I Love the New Punter
By CK Stiller
Much like with a second TE, taking a punter in round 4 drew some hefty criticism. Many Steelers fans were and remain lukewarm on the decision. Even more members of the media have expressed confusion over the pick. They will tell you a RB, CB, and OL were more significant needs. Then, many of the same arguments used to justify taking Spaeth can be used to justify taking Sepulveda.
I called Gardocki one of the more significant individual players in the two debacles against the Ravens. He was a handicap all season long, though. He routinely gave the opposing offense short fields, increasing the strain on both the offense and defense. The Steelers were ranked in the bottom three of both average starting field position as well as the average field position for opposing offenses (Source - Steelers Fever).
Meanwhile, the Steelers offense was third best in the league in average yardage gained per drive behind only New Orleans and Indianapolis. Meanwhile, the Steelers defense was 9th best in the league on defense in terms of yards allowed per drive (Source - Football Outsiders).
And much of this is due solely to Chris Gardocki. He was dead last in the league last season, averaging only 41.3 yards per punt. The Steelers allowed a return average of only 5.8 yards, second best in the league. Beyond that, he pinned teams down inside their own 20 a league low 11 times. Gardocki had a miserable 2005 season, as well. However, it wasn�t quite this bad, and he saved his job by doing a great job in the playoffs. Not this time, though.
For those who doubt the impact Gardocki�s shitty punts had on the field position, let�s take a look at the first game against Baltimore.
Gardocki punted the ball 7 times in that game:
From PIT 19, punts 37 yards to BAL 44 - Baltimore scores a TD
From PIT 32, punts 53 yards to BAL 15 - Baltimore punts (after moving the ball 36 yards,
From PIT 34, punts 27 yards to BAL 27 - Baltimore punts (drive killed by 15 yard chop block penalty)
From PIT 5, punts 32 yards to PIT 37 - Baltimore scores a TD (penalty bumps this back to the 47)
From PIT 16, punts 43 yards to BAL 43 - Baltimore kicks a FG (penalty bumped field position back to the BAL 25)
From PIT 25, punts 41 yards to BAL 34 - Baltimore punts
From PIT 32, punts 46 yards to BAL 15 - Baltimore punts (another penalty takes this back to the 7)
First thing I notice from above is that not a single Ravens scoring drive required them to move the ball over 60 yards. Their second TD drive came almost directly as a result of a muffed punt from Gardocki. Gardocki averaged just 39.8 yards per punt in this game. Baltimore did not score once when starting below their own 40.
The difference between a TD, FG, and a punt is often simply starting field position. Particularly against an offense like the Ravens run. They don�t gamble or force the football. They were deliberate in their approach. They flip the field position on you. They score a huge chunk of their points on short fields. Gardocki gave them multiple to work with.
We find a similar trend in the second meeting. Baltimore formed one scoring drive beyond 60 yards (a TD to start the half). Their other four scoring �drives� required them to move under 60 yards. Gardocki averaged a more respectable 44 yards per punt. Then, that includes giving him credit for a 56 yarder�that went into the end zone for a touchback.
Daniel Sepulveda, meanwhile, is one of the best punter prospects ever. He seems to be the clear best punter in the draft (Jacksonville�s selection of Adam Podlesh is puzzling). His credentials have been stated repeatedly at this point. He�s the only punter ever to win the Ray Guy award twice. His name is in the record books for the most punts over 50 yards ever (94), and the most yards per punt ever (45.24 per). Opposing teams started below their own 20 on 52% of Sepulveda�s punts. He has shown a knack for getting them within the 20, and has a huge leg that Gardocki lacks.
As for using a fourth rounder, and even trading up to grab him, this hardly troubles me. Sepulveda is a lock to make the team, and start. He can contribute from day 1, and has the potential to remain with the team for 10+ years. And we can say this with an unusually high degree of safety for a draft pick. It shouldn�t need to be said, but it�s doubtful anyone else taken with the fourth and sixth rounder would have panned out and made such a commitment.
Punter is a flashy pick. It�s easy to knock. However, at the end of the day, Sepulveda will give both sides of the ball an edge immediately. Field position is key. Few football fans will argue with that statement. Why, then, do they feel it�s a waste to grab a potentially outstanding punter with a fourth rounder? Especially when it will e