2012 NFL Season Predictions – Top 5 Punters: If there is a more thankless position on a football team that the punter, I’m not sure what it is. Maybe long snappers can make a claim, but at least they get to be on the field for field foals when points are scored. Punters generally take the field to a chorus of boos because fans are already mad that the offense failed to put points on the board, and even when they pin a team inside the five-yard line, it is the player the downs the ball that usually gets mobbed and praised. I guess it runs with the territory, and while punters might not get a lot of respect, they can play an important role in their team’s success. After all, giving opponents a short field in this era of offense is a death sentence, and being able to swing field position even after a bad offensive possession is a luxury. A strong punter can make up for an inconsistent offense and be the catalyst to building a strong defense. When your team is up by a point or two in the final minutes and has to punt, there is nothing like a 50-plus yard bomb from the punter to help seal the victory. With that in mind, here is a look at the top punters in game heading into the 2012 NFL season.
2012 NFL Predictions: Top 5 Punters
1. Shane Lechler, Oakland Raiders
In the world of NFL punters, a net punt average of more than 40 yards is considered excellent. Lechler has topped that mark in eight straight seasons. He has also put at least 25 punts inside the 20-yard line in five straight seasons. Lechler can crush the ball, and his ability to swing field position has been vital for an Oakland offense that has been known to sputter. He has topped 50 yards as his gross average in two of the last three seasons, and even unleashed an 80-yard bomb last year. The guy has some touch, as well. In 155 attempts over the past two years, Lechler has just 13 touchbacks. He one of the best to play the position in NFL history, and he is still going strong.
2. Adam Podlesh, Chicago Bears
Podlesh doesn’t have the biggest leg in the game, but his hang time and accuracy more than makes up for his average power. In his five-year career, he has had five touchbacks or less four times and has never had more than seven touchbacks in a season. Podlesh has also placed at least 20 kicks inside the 20-yard line in each of the least three seasons. More importantly, the height on his kicks basically eliminates the opposition’s return game. Opponents have averaged 6.5 yards per return or less in three straight seasons. Last season was his first in Chicago, and a return was attempted on only 41 of his 89 punts. Podlesh also posted a career-best 40.4 net average, further solidifying his status as one of the game’s elite punters.
3. Andy Lee, San Francisco 49ers
Lee was rock solid from 2007 to 2010, but last year, he took his game to another level. He led the NFL with a 50.9 gross punt average, and his net average was an impressive 44.6. The improvement in his power numbers didn’t come at the expense of his accuracy and hang time either. Lee placed more than 25 punts inside the 20-yard line for the third straight season and opponents averaged less than nine yards per return for the third straight season, as well. Lee appears to be blossoming into the total package at the punter position, and if the increase in his power proves to be more than a one-year thing, he could find himself at the top of the rankings in the coming years.
4. Dustin Colquitt, Kansas City Chiefs
Steady, reliable production is what Colquitt brings to the table for Kansas City, and it is a very good thing for a Chiefs offense that has called on him a lot during his seven-year career. He has had a net average of more than 40 yards in five of his seven seasons and placed at least 27 punts inside the 20-yard line in six of his seven years in the league. Colquitt has had double-digit touchbacks just once in his career and has held opponents to less than nine yards per return in six of his seven seasons. Not to mention that he 45.9 gross average in 2011 was the best of his career. Colquitt doesn’t stand out in any particular category, but he is solid across the board. Throw in his longevity and consistency, and he is definitely one of the NFL’s top punters.
5. Michael Koenen, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
He doesn’t wow you with his distance, but Koenen can practically make it rain with the height he gets on his punts. Not surprisingly, opponents don’t get much in the way of return yardage against him. He allowed just 7.4 yards per return last year, and in 2008, he allowed a meager 2.5 yards per return. He is also accurate when it comes to pinning opponents by the goal line. For his career Koenen has placed more than 34 percent of his punts inside the 20-yard line, and he has never had more than nine touchbacks in a season and has had five or fewer touchbacks in five straight seasons. To top it off, he posted a career-high 45.1 gross punt average in his first year with Tampa Bay last season.
Check the current vegas odds to win the 2013 Super Bowl XLVII plus daily NFL vegas odds and lines updated daily throughout the year at NSAwins.com!
| 2 EASY STEPS to BET on 2012 NFL Football Odds! STEP 1: CLICK HERE to OPEN SBG Global Sportsbook Account STEP 2: Deposit with Credit Card or Deposit by Check and get upto 265% in BONUSES upto $10,000 FREE added to your SBG Global Player Account Funds. |
Need Expert Winning NFL Predictions and Picks? Be sure to check out NSAwins.com’s award-winning NFL Football Season Picks Packages for expert winners against the vegas spreads and totals in NFL Football this season including 2012 NFL Football Picks and Predictions to beat the vegas point spreads and totals!