Is Darr really that bad?

[BanditVol]

He averaged 44 yards per punt. 

He deserves all the blame he can get for the block, because he held it too long (but who was blocking Rainey, anyway?), but that's a pretty dam good average.  Maybe we have just been spoiled by the Colquitts.

[BigOrange Maniac]

I'm almost certain Palardy was punting when the kick was blocked.

[BanditVol]

I'm almost certain Palardy was punting when the kick was blocked.

Oh okay.  Then he looks even better.  Hm.

[Volznut]

I'm almost certain Palardy was punting when the kick was blocked.

Yep, it was. He took way too long to get it off too.

[PirateVOL]

Yep, it was. He took way too long to get it off too.

Disagree, the punt timing was normal.  Palardy has a nice easy punt moion that seems slow but his timing is very similar to Darr's.  The block was a flat bust by our up back and a nicely designed special teams play.

As I noted in my game report (and confirmed in reviewing the video yesterday) they had Rainey out on our left gunner and an overload setup to our right.  That forced our up backs to focus on the right.  Then they brought Rainey into their right wing (though he was on the inside hip) and he came through the gap of line engaged blockers and the up back was leaning right and let him blow right by without even touching him.  That punt would have been blocked if a Colquitt (pick one) was kicking it.

[PirateVOL]

He averaged 44 yards per punt. 

He deserves all the blame he can get for the block, because he held it too long (but who was blocking Rainey, anyway?), but that's a pretty dam good average.  Maybe we have just been spoiled by the Colquitts.

Darr's punts seem to have a significant (more than normal) nose up (tail dragging) trajectory.  They rarely (I think I've seen two in practice and never in a game) "turn over" which gains the extra yards. 

Darr's first punt Saturday was a low line drive, maybe 2/3rds a normal trajectory.  When he hit it I thought it was going to be a long return as our gunners were a long way from him when he caught the ball but Rainey seemed to hesitate for some reason.

[BanditVol]

He's not perfect I am sure but I will take 44 yards per any day

[PirateVOL]

He's not perfect I am sure but I will take 44 yards per any day

The thing is, I don't consider that "normal" for Darr.  His ball flight leads to a mid 30s average.  Saturday the low line drive helped his average.  IMO Palardy is the better punter but I don't think his practice time supports his being the punter.

One other thing is that wind seems to affect punts more in the swamp than Neyland, and there was wind Saturday.