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Team Captain
Ben Graham - will he succed in the NFL or not?
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And what happens when you dont complete the pass or it's not intercepted?ZimZum said:I have always wondered why they use a punter. Why not use someone with a strong arm. On fourth down, bring in a QB who can launch the ball 50-60 yards. Have a couple of quick receivers, you never know. Even if you turn the ball over, atleast it will be 50 yards down field. The amount of dodgey punts I've seen this year, Bennet's 28 yarder for one, you would think someone would give it ago.
JeffDunne said:And what happens when you dont complete the pass or it's not intercepted?
If you were to throw an incomplete pass on 4th down you'd lose possession of the ball, giving the other team much better field position than they'd have if you punted. All the defensive backs would have to do is knock down the pass.ZimZum said:Uuummmm. You retain possession of the football.
I was just thinking out loud (on this thread). Would be interested to know what others think. I know play callers in the NFL like to play percentages and for field position. Still, someone like myself, who wasn't brought up on NFL like aussie rules and cricket, may see things from a different angle.
Yankee Magpie said:If you were to throw an incomplete pass on 4th down you'd lose possession of the ball, giving the other team much better field position than they'd have if you punted. All the defensive backs would have to do is knock down the pass.
ZimZum said:Which is what happens if you punt as well. Punters rarely kick for more than 60 yards anyway.
The Hippie said:No, it doesn't. If a pass is incomplete, the ball then comes back to the point where the ball was snapped. With a punt, the ball is dead where the play ends after any return, or if it goes out of bounds or into the end zone.
JeffDunne said:tayls, he hasn't been sent to Europe which is a good sign for him.
He is currently competing against Micor Knorr who also can kick a monster if he gets onto them. Unless they sign a free agent soon, it appears it will be between Graham and Knorr. Both will probably get a run in the preseason games.
Going by the reaction of Jets fans, Graham would be their preferred option.
Spend some of that money on a tutor and work on that spelling, Ben! You also need to lay off the Jack Daniels, mate. That's bourbon in the square bottle, not American beer, and it kicks a might harder than beer, especially those American light beers!rocket111 said:Yer thast right i am. i got a contratc from the packers for 4 million so i rule
GeeCat said:Former Cat no Jets shoo-in
By Chris Lines (FOX SPORT'S)
March 8, 2005
FORMER Geelong AFL captain Ben Graham is rated only a "long-shot" to become a professional punter with the New York Jets, according to Jets' special teams coach Ron Westhoff.
Westhoff, a 23-year veteran of NFL coaching, said Graham had the attitude and raw skills to make it with the Jets but was far from guaranteed of getting on the team's roster for 2005.
Graham, 31, quit Geelong at the end of the 2004 season to pursue a long-considered career as a punter in the NFL, hoping to cash in on his reputation as one of the biggest kicks in the AFL.
However Westhoff has provided a reality check for Graham and those here in Australia who expected him to become the next Darren Bennett.
"To be honest with you, in my opinion, Ben is a talented long shot, because he's a long shot right now," Westhoff told Melbourne radio.
"But it's worth it, because he has so much ability.
"Now the kicking that he does with Australian Rules and our punting are two very different things.
"But if I'm going to chance on someone - a long shot - it'd be a guy like this, so we're going to give him a look and see what happens."
The Jets had a dire punting year in 2004, and have since signed Micah Knorr from the Denver Broncos while bringing Graham in as a project player.
Westhoff said "this isn't a guaranteed deal", instead Graham will have to prove his worth in a Jets mini-camp in May and then further testing in June.
"We'll have a pretty good feel by then," Westhoff said.
"We won't waste his time, and I won't let him waste ours.
"He's going to have to come in here and prove that he can handle this.
"We'll find out fairly quickly, and he'll know if this will be for real.
"If he is, this could be interesting to see what he can do, because he's got a powerful leg, and he could be a guy that could be a punter in our league."
Graham's technique was so raw he was not even ready to participate even in the development league of NFL Europe.
"He needs way more than NFL Europe," Westhoff said.
"He has a lot of work ahead of him.
"He's like the golfer that's trying to get on the PGA Tour - he's not ready for the mini-tour, he's ready for the driving range."
The Jets were considering putting him on the practice squad - akin to the AFL rookie list - despite being only a project player.
Westhoff was impressed with the attitude Graham had shown in early try-outs, even when told the odds were against him making it in the NFL.
"He is very much a competitor," Westhoff said.
"He has a great deal of confidence in himself, and I think he believes that if he goes through this process, he'll do it."
Bennett, who played in the AFL with Melbourne and West Coast, has spent 10 years in the NFL with San Diego and Minnesota and has twice played in the Pro Bowl.
tige19 said:Should i book you a ticket home Ben??