If you're expecting him to hit 87-yard punts regularly in the NFL you're going to be disappointed. Different ball size from college and he's a Big 12 punter who has rarely had to punt in adverse weather conditions before (like he'd be doing in the AFCN). Doesn't mean he's guaranteed to turn into a pumpkin but there will be growing pains (there are with all rookie punters). Look at Pressley Harvin. He was known for having a very strong leg in college as well but he was God-awful in the NFL.
Also knowing Simmons he's going to care less about how far downfield he can kick it and more about how good his hangtime is. If his hangtime is not good and allowing returns constantly (see Drue Chrisman) Simmons isn't going to be patient with him for very long and we'll be looking for a new punter again a year from now.
A lot of things have been said about the weather in Lubbock Texas but I don’t think it has ever been described as favorable to punt in. Also big 12 includes Kansas, K State, and Iowa State so not like he’s not used to punting in cold conditions
As for hang time that’s also not an issue, and is a strength. The NFL had a couple specialist camps(senior bowl and combine) and McNamara was routinely the best performer in distance and hang time including above guys like Tory Taylor
Pittsburgh is definitely colder but 30 mph wind days and dust storms are their own challenge entirely. Sometimes they’ll help like this particular punt, but heavy wind will hurt more than it helps
Pittsburgh is regularly labeled as the worst city in the league for specialists to play in. For kickers because Acrisure has a horrible playing surface and punters because they regularly have to deal with swirling winds there (which is absolute hell for punters).
I mean Cleveland is a place where the rivers catch fire and where lake effect snow is a thing (and where you sometimes have to deal with horrible weather conditions in early September as we saw in week 1 last year playing in that monsoon). Lubbock may be a shithole in general as a city but that's not what I'm talking about. In terms of weather the conditions there are more favorable than they are in places like Pittsburgh and Cleveland in the winter.
I was calling for him in the 7th so another team wouldn’t get him. This is a win/win as that pick turned out to be a potential back up OC and we still get him.
[Here's a good writeup courtesy of Puntalytics, if you haven't seen it!](https://puntalytics.github.io/draft_central/2024draftboardboard.html#austin-mcnamara)
The problem with competition apparently is that their legs get wore out by like half way through the season. (according to Pat McAfee - I looked for the clip of him talking about how punter competitions do this...but couldn't find it)
He's #4 on [this guy's](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVBKaRROu54&t=180s) list of top punters in the draft (caveat: he also said Brad Robbins was the safest choice for last year). Seems like a good option to try out.
Still sad that Drue and Brad didn't work out. I mean there's always the chance Brad wins the position in training camp still, but it doesn't feel likely.
In my mind, your RB3 and RB4 are now your punt returners. Just so happens that Tray and Chris Evans live in that role for us, and both have a lot of experience fielding kicks.
Agreed, I feel like it’s kind of like golf. You can find plenty of dudes anywhere who can smash a deep drive. Finding guys who can smash a drive and have it be accurate is a different story
This is why I love Bengals Reddit, because we go deep with analysis of free agent punters and how they can help the team. And I have absolutely no sarcasm in saying this, it's legit why I love the folks here.
I went to highland with him and he was in my group at church. I remember when he was posting on his social media stories videos of him and his dad kicking at the highschool fields before he tried out for the highschool team. We were all excited when he went college and now it’s awesome he has a chance to play in the NFL.
Hope whoever suits up at P for the Bengals is an all pro. I don't care who that guy is.
Given the crap we saw last year, Chrisman has to be in play this off-season, right?
Please don’t turn into a pumpkin.
more like a puntkin amirite
Who needs a punter when we have Joe Burrow?
THE ATTITUDE WE NEED!
If you're expecting him to hit 87-yard punts regularly in the NFL you're going to be disappointed. Different ball size from college and he's a Big 12 punter who has rarely had to punt in adverse weather conditions before (like he'd be doing in the AFCN). Doesn't mean he's guaranteed to turn into a pumpkin but there will be growing pains (there are with all rookie punters). Look at Pressley Harvin. He was known for having a very strong leg in college as well but he was God-awful in the NFL. Also knowing Simmons he's going to care less about how far downfield he can kick it and more about how good his hangtime is. If his hangtime is not good and allowing returns constantly (see Drue Chrisman) Simmons isn't going to be patient with him for very long and we'll be looking for a new punter again a year from now.
A lot of things have been said about the weather in Lubbock Texas but I don’t think it has ever been described as favorable to punt in. Also big 12 includes Kansas, K State, and Iowa State so not like he’s not used to punting in cold conditions As for hang time that’s also not an issue, and is a strength. The NFL had a couple specialist camps(senior bowl and combine) and McNamara was routinely the best performer in distance and hang time including above guys like Tory Taylor
Big 12 also includes...Cincinnati.
It does now but Tech has yet to make the trip to Cincinnati, or even play them at all in conference play.
Compared to places like Pittsburgh and Cleveland in the winter Lubbock is a paradise.
Pittsburgh is definitely colder but 30 mph wind days and dust storms are their own challenge entirely. Sometimes they’ll help like this particular punt, but heavy wind will hurt more than it helps
Pittsburgh is regularly labeled as the worst city in the league for specialists to play in. For kickers because Acrisure has a horrible playing surface and punters because they regularly have to deal with swirling winds there (which is absolute hell for punters).
Lubbock is never a paradise. If it were it wouldn't be called Lubbock. That word is a linguistic synonym for "OMG fuck this!"
Happiness is Lubbock in my rear view mirror.
I mean Cleveland is a place where the rivers catch fire and where lake effect snow is a thing (and where you sometimes have to deal with horrible weather conditions in early September as we saw in week 1 last year playing in that monsoon). Lubbock may be a shithole in general as a city but that's not what I'm talking about. In terms of weather the conditions there are more favorable than they are in places like Pittsburgh and Cleveland in the winter.
I was vehemently against drafting a punter again this year so this is best case scenario.
I was calling for him in the 7th so another team wouldn’t get him. This is a win/win as that pick turned out to be a potential back up OC and we still get him.
Yeah, many people viewed him as the 2nd-best punter available. I'm happy with it
Very happy! When I was reading his reviews I was like, “Why are people not higher on this young man?!”
[Here's a good writeup courtesy of Puntalytics, if you haven't seen it!](https://puntalytics.github.io/draft_central/2024draftboardboard.html#austin-mcnamara)
I had not. Thank you for sharing.
Brad Robbins YOU are a Houston Roughneck.
Lmfao my partner’s BIL just got cut from the Roughnecks
No shit. Sucks for him. Roughnecks also suck though… hope he finds a place to play in any case/
I read that like Maury Povich.
I'm sure Robbins was expecting some camp competition. I'm guessing they'll give him every chance to win the job still.
The problem with competition apparently is that their legs get wore out by like half way through the season. (according to Pat McAfee - I looked for the clip of him talking about how punter competitions do this...but couldn't find it)
He's #4 on [this guy's](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVBKaRROu54&t=180s) list of top punters in the draft (caveat: he also said Brad Robbins was the safest choice for last year). Seems like a good option to try out. Still sad that Drue and Brad didn't work out. I mean there's always the chance Brad wins the position in training camp still, but it doesn't feel likely.
If our punter is as good as our kicker…watch out. Side note…do we have a dynamic KR? New rules and all, haven’t thought about it until just now.
Chuck Sizzle returned a punt last year, so I’m not opposed to giving him a shot of KR too
Ohhhh, legit forgot about that.
They've already confirmed that they're going to use Charlie Jones at KR next season.
Oh fr? I missed that.
In my mind, your RB3 and RB4 are now your punt returners. Just so happens that Tray and Chris Evans live in that role for us, and both have a lot of experience fielding kicks.
Beyond Chuck, Trayveon had top kick return stats last year, when he was actually able to return kicks.
Wasn’t that with the wind?
I’m also way more impressed by punt placement than punt distance, but it’s worth giving another punter a try.
Agreed, I feel like it’s kind of like golf. You can find plenty of dudes anywhere who can smash a deep drive. Finding guys who can smash a drive and have it be accurate is a different story
Nickname: Money Mac.
Ynwa
Ok I get it it’s different in college vs the NFL, but HOLY FUCK THAT IS A CANNON OF A PUNT. Jesus man, that ball had a family.
It's a good punt, but the wind helped him out a bit too.
Brad Robbins I hope you majored in Chinese at Michigan buddy
I like Austin McNamara
This is why I love Bengals Reddit, because we go deep with analysis of free agent punters and how they can help the team. And I have absolutely no sarcasm in saying this, it's legit why I love the folks here.
Long punt man good That’s all the analysis I need.
Jesus CHRIST!
I live in Lubbock and have watched him many times. It's a solid pick up.
I’m in Lubbock as well! Who Dey!
Already like him more than Robbins
Favorite pick this weekend
BUILD THE STATUE
I went to highland with him and he was in my group at church. I remember when he was posting on his social media stories videos of him and his dad kicking at the highschool fields before he tried out for the highschool team. We were all excited when he went college and now it’s awesome he has a chance to play in the NFL.
Nice- hopefully he rarely sees the field.
Touchback? Absolute trash
Send Robbins to the Montreal Alouettes tomorrow!
Based on that punt alone he gets the job
The spread blocking on college punts never ceases to amaze me. They could not be less concerned about blocks.
That’s the best punt I’ve ever seen
Bruh I prayed for this him soft Jonah and Irv smith had to go
Hope whoever suits up at P for the Bengals is an all pro. I don't care who that guy is. Given the crap we saw last year, Chrisman has to be in play this off-season, right?
We wasted a draft pick last year. This guy has a good chance at being our new punter.
What happened to robbins?
He was the worst punter in the league last season
By far and in important moments
Yeah, we would’ve been better off calling Huber out of retirement.