Just how good is Johnny Hekker?

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CGI_Ram

CGI_Ram

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2 straight seasons leading the league in net punt yardage ave. In 2016, he was 1.8yds longer than #2 on the list, finishing an insane 46yds per net punt.

51 of 98 punts landed inside the 20. The next closest had 38. Amazing!

Here is a link you can sort the punters any way you'd like;

http://www.espn.com/nfl/statistics/player/_/stat/punting/sort/puntYards

Of course we can joke about having the best punter... but Johnny Hekker is a stud at his position... and watching other games... he really is a difference maker with field position.
 
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It's not just Johnny - it's also the scheme that John "Bones" Fassel mapped out for the special teams. I remember back in 2012-2013 Bones discussing how he wanted Johnny angling the punts towards the sidelines with the coverage team converging on the ball to hem the opposing returner in. If the punt fell out of bounds, there was no return. If the punt fell inbounds, the sideline was serve as an extra 'tackler.' Bones wanted the punts high enough and long enough that the coverage team would arrive simultaneously as the incoming ball, making it difficult for long returns if the coverage team was faithful to protect their gaps.

So what we have is a series of efficient coverage squads year-in & year-out, a constantly improving all-world punter with a big, accurate leg combining with the intelligence of Bones' plans and the terrific all-around execution of his punter and coverage squads.
 
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I forget which game I was watching this past season... but I was like... "Wow. Their punter sucks".

Then the other team punted... and I thought... "Wow. Their punter sucks".

Then I realized just how spoiled I was watching Hekker.
 
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There is only one pure kicker and one punter in the hall...If any other kickers ever make it, Vinatieri and Janikowski are locks...Hekker seems to be headed toward having a shot as the 2nd punter...
 
Best Rams Punter in the history of the Clev/STL/Los Angeles Rams....Which includes the likes of Pat Studstill, Dave Chapple, Mike Burke, Dwayne Carrell, Rusty Jackson, Glen Walker, Ken Clarke, Frank Corral, John Misko, Dale Hatcher, Paul McJulian,Don Braken, Sean Landetta, Rick Tuten, Mike Horan & Donnie Jones...And that's just off the top of my head.
punterwide-receiver-pat-studstill-of-the-los-angeles-rams-punts-the-picture-id80387643
 
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tempests said:
If they put another one in, I'd think it'd be Shane Lechler or Sean Landeta.
Click to expand...

Actually IMHO I think Hekker has a better shot, if the Rams continue to use him throwing the football and he has a few more success. Ray Guy got in because of not only being a great punter, but an outstanding Athlete and Hekker fits that mold. Landeta will never get in, he whiffed on a punt against the Bears, but did have a hot wife, if memory serves me correctly.
 
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den-the-coach said:
Actually IMHO I think Hekker has a better shot, if the Rams continue to use him throwing the football and he has a few more success. Ray Guy got in because of not only being a great punter, but an outstanding Athlete and Hekker fits that mold. Landeta will never get in, he whiffed on a punt against the Bears, but did have a hot wife, if memory serves me correctly.
Click to expand...

I give Snead & The Rams for picking him up as a UDFA . Greg the Leg both in the same year. Nice way to rebuild your special teams.
They should have kept there secondary in tack the same way.Is Greg the Leg a FA still ??
 
den-the-coach said:
Best Rams Punter in the history of the Clev/STL/Los Angeles Rams....Which includes the likes of Pat Studstill, Dave Chapple, Mike Burke, Dwayne Carrell, Rusty Jackson, Glen Walker, Ken Clarke, Frank Corral, John Misko, Dale Hatcher, Paul McJulian,Don Braken, Sean Landetta, Rick Tuten, Mike Horan & Donnie Jones...And that's just off the top of my head.
punterwide-receiver-pat-studstill-of-the-los-angeles-rams-punts-the-picture-id80387643
Click to expand...
I remember that David Chapple....
IyuDGMM.jpg
 
CGI_Ram said:
PI-NFL-Rams-Johnny-Hekker-061015.vresize.1200.675.high.2.jpg


2 straight seasons leading the league in net punt yardage ave. In 2016, he was 1.8yds longer than #2 on the list, finishing an insane 46yds per net punt.

51 of 98 punts landed inside the 20. The next closest had 38. Amazing!

Here is a link you can sort the punters any way you'd like;

http://www.espn.com/nfl/statistics/player/_/stat/punting/sort/puntYards

Of course we can joke about having the best punter... but Johnny Hekker is a stud at his position... and watching other games... he really is a difference maker with field position.
Click to expand...
This guy truly is a game changer.As our team improves,his importance
will become even more obvious.A lot of his contributions go unnoticed,
because the games aren't close.In a close matchup,he,and our coverage
unit is the difference in the game.
 
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