy fast. He crushed the 40-yard dash and obstacle course competitions at the Pro Bowl for years. If I recall correctly, they actually changed the obstacle course rules one year specifically to prevent him from winning again. Awesome. Plus he had like a 90 speed rating in Madden. I always make him the kickoff specialist and watch him beat the coverage team downfield to make the tackle.
KOKBILLS Posted May 19, 2012 Posted May 19, 2012 Maybe....but one shank or fumbled snap in the pre-season, and Powell is gone. I don't know...Again we'll see...I just don't the Bills Management, at this point, are afraid to gamble a bit towards greatness...A player like Moorman is important to a young Team that is building...But The Bills are looking to make a big splash now, and this is an area that could be improved...Would it be a gamble? Sure...But it could pay-off big time...Plus they save some cap dollars and it's not like you're cutting Moorman in his prime...He's 36 years old and showing clear signs of regression...I think if Powell shows he has better upside over the next 3 years or so he's gonna get the job...Just my opinion though... No question Moorman will still be the favorite going in to Camp...But I don't think it's much of a weighted competition...In fact, I think Moorman is going to have to clearly out-perform Powell to retain the job...If they are about the same why not go with the younger, cheaper option?...Because at this point Powell WILL continue to improve...Moorman? Not so much...
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