View topic - Ernster = HUGE liability

[El Nino Profile]

We either need this guy to straighten up or replace him ASAP. 20-30 yard punts are totally unacceptable, and in a close game, I see him costing us big. Is it too late to try and sign a new punter? anybody? frick, maybe even give jeff reed a shot?

in the 4Q his punt from the 20 didn't even cross midfield, we might as well just keep going for it on 4th down at this rate.

[First to Six Profile]

And with the weather getting worse, it will not improve -- he needs to go. I can't believe there isn't somebody out there who can boot it more than 28 yards per punt.

[Hoppy Profile]

He's kidding, who picked him?? Get a WPIA kicker.....

Can Ben kick, he does everything else.

[deltadweller Profile]

There's 32 teamsand how many colleges out there? You have to be able to find somebody servicable.

[SteelLuvinU Profile]

Horrible. That was the worst kicking display I've ever seen. I can see giving him a bye last week but if he is kicking in New England, that's just appalling...

[Homer J Profile]

Absolutely agree. This team is predicated on defense and field position.

We cannot continue to give up 10-20 yards - or more - on every exchange of punts.

There must be somebody out there -- maybe we could hire one of the Radio City Rockettes -- they all seem to be able to kick better than Ernster.

That said, it seemed like he was kicking into a huge wind in the first half (even though the incompetent NFL Channel announcers didn't mention it). The Cincy kicker did fine in the first quarter...but his first punt in the second quarter looked like it hit a wall. And might Ernster have been under orders to boot it high for hang time...in spite of the wind?

You do set your game plan to fit your opponent, and if I'm coaching against the inept Bengals, the one thing I absolutely don't want is a long line drive kick returned against me. That's how you let underdogs beat you. You accept the loss of some field position, so as not to chance a return.

This does not excuse Ernster's overall awful performance. But it is an honest question.

Any thoughts?

[1fourdathumb Profile]

I'd rather have sepulveda punt with one leg than have to watch ernster boot the ball 25yds down the field (against or with the wind). Field position is the upmost importance when we finally get into the meat of our schedule. I was glad to see Gary Russel run with a sense of urgency (kickoff's and goal line situations) The more teams see us use Russel near the goal line, the more the naked boot leg works to heinzy or heath in the back of the endzone.

[dave8105 Profile]

Couldn't Kordell punt?

[El Nino Profile]

Couldn't Kordell punt?

that's what i was thinking yesterday lol. sign kordell!

[stillDrink Profile]

Josh Miller could come out of retirement...

[logjammin Profile]

Couldn't Kordell punt?

that's what i was thinking yesterday lol. sign kordell!

He would insist on getting his old number 10 back. Then if they signed him and Santonio wore a different number, Kordell would insist on being the starting qb.

[thesteelhammer Profile]

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFL+Zone/Games/2008/2.12+-+Cincinnati+at+Pittsburgh.htm?tab=recap

The Steelers may be bringing in a new punter after Paul Ernster averaged 28.4 yards on five punts. Tomlin called the punting "horrible." ...

[El Nino Profile]

Couldn't Kordell punt?

that's what i was thinking yesterday lol. sign kordell!

He would insist on getting his old number 10 back. Then if they signed him and Santonio wore a different number, Kordell would insist on being the starting qb.

he can be a starting WR

on a serious note it's a shame he didn't want to stay in that 'slash' role. he could have been on his way to the hall of fame playing rb/wr

[shawnlucas Profile]

You need to at least compete in all three phases of the game in order to win against competent teams.

You can get away with that shit against Cincy (hell, even that is a stretch, the Steelers gave up just over 200 net yards and 10 points, there's something wrong there) but against a real team, you're going to get bum fucked giving up the ball at or around midfield every possession.

They need to fix that, and soon.

[Nel Profile]

Someone mentioned Jeff "Skippy" Reed, but that is probably not feasible.

We don't know anything about his hands and if he can handle long snaps (or even do that kind of kicking).

Ernster is there because he has proven abilities to 1) handle long snaps cleanly and 2) get kicks off under pressure.

Distance of punts is tertiary in order of importance for punters.

However, we do need a player who can do all three things well, plus the fourth (hold for place kicks).

I think we might see Ernster replaced before the next game, but I do not agree that he is a huge liability, given the tenacity of our D.

[El Nino Profile]

Someone mentioned Jeff "Skippy" Reed, but that is probably not feasible.

We don't know anything about his hands and if he can handle long snaps (or even do that kind of kicking).

Ernster is there because he has proven abilities to 1) handle long snaps cleanly and 2) get kicks off under pressure.

Distance of punts is tertiary in order of importance for punters.

However, we do need a player who can do all three things well, plus the fourth (hold for place kicks).

I think we might see Ernster replaced before the next game, but I do not agree that he is a huge liability, given the tenacity of our D.

I have to disagree with him not being a huge liability. In our last game we punt on the 20 yard line, only to get it to the 45. The bengals get excellent field position, and score 3 points because they are basically 1 first down away from scoring range. Luckily they're the bengals, but a good team would make us pay for that.

[Nel Profile]

Someone mentioned Jeff "Skippy" Reed, but that is probably not feasible.

We don't know anything about his hands and if he can handle long snaps (or even do that kind of kicking).

Ernster is there because he has proven abilities to 1) handle long snaps cleanly and 2) get kicks off under pressure.

Distance of punts is tertiary in order of importance for punters.

However, we do need a player who can do all three things well, plus the fourth (hold for place kicks).

I think we might see Ernster replaced before the next game, but I do not agree that he is a huge liability, given the tenacity of our D.

I have to disagree with him not being a huge liability. In our last game we punt on the 20 yard line, only to get it to the 45. The bengals get excellent field position, and score 3 points because they are basically 1 first down away from scoring range. Luckily they're the bengals, but a good team would make us pay for that.

El Nino, I agree with you that Ernster's punting distance is a problem. But, he can handle the ball and I think that's important ("safe").

Let's hope for a replacement who is better, pronto.