Rd 6, Pick 180 (1): Punter Matt Araiza, San Diego State

[NewEra]

1 hour ago, BringBackFergy said:

This pick is questionable. Look at the schools he went up against: Hawaii, Air Force? No Big 12 or SEC competition. Not promising. 

No doubt!!  The air over there is super weak

[chongli]

1 hour ago, boater said:

OTH... As a punter, your punts are mostly against the field, more so than the other teams players.

 

I'm thinking SIXTH round is a real value here.

 

I think he was joking.

[sullim4]

2 minutes ago, The Dean said:

But what if he is horrendous at it?  I do not expect this. He seems very eager to learn and excel. This is just a little thought exercise. What would they do?

 

Don't discount the fact that he can placekick, even if he is a terrible holder.  That's worth something if anything were to happen to Bass.  If the dude is bombing punts 60+ yards on a consistent basis in adverse conditions, you can't cut him even if he's a terrible holder.  He's gonna be on the roster in that scenario - Bojo was an average punter and a terrible holder and that's why he was cut loose.

 

I feel like there are options for holder.  Anyone that can handle the ball well would be a candidate to hold on kicks.  WRs, CBs, even RBs would be candidates to hold in addition to Keenum if for whatever reason, Araiza can't do it.

[The Dean]

Just now, sullim4 said:

 

Don't discount the fact that he can placekick, even if he is a terrible holder.  That's worth something if anything were to happen to Bass.  If the dude is bombing punts 60+ yards on a consistent basis in adverse conditions, you can't cut him even if he's a terrible holder.  He's gonna be on the roster in that scenario - Bojo was an average punter and a terrible holder and that's why he was cut loose.

 

I feel like there are options for holder.  Anyone that can handle the ball well would be a candidate to hold on kicks.  WRs, CBs, even RBs would be candidates to hold in addition to Keenum if for whatever reason, Araiza can't do it.

 

You are missing the point. Holding is actually a skill and the entire process needs to go the same way every time. So, the long snapper, kicker, punter, etc, work together as a unit. You simply don't have non ST players holding anymore. The job is too important. And I expect, nuanced.  Yes, "anyone can hold" but can they do it the same way, every time? With the timing, laces out, etc?

 

I'm shocked by the disrespect these positions get from some here. ST is very important. And there are skills and teamwork that involve practice. And constant improvement. So, maybe teach a deep roster WR/RB to hold?  Sure he might be able to get the necessary reps. But they you have one extra ST player on your active roster who normally would be a healthy inactive. 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

18 minutes ago, The Dean said:

 

I agree, for the most part. But I won't go so far as to say he'll be cut if he isn't a good holder. For one reason, they kept Bojo for a time despite the fact he wasn't good at holding. And he was inconsistent as a punter. Eventually he was let go. So, perhaps unless he totally sucks, I'm guessing the new Matt gets the job. Both jobs, I should say.

 

But what if he is horrendous at it?  I do not expect this. He seems very eager to learn and excel. This is just a little thought exercise. What would they do?

 

I'm thinking, if he really shows his stuff punting this offseason, he's making the team. So maybe they get creative with the holder. I doubt it. But if they do, I highly doubt it will be a QB. And if if he can't figure it out, and isn't killing it with the punting, then what?

if he is shaky as a holder, the Bills will be really stuck. They can’t sign Araiza to the PS, as he will Be poached. They can’t sign two active punters to the roster. And they can’t afford to roll the dice in a SB year on someone who may mess up Bass as a bad holder. I think they learned from their mistake with Bojo, who screwed up Bass constantly and almost ended Mason Crosby’s career last year. 
 

Given how little the team punts, i suspect they would go with Haack if Araiza is a shaky holder, and pray Haack improves as a punter. 

 

 

[Ralonzo]

Does anyone think Araiza, as a PK in addition to punter, would have additional insight/rapport into what a kicker would want from a holder?

[Airseven]

Never watched this guy. I saw the silly punts at his workouts. But what about hang time, ball placement, and holding ability? They may have a punting-from-own-endzone specialist. Cool nickname though.

Edited May 1, 2022 by Airseven

[BuffaloButt]

Bills don't need a punter!  We don't punt!!

Ask New England!!!!!!😋

[Cheektowaga Chad]

26 minutes ago, Airseven said:

Never watched this guy. I saw the silly punts at his workouts. But what about hang time, ball placement, and holding ability? They may have a punting-from-own-endzone specialist. Cool nickname though.

Might be beanes way of forcing McDermott to go for it on 4th down much more often near mid field 

[MrEpsYtown]

Araiza is not the first kicker/punter to come out of college. There have been a bunch of guys in the past who did both in college and had to learn how to hold in the pros. He is a great athlete with bigger hands than Kenny Pickett. I am sure he needs work, but this has been done before, and if he puts the work in, I am sure he will be fine. It’s significant, but the challenge is being overblown. In fact, because he was a placekicker, he may have an even better understanding of what Bass wants him to do holding wise. He is going to be fine. 

[Alphadawg7]

This thread is becoming comedy gold lol.  Can’t wIt to revisit it in a year or two

[Nelius]

Just have Case Keenum hold and bring out Punt God every 3 games to nuke a team into submission. Am I missing some rule that the punter needs to hold kicks? Have the feisty vet back-up QB do it like it's 1991.

[Locomark]

I was never for drafting a punter before the 6th, unless we had a very poor offense. Love this pick here, but I would have screamed this was crap if this was a 4th. 

[Buffalo716]

1 hour ago, Nelius said:

Just have Case Keenum hold and bring out Punt God every 3 games to nuke a team into submission. Am I missing some rule that the punter needs to hold kicks? Have the feisty vet back-up QB do it like it's 1991.

As stated by NFL coaches

 

You just don't have time for the backup quarterback to be practicing holding all day 

 

The punter and kickers work together.. they're together all day and can work on it

[Richard Noggin]

2 hours ago, The Dean said:

 

You are missing the point. Holding is actually a skill and the entire process needs to go the same way every time. So, the long snapper, kicker, punter, etc, work together as a unit. You simply don't have non ST players holding anymore. The job is too important. And I expect, nuanced.  Yes, "anyone can hold" but can they do it the same way, every time? With the timing, laces out, etc?

 

I'm shocked by the disrespect these positions get from some here. ST is very important. And there are skills and teamwork that involve practice. And constant improvement. So, maybe teach a deep roster WR/RB to hold?  Sure he might be able to get the necessary reps. But they you have one extra ST player on your active roster who normally would be a healthy inactive. 

Right. CBA practice time restrictions have essentially forced the shift from backup QBs to Ps being the holders. The holder has to be available to practice with the ST unit. The only two positions who field snaps as a necessary function of their jobs are QB and P. Nowadays, STs batteries (LS and P or holder + K) practice separately while the O and D work (with some full team STs segments sprinkled in, of course). Just the way it is.

[gr8billsfan]

This guys leg is ridiculous!

[Richard Noggin]

3 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

As stated by NFL coaches

 

You just don't have time for the backup quarterback to be practicing holding all day 

 

The punter and kickers work together.. they're together all day and can work on it

 

You beat me to it by 2 minutes.

[Mat68]

Pat Mcafee was drafted to be a punter and never punted or held.  It work out.  Ariza seems like a natural kicker.  If he wants to play in the NFL he will figure out how to hold.  Pretty athletic guy so this could open up some special team trickeracion too.  Haack needed to be replaced.  Ariza is an interesting option.  Hopefully, he turns out like Bass.

[Buffalo716]

3 minutes ago, Richard Noggin said:

 

You beat me to it by 2 minutes.

I'm always 2 minutes early

 

Ask my girl

[gobills404]

Can’t believe we wasted a draft pick on a guy who isn’t even gonna play against the patriots