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

[UKBillFan]

7 minutes ago, Warcodered said:

 

 

Josh might see that as a challenge. 😄

[The Frankish Reich]

6 hours ago, MJS said:

It's a pretty dumb concept by him. Has a coach EVER wanted to punt more just because they have a decent punter? I would think that would be the last thing on the coach's mind.

Right. Under his reasoning we'd also want a bad FG kicker so McD is tempted to go for it on 4th and 10 at the 40.

[Jackalope89]

Like Shakir, this guy was a pain to deal with. Just when you think you had SDSU pinned, BOOM, he just flipped the damn field.

 

I don't know how much field time he'll get here with Josh, but he should make an impact when called on.

[BillsFanForever19]

9 hours ago, JohnNord said:

I read this too.  The more I learn about Araizia, the less I think he makes this team.  
 

Fans don’t like Haack, but I really think Buffalo would be confident with him as punter - knowing that he helps to kicking game.  Beane even called him an “elite” holder and that he was coming off a bad season.  I think he gets ever chance to make the team

 

Considering he's cheaper than Haack and they invested a Draft Pick in him, I think he'd have to REALLY not look the part for them to stick with Haack. If it's remotely close, Araiza will win. Especially given how poorly Haack played last season.

Edited May 2, 2022 by BillsFanForever19

[unbillievable]

Bills are the best team to develop a punter.

 

...and the difference between horrible Borq and elite Haack in holding caused a 5% accuracy difference. That's 1 out of 20.

 

 

[HomeskillitMoorman]

Are there any Youtube videos of him holding set to "Let The Bodies Hit The Floor" that I can watch?

[atlbillsfan1975]

2 hours ago, unbillievable said:

Bills are the best team to develop a punter.

 

...and the difference between horrible Borq and elite Haack in holding caused a 5% accuracy difference. That's 1 out of 20.

 

 

The way Beane structured Haack’s contract it sounds like he will get paid $100k to coach Araiza on holding over the summer. This was proposed on a podcast on Cover One. Araiza has mentioned his has been working on holding. I don’t see it being a huge issue due to Araiza being a good athlete. He should possess good hand eye coordination so then it just comes down to composure under pressure. 

[CapeBreton]

Crazy that Araiza has only been punting one year so he's still very raw, I did not know that. Hopefully he works his butt off this summer because nothing is going to be handed to him. 

[DJB]

How has he not been inducted into the Bills Wall of fame yet? 

[CaliBills]

 

 

Didn't see it posted.

 

 

[Shaw66]

9 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

Considering he's cheaper than Haack and they invested a Draft Pick in him, I think he'd have to REALLY not look the part for them to stick with Haack. If it's remotely close, Araiza will win. Especially given how poorly Haack played last season.

I don't think he's such a slam dunk.  Beane said he'll have to win the job, and he also said Haack is better than the fans think and better than he played last season.  I think the situation is similar to when Bass arrived.  The Bills had just resigned that guy who had kicked for Seattle, and we were all happy with him.   Bass came in and showed that he already was as good, although he didn't have much experience in the clutch.   He was a small gamble in that regard, but it was a risk clearly worth taking.  

 

The Bills are going to have no way of knowing for sure whether Araiza will have consistency problems like Bojo did, and they'll have real concerns about whether Araiza can be a consistently good holder.   The Bills will have to get comfortable on both fronts, as much as they can, in the summer.  The question will be potential versus consistency, if Haack has a good camp.  Araiza will have to show that he projects consistency; then his leg will win the day.  

[Patrick Duffy]

Some post here and there concerned about him as holder on FG attempts, which I get it since he hasn't had to do it yet.

 

That being said, I don't share that same amount of concern. I think it's something he will learn fairly quickly and will do just fine because I think we can all pretty much agree that Haack likely won't be around much longer.

 

Also it's not extremely difficult to get the hang of it. 

[Ralonzo]

46 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

I don't think he's such a slam dunk.  Beane said he'll have to win the job, and he also said Haack is better than the fans think and better than he played last season.  I think the situation is similar to when Bass arrived.  The Bills had just resigned that guy who had kicked for Seattle, and we were all happy with him.   Bass came in and showed that he already was as good, although he didn't have much experience in the clutch.   He was a small gamble in that regard, but it was a risk clearly worth taking.  

 

The Bills are going to have no way of knowing for sure whether Araiza will have consistency problems like Bojo did, and they'll have real concerns about whether Araiza can be a consistently good holder.   The Bills will have to get comfortable on both fronts, as much as they can, in the summer.  The question will be potential versus consistency, if Haack has a good camp.  Araiza will have to show that he projects consistency; then his leg will win the day.  

 

I like Beane but I'm going to disagree with him here and paraphrase Bill Parcells: Haack is exactly what his record was last season. The weather was crap in most games but that's part of being a punter in Buffalo. He doesn't get 8 games in South Florida any more. He also turned the tide of the Steeler game for a loss and did his damnedest to lose the Jets game.

 

That video above still shows Araiza working on hang time and he's got it. Looks good. Directionally, looks good. The 3-step is an issue, but the first step is a short one and should be coachable. Araiza's 3-step looks quicker than Haack's molasses steps anyway.

 

The one scout said he was Bojorquez. That means 3 or 4 shanks a season. Haack did that in one game. I'd take a rookie who is currently at a Bojo level who is an athlete, coachable and a process guy, and on a rookie contract. It's like Bass and Hauschka (who was admittedly washed), the brass will account in the evaluation for potential, and contract, and term. Haack has a high high hill to climb - he doesn't need to be better than last year to win the job, he needs to be much better than he ever has been, or Araiza has to go full Gary Andersen.

Edited May 2, 2022 by Ralonzo
disambiguate

[davefan66]

35 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

I don't think he's such a slam dunk.  Beane said he'll have to win the job, and he also said Haack is better than the fans think and better than he played last season.  I think the situation is similar to when Bass arrived.  The Bills had just resigned that guy who had kicked for Seattle, and we were all happy with him.   Bass came in and showed that he already was as good, although he didn't have much experience in the clutch.   He was a small gamble in that regard, but it was a risk clearly worth taking.  

 

The Bills are going to have no way of knowing for sure whether Araiza will have consistency problems like Bojo did, and they'll have real concerns about whether Araiza can be a consistently good holder.   The Bills will have to get comfortable on both fronts, as much as they can, in the summer.  The question will be potential versus consistency, if Haack has a good camp.  Araiza will have to show that he projects consistency; then his leg will win the day.  

Beane seemed to be honest when he said Haack will be given every chance and he’s better than he looked.  Don’t think it was fluff, nor a move to push Araiza.
 

I feel Araiza will be given a shot also, even lower round draft picks get the benefit of being drafted.  Certainly won’t be handed to him.  Holding is obviously a concern.  I felt like the job was his unless he bombed totally.  Now see it as 50-50 he’s day 1 starter.
 

Flipping the field is certainly something Bills would be looking at.  Kickoff’s may be another reason they like him.  Perhaps he makes the team as kickoff specialist?  Doubtful based on the rotation on the d-line and need for depth elsewhere on game day.

[Shaw66]

2 minutes ago, Ralonzo said:

 

I like Beane but I'm going to disagree with him here and paraphrase Bill Parcells: Haack is exactly what his record was last season. The weather was crap in most games but that's part of being a punter in Buffalo. He doesn't get 8 games in South Florida any more. He also turned the tide of the Steeler game for a loss and did his damnedest to lose the Jets game.

 

That video above still shows Araiza working on hang time and he's got it. Looks good. Directionally, looks good. The 3-step is an issue, but the first step is a short one and should be coachable. Araiza's 3-step looks quicker than Haack's molasses steps anyway.

 

The one scout said he was Bojorquez. That means 3 or 4 shanks a season. Haack did that in one game. I'd take a rookie who is currently at a Bojo level who is an athlete, coachable and a process guy, and on a rookie contract. It's like Bass and Hauschka (who was admittedly washed), the brass will account in the evaluation for potential, and contract, and term. Haack has a high high hill to climb - he doesn't need to be better than last year to win the job, he needs to be much better than he ever has been.

That's a fair analysis.  Thanks.   The good news is that the Bills punt so little that a bad punter can't hurt them too much.  And I agree about the coachable athlete part.   If that's who he is, then the Bills will live with a season while he refines his game.  

[Ralonzo]

2 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

That's a fair analysis.  Thanks.   The good news is that the Bills punt so little that a bad punter can't hurt them too much.  And I agree about the coachable athlete part.   If that's who he is, then the Bills will live with a season while he refines his game.  

 

Last year, a bad punter did indeed hurt them, probably cost them home field, maybe even a championship. Hence the draft pick. I'm going to take a little solace in what Beane said about competition, and while it might be boilerplate, and necessary to say it, I think between the lines Beane and McD know what cost them last year and where they need to improve and they've been doing exactly that: from coaching (OL, ST) to pass rush (#40) to cornerback (1st rounder).

 

Except of course Edmunds 

[The Dean]

18 hours ago, MJS said:

It's a pretty dumb concept by him. Has a coach EVER wanted to punt more just because they have a decent punter? I would think that would be the last thing on the coach's mind.

 

You go for it at mid field and onward, where having a big leg is meaningless. When you get stalled in your own end, you don't go for it because it is too risky giving the other team the ball in scoring position. That's when having a big leg is great because you can flip the field position.

I bet they'll try to reign that in, though. You only have one punter and can't afford for them to get hurt making a tackle.

 This. Perhaps if the guy waa simply money at laying the punt down inside the 5/10 yard line consistently--- well MAYBE you choose to punt from mid field instead of going for 4th and 3. Maybe

 

A BOOMING punter helps flip the field in obvious punting situations 

 

 

By the way, I hear if Araiza's a total bust as a holder,  the Bills will become a drop kicking team!

[Doc]

34 minutes ago, The Dean said:

 This. Perhaps if the guy waa simply money at laying the punt down inside the 5/10 yard line consistently--- well MAYBE you choose to punt from mid field instead of going for 4th and 3. Maybe

 

A BOOMING punter helps flip the field in obvious punting situations 

 

 

By the way, I hear if Araiza's a total bust as a holder,  the Bills will become a drop kicking team!

 

No, Bass will hold for him.

[The Dean]

2 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

No, Bass will hold for him.

 

 

"In Soviet Russia, ball hold you."--Yakov Smirnoff

[DapperCam]

I think he would really have to be bad in training camp to not beat out Haack. We already know that he can flip the field with his leg and Haack can’t. Bills are going to be going for it midfield this year on 4th down IMO, so the directional touch stuff is less important.

 

Haack’s net avg was 38 yards last year. We could punt from our 40 yard line, Araiza could boom it for a touchback and that would be a net of 40 yards already beating Haack’s numbers. Not to mention the gain when we are punting deeper than that.