Bills again among league leaders in fewest punts

[Big Turk]

Last year the Bills led the NFL for fewest punts with only 41, and actually finished 4th all time for fewest punts per game(including playoff/non playoff games) with 2.74 in 19 games. The 1990 Oilers hold the record with 2.35 punts per game, followed by the 2019 Ravens at 2.47 and the 1993 49ers at 2.72.

 

This year not quite as good, but they are still tied for 3rd in the league with only 45. KC only has punted 35 times and the Chargers only 41. Bills tied with Patriots and Rams at 45.

 

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

57 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

Last year the Bills led the NFL for fewest punts with only 41, and actually finished 4th all time for fewest punts per game(including playoff/non playoff games) with 2.74 in 19 games. The 1990 Oilers hold the record with 2.35 punts per game, followed by the 2019 Ravens at 2.47 and the 1993 49ers at 2.72.

 

This year not quite as good, but they are still tied for 3rd in the league with only 45. KC only has punted 35 times and the Chargers only 41. Bills tied with Patriots and Rams at 45.

 

 

Yep - almost like prioritizing consistency of holding/punting vs. poor holding with boom punt potential was possibly the intention.  If you aren't going to punt a ton, make sure your FGs improve and you don't give up big returns.  38.7 vs 44 is 5 yards per punt - but extrapolate that out and its like 200-250 yards of field position on the year... which is 15ish yards of field position per game across 3-4 punts.  The problem is CB was never super consistent.  

 

And yes - haack had one blocked.  Both have been blocked twice in their careers - haack has 352 punts to CBs 215.  

 

Bass kicking is improved from 82.4 to 86.7 on FGs (with 1 miss coming in a wind storm, and another from 60+ against miami), and perfect on XPs after missing 2 the previous season.  I think the misses in baltimore could have been something where they saw an issue that could have cost them a tight playoff game.  Meanwhile - Crosby has missed 9 FGs this season.  

 

Punt stats in 2021 - Haack at 44.3 per punt vs. CB at 47.4.  Difference of 3.1 yards.  Buffalo has 90 return yards allowed on 14 punts, vs 268 on 21 returns for GB (and one for a TD).  Where Haack missed the mark the most this season is with the 6 touchbacks (2 in a windstorm where NE was no longer fielding punts).  It shows a lot in his net yardage, however he is only about 2 yards short of CB in net average 2021.  

 

So - superior holding by Haack.  Consistent punting, and coverage could improve when trying to pin the team deep.  CB - worse holder, and with 270 return yards allowed on the year, a tendency to outkick the coverage.  

[BigAl2526]

It's a good thing when Buffalo can limit Matt Haack's opportunities to punt, and give him a few opportunities to hold for Tyler Bass field goal attempts.

[gordong]

5 minutes ago, BigAl2526 said:

It's a good thing when Buffalo can limit Matt Haack's opportunities to punt, and give him a few opportunities to hold for Tyler Bass field goal attempts.

was just getting ready to post this....he takes forever to get the punt off... cost us one game so far. we better find someone much better this off season.

[WhoTom]

7 minutes ago, dneveu said:

CB - worse holder

 

Exactly. For more on that, check out Green Bay's FG stats. The ultra-reliable Mason Crosby has several misses this year with CB holding. More than once, Mason has expressed his displeasure with the holds.

 

 

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

52 minutes ago, WhoTom said:

 

Exactly. For more on that, check out Green Bay's FG stats. The ultra-reliable Mason Crosby has several misses this year with CB holding. More than once, Mason has expressed his displeasure with the holds.

 

 

9 misses... yikes

Edited December 28, 2021 by dneveu

[Solomon Grundy]

As far as I'm concerned, Haack makes his pay holding for FGs. 

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

50 minutes ago, gordong said:

was just getting ready to post this....he takes forever to get the punt off... cost us one game so far. we better find someone much better this off season.

 

He's had 2 punts blocked in his career.  It was also the first game of the year with a new team and it was more of a protection issue than anything else - the player came in right up the middle and johnson missed the twist.  I haven't really noticed any near blocks since then, they may have made some protection adjustments.  

Edited December 28, 2021 by dneveu

[Matt_In_NH]

tied with Patriots...did not see that coming

[TheyCallMeAndy]

Surprised Jets aren’t top 5 as well.

 

Can’t punt on 4th if you throw a pick on 3rd!

[Big Turk]

1 hour ago, gordong said:

was just getting ready to post this....he takes forever to get the punt off... cost us one game so far. we better find someone much better this off season.

 

He was brought in because of his ability to drop them inside the 20 and prevent Touchbacks, something he has been very good at over his career that Book was not.

[GunnerBill]

We have had no issue with moving the ball for the most part despite the oline being atrocious most of the year. We have struggled in the redzone. I think a combination of playcalling, personnel and execution has been the reason for that.