Why is the punter always the PK holder on the Bills?

[PromoTheRobot]

I have to believe the turnover at punter on the Bills this year had some impact on Stephen Hauschka's kicking numbers. Every time we changed punters that new player would assume the place kick holder duty. But why? Why not a backup QB?  Wasn't Frank Reich the holder during the Bills SB years? In the name of consistency, why couldn't Matt Barkley be the holder? 

[Gugny]

1 minute ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I have to believe the turnover at punter on the Bills this year had some impact on Stephen Hauschka's kicking numbers. Every time we changed punters that new player would assume the place kick holder duty. But why? Why not a backup QB?  Wasn't Frank Reich the holder during the Bills SB years? In the name of consistency, why couldn't Matt Barkley be the holder? 

 

He hasn't even been coming close to hitting the end zone on kickoffs.  I think his leg is just dead.

[PromoTheRobot]

Just now, Gugny said:

 

He hasn't even been coming close to hitting the end zone on kickoffs.  I think his leg is just dead.

 

He hit the end zones all year before that cheap shot. But that's not what this thread is about.

[Gugny]

1 minute ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

He hit the end zones all year before that cheap shot. But that's not what this thread is about.

 

I don't recall him hitting the end zones prior to the cheap shot.  You cite the PK being a reason for his crappy kicking this year.  I thought suggesting another reason would be better than simply disagreeing.  Not a hijacking attempt, by any means.

[PromoTheRobot]

1 minute ago, Gugny said:

 

I don't recall him hitting the end zones prior to the cheap shot.  You cite the PK being a reason for his crappy kicking this year.  I thought suggesting another reason would be better than simply disagreeing.  Not a hijacking attempt, by any means.

 

He wasn't a crappy kicker. Why do you think they call him "Hausch Money?"

[RoyBatty is alive]

Have you ever been to football practice, the punter and FG kickers hang out together for hours on end, only natural for the punter to hold, gives them something to practice beyond kicking.

 

And ask Romo about holding for the FG. Backup QBs have other things to do during practice

Edited January 3, 2019 by RoyBatty is alive

[GoBills808]

1 minute ago, Gugny said:

 

I don't recall him hitting the end zones prior to the cheap shot.  You cite the PK being a reason for his crappy kicking this year.  I thought suggesting another reason would be better than simply disagreeing.  Not a hijacking attempt, by any means.

I think he's still injured tbh. That Miami kick he left short was one he nails w/ 15 yards to go usually. 

[Optometric Insight]

The punter is the holder for the majority, if not all, NFL teams. Whether that or something else affected H$ later in the season, tough to say. 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

6 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

He hit the end zones all year before that cheap shot. But that's not what this thread is about.

he sure did. 

[MrEpsYtown]

I really just think it is because they have nothing else to do. Since the kicker, long snapper, and punter don't have to participate in all of the football drills in practice they can go off, be their own entity, and master the timing of the snap hold kick process. Having a quarterback do it, when he has a million other things to worry about, is probably part of the thought process for coaches when they started doing this.  

 

Back in the day more quarterbacks did this, but it wasn't such a specialized skill. Now it has to have very specific timing etc. It needs to be perfect every time. Quarterbacks don't have time for that. 

Edited January 3, 2019 by MrEpsYtown

[Gugny]

Just now, PromoTheRobot said:

 

He wasn't a crappy kicker. Why do you think they call him "Hausch Money?"

 

"Crappy," was unfair.  He definitely wasn't crappy.  Just less automatic than last year.

 

4 minutes ago, ShadyBillsFan said:

he sure did. 

 

2017 - 51.32% touchbacks

2018 - 45. 45% touchbacks (30th).

[TigerJ]

The turnover for Buffalo at punter is highly unusual.  Punters are the usual PK holder on most teams for two reasons.  First is the relative stability at the position most of the time.  Second is the fact that punters, more than anyone else on the team are accustomed to catching long snaps.  I expect next season, Buffalo will continue the practice of using their punter as PK holder, and they will have the same punter through the entire season.

 

The turnover at PK holder obviously had an adverse effect on Hauschka's kicking, but I can't help but think that something else is going on.  Kickers typically have a long life span in the NFL.  Their legs don't just fall off after 10-12 years.  I'm not saying Buffalo should retain him.  I think that's a decision they should and will make in training camp next summer.  

Edited January 3, 2019 by TigerJ

[whatdrought]

Tony Romo taught teams to have nobodies be the holder. Don’t want the guy who might be playing QB to be the one who ruins the season cause he’s a dumbass. 

 

?

 

Mostly kidding- I agree with those who said it’s about time at practice. They’re just natural bedfellows. 

[Boatdrinks]

Reduced practice time in the CBA changed this for a lot of teams. No time available for backup QBs to be practicing with teams. The P is a natural choice. It would seem the Bills issue is at P. Fix that, and they’ll fix the PK holder problem. Hauschka’s problems stemmed from the turnover at P combined with that cheap shot blindside hit he took vs Jets. He’ll be fine after the offseason. 

[reddogblitz]

Just now, whatdrought said:

Tony Romo taught teams to have nobodies be the holder. Don’t want the guy who might be playing QB to be the one who ruins the season cause he’s a dumbass. 

 

?

 

 

I was at that game rooting for the Hawks.  Looked like it was over for us, then Tony first bobbles the snap and then while trying to run it in got show string tackled short of the goal line by my favorite guy (Jordon Babineaux, the Cowboy killer).    Jordon also intercepted a Blue Dreadslow (Dallas again) pass in 2005 and ran out of bounds in range for the kicker to win on a last second FG.

 

Two of my favorite non Bills in person football experiences. 

[gobills1212]

Its a skill that would be evaluated at some point. With the qb turnover this year, maybe its better the punter. That said, if they had a bqb with the skillz, then im sure hed get a shake. Punters usually handle it, have experience and thus get the gig. 

[Albany,n.y.]

The backup QB turned over as much as the punter this year.  Next year Corey Bojorquez will be the punter the entire year and hold.  

In earlier days the backup QB held for the Bills.  Yes, Frank Reich was the holder during the Super Bowl years, but back then there was a lot more stability on the roster with the same K, H, LS staying around for years.  The only change during the Super seasons was Christie replacing Norwood.  

 

Also, I thought the Bills should have IRd Hauschka right after the Jets game & brought in someone who was 100%.  Hauschka was clearly injured. 

[letsgoteam]

Hauschka missed his first FG attempt in Baltimore and then went 16/16 for his FG attempts until he missed a 55 yd FG in the Miami. He did miss his only XP earlier that game. The only thing that changed was that Darr started holding for Hauschka that game. Then in the next game he got his cheap shot against the Jets. I blame Darr and the cheap shot. I just hope that cheap hasnt shortened Hauschka's career.

 

It would be great if Barkley maybe became the holder (did he by any chance hold in college at any point, I do not follow USC)

[DC Tom]

37 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I have to believe the turnover at punter on the Bills this year had some impact on Stephen Hauschka's kicking numbers. Every time we changed punters that new player would assume the place kick holder duty. But why? Why not a backup QB?  Wasn't Frank Reich the holder during the Bills SB years? In the name of consistency, why couldn't Matt Barkley be the holder? 

 

Keep in mind, they had no consistency at QB either, less even than at punter.

 

 

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

They should have an athletic ST guy be the holder. You could probably execute some cool fakes. Maybe you could use a guy that could run or pass. It would have been cool to use Joe Webb