02-22-2023, 05:40 PM
(02-22-2023, 05:25 PM)grampahol Wrote: Hoping the next guy isn't exactly a sure fire bet either.. I want an absolute iron clad guarantee with absolutely zero chance of injury or any possible backslide.. I'm not asking for much.
you're trying to draw a false equivalency.
Keeping Drue Chrisman on the roster, a punter with one of the worst punt hang times in the entire NFL and an average leg in the best of times, and just hoping he figures out how to kick it higher and longer isn't a plan, it's just blind optimism.
Drafting a player who has shown that they can punt in college, statistically showing the ability to get the ball high enough into the air that he doesn't outpunt his coverage while still driving it 50 to 55 yards down the field on a consistent basis (Ideally with the ability to punt directionally too to keep the ball out of the end zone on shorter punts) isn't "hope." It's just drafting a player that has shown they can do the things you want them to do and planning on them doing it in the NFL as well.
You can "Hope" they develop into an NFL player, but the projection for a punter is much easier than many other positions in the NFL because it's a relatively factor independent role on the team (especially relative to the other starters).
By your logic, we should just cancel the draft entirely.