Robopunter? Not according to the stats.

by grapes on Nov 25, 2009 9:43 PM EST

Sitting in the stands before the Bengals game I saw one of the most amazing football displays ever, Dan Sepulveda warming up. Each and every punt seemed to fly sixty yards in the air, and those that didn't were perfectly placed inside the ten yard line, it was awesome. But after watching that game in person, and the Chiefs game on TV, especially the touchback in overtime, I thought that maybe we might be giving Robopunter too much credit for his game performances.

Here are the stats: 2007-42.4 yards/punt avg. -18th in the NFL-(rookie year)

2008-41.3 yards/punt avg.-Mitch Berger (fans pounded on him all year)

2009-43.7 yards/punt avg.-19th in the NFL

Wow, less than 2.5 yards different per punt than Berger?

Is his "robopunter" nickname deserved? Statistically he is the definition of mediocrity, is it his physique and practice kicks that have endeared him to fans? Was the 4th round pick used on him justified? I don't know, just curious what 'yall think?

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They really need to break up the punt stats

There should be 2 averages- one average for how often they land a punt inside the 20 and the long average should not consider short punts (esp those trying to be placed in the 20)
Maybe they already do that, I dunno. But at least Sepulveda isn’t shanking them with the regularity of the houston’s punter. I think I saw an Ernster-style 20 yard punt from him a few days ago.

by SteelersVT on Nov 26, 2009 12:04 AM EST reply actions

I'll take it

Like SteelersVT said above, there’s a lot of time he holds up purposely to try to pin teams inside their own 20, which he does very well.

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by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Nov 26, 2009 1:03 AM EST reply actions

I don’t think Sepulveda is that great at pinning inside the 20, average, but not great. He has done it 17 times this year, compared to first in that category at 29, is not very impressive.

He had a punt in the KC game, mighta been the OT one, where he had a great chance to pin them inside the 20. It was a terrible punt, very low, and it went into the end zone. If you aren’t going to punt at the corners, at least get it high to allow your coverage to get under it.

Sepulveda is very good at crushing the ball when he punts it, but I don’t think he is great at short punting.

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by John Stephens on Nov 27, 2009 2:10 PM EST up reply actions

not that impressed

I’ve never seem him really ‘crush’ a punt outside of practice or training camp or the preseason. No 60-70 yard punts at least, not even once.

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by Michael Bean on Nov 27, 2009 8:50 PM EST up reply actions

ya have to look at the hang time.

Daniel flat out gets that thing up there. Berger balls were like wounded ducks that hovered to their destination.

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by SoCalSteelerFan on Nov 26, 2009 1:17 AM EST reply actions

Punt avg don't mean shit, pal....

any more than kickoff average.

It’s where the other team has the ball after the kick is returned or fair caught.

Robo’s hang time has given him a very good NET, which is one of two figures that matter.

The other is how many times the opponent was pinned inside the 20.

Obviously, if you’re punting from the other team’s 45 yard line, that 43.7 yard kick is gonna look mighty good. Even better than a 45 yarder, which is the most you can do, and would result in a net of only 25 yards.

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by Homer J. on Nov 26, 2009 2:49 AM EST reply actions

I know I bring Football outsiders up a lot, but their punting section of the Special teams stats has us as the fifth best punting team in the league. Our kickoffs are dead last by a hugely ridiculous margin. Last year we were 12th in punting, and that was with a better overall coverage unit.

Just regular stats, how’s 12 fair catches on 42 punts, 17 punts inside the 20, 5 inside the 10 and only 2 Touchbacks. 40% of his punts land inside the 20. I love the Sepulveda.

Also if they do get a good return, they get to face Robo-Punter in a death match that no punt returner has ever won. Steve Breaston, the only NFL returner to take one back against Sepulveda did so on a play where a teammate was brave (and smart) enough to block the punter from the side, clearing the way for Breaston to avoid the most dangerous punter alive.

by Phantaskippy on Nov 26, 2009 10:12 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

I think

one measure of a punter’s real value is how he punts to get his team out of trouble deep in their own territory, like from the goal line or the back of the endzone. High pressure situations for a punter. I don’t recall how Sepulveda has punted in those situations but it seems like I remember Berger often shanking punts when he was pinned back near the goal line. Living in Minneapolis, I watched him punt for the vikings as well so maybe most of those were pre Steelers.

by qwikdoc on Nov 27, 2009 2:35 PM EST reply actions