And in the 3rd round the Chiefs take...

[Michael Michigan]

Dustin Colquitt



Dammitt--dupe.

[LiL stumppy]

I WANTED DARREN SPROLES

[CanadaKC]

Good pick....he's by far the best punter available...can boot it a mile and can really kick the angles. Was projected in the second round by some. Field position is ours.

[chop]

I can't believe I stayed up to watch us take a punter in the third. Wow! A punter. Did they just take a punter, with a third?

[siberian khatru]

Lots to like:

Positives: Has a developing frame, a natural build and long legs … Consummate team player who punts for the need of the team and is not concerned about his statistics, as he does a very good job of directional punting … Has soft hands and can field with either of them (writes with his right hand, but has learned to drop the ball with his left hand) … Has a very strong kicking leg, as he can either punt for distance or angle his kicks towards the corners and sidelines … Has a two-and-a-half step stride, with very good touch-to-toe timing (1.21-1.33 average) … Gets very good height on his boots, as the ball explodes off his leg … Is more accurate directing his punts to the left side of the field … Gets a good turn over on his punts and has no problem kicking in poor weather conditions … Keeps his cool under pressure … His leg flexibility allows him to pin the opposition on the corner.

Negatives: A little inconsistent with his hang time (3.5-4.97 average) … Puts good power behind his kicks, but labors some getting the ball off at times … Has adequate leg strength, but poor timed speed, offering little value on the coverage team (usually the last player to get downfield).

[the Talking Can]

sweet..a 3rd round picjk who actually help us this year....awesome

[KCJake]

I like this pick. The Chiefs are drafting/acquiring players that are ready to play this season. The Chiefs are doing everything in their power to make a SuperBowl run THIS YEAR.

[Coach]

The left-footer played football as a senior at Bearden High School, where he handled the team's punting and placekicking duties. He averaged nearly 40 yards per punt and earned all-region honors. He also starred on the soccer field, playing varsity for four seasons. As a forward, he was Bearden's leading scorer as a senior. Colquitt was named KIL Player of the Year in 2000, helping the team to the state semifinals. He was also an all-state and All-South selection as a senior.

A member of the All-Southeastern Conference Freshman team in 2001, the redshirt averaged 39.6 yards on 51 punts that year. He punted 65 times for 2,833 yards (43.6 avg.) and was a finalist for Ray Guy Award (nation's top punter) in 2002. As a junior, he totaled 3,081 yards on 68 attempts (45.3 avg.) to garner consensus All-America honors.

Colquitt punted 56 times for 2,282 yards (40.8 avg.) as a senior, earning second-team All-SEC accolades. For his career, he punted 240 times for 10,216 yards (42.57 avg.) with 73 kicks downed inside the 20-yard line, 28 others that resulted in fair catches and 29 boots that went for touchbacks. He holds the school's career records for most punts and punting yardage, topping the previous marks of 204 punts for 8,862 yards by Craig Colquitt (1975-77). His career punting average is surpassed only by Jimmy Colquitt (43.9, 1981-84) in school annals.

[Michael Michigan]

Lots to like:

Positives: Has a developing frame, a natural build and long legs … Consummate team player who punts for the need of the team and is not concerned about his statistics, as he does a very good job of directional punting … Has soft hands and can field with either of them (writes with his right hand, but has learned to drop the ball with his left hand) … Has a very strong kicking leg, as he can either punt for distance or angle his kicks towards the corners and sidelines … Has a two-and-a-half step stride, with very good touch-to-toe timing (1.21-1.33 average) … Gets very good height on his boots, as the ball explodes off his leg … Is more accurate directing his punts to the left side of the field … Gets a good turn over on his punts and has no problem kicking in poor weather conditions … Keeps his cool under pressure … His leg flexibility allows him to pin the opposition on the corner.

Negatives: A little inconsistent with his hang time (3.5-4.97 average) … Puts good power behind his kicks, but labors some getting the ball off at times … Has adequate leg strength, but poor timed speed, offering little value on the coverage team (usually the last player to get downfield).


I like the pick.

Left-footer and all.

[CosmicPal]

I'm surprised they passed on Roydell Williams and Chris Canty, but they did get the best punter coming out of college...Good pick, but I'm not happy about passing up Roydell.

[siberian khatru]

I like the pick too. As I said on another thread, he's part of the defense. We added playmakers on D, now we just bought it some field position. We are improving. This guy has a better shot of helping us win this year than some developmental WR or CB we would've gotten at that spot. Plus, we've got tons of picks tomorrow to draft developmental guys.

[Miles]

Seems like there should have been a less costly way to get a good punter than with this pick. Though we did need one really damn bad and he sounds pretty good.

[eazyb81]

I can't believe we passed on Jerome Mathis to draft a punter.

I mean, I know he is supposed to be a good punter, but still.....Mathis has the potential to be a stud WR, I can't believe Saunders let them pass on him.

[FloridaMan88]

I agree this addresses a serious need the Chiefs have at punter and this kid is probably one of the best punters in college in several years, but in the 3rd round?

[jettio]

This is a real slap in the face of the Chiefs incumbent punter, whoever that is.

Keep Vermeil away from this guy.

Vermeil's style is great for his teams and players, but he does a big mind-scramble on punters and kickers.

[dirk digler]

I like this pick this automatically helps the D.

[LamarJr]

He holds the school's career records for most punts and punting yardage, topping the previous marks of 204 punts for 8,862 yards by Craig Colquitt (1975-77). His career punting average is surpassed only by Jimmy Colquitt (43.9, 1981-84) in school annals.

Does this guy come from a kicking family or what??????? :clap:

[whoman69]

30% inside the 20 is an unheard of ratio, especially for someone with a good average. Mel seemed to think he was inconsistent, but we have been consistently poor in the punting game the last several years.

[Amnorix]

In my humble opinion, there has never been a punter born that was worth a 3rd round pick. Ever.

The Patriots suffered through UNBELIEVABLY horrendous punting during the '02 and '03 seasons, and I still would not have been happy to have such a high pick spent on a punter.

[siberian khatru]

In my humble opinion

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! HOHOHOHO!! TEE-HEE-HEE!! HAHAHAHA!!!

Heh. (sniffle) (cough) hehe. Um. Mm.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!! HAHAHAHA!!

[buddha]

I love the pick as well. A left footed punter is a great advantage! Teams usually scheme their blocks for right footed punters. The other positive is that the ball just comes off differently when a lefty boots it...one more thing for the return guys to prepare for that's different. I like this pick, and it was a desperate area of need.

[buddha]

In my humble opinion, there has never been a punter born that was worth a 3rd round pick. Ever.



Please???

You wouldn't have spent a third round pick on Ray Guy? On Reggie Roby? Are you kidding me? A great punter is a 10-year weapon that becomes the basis for field position every week.

[Amnorix]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! HOHOHOHO!! TEE-HEE-HEE!! HAHAHAHA!!!

Heh. (sniffle) (cough) hehe. Um. Mm.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!! HAHAHAHA!!So, umm, what are you saying....?

(note to self: never use "in my humble opinion" ever again, they're on to me...)

[Amnorix]

Please???

You wouldn't have spent a third round pick on Ray Guy? On Reggie Roby? Are you kidding me? A great punter is a 10-year weapon that becomes the basis for field position every week.

No, I wouldn't. Not in THIS era.

In the 70's, with no free agency, the ONLY way you'd have any hope of having a really good punter was to draft one. If you had a miserable punting situation, then the pick might be worth it.

NOW, with free agency AND the salary cap, there's no way they're worth a high pick, in my NOT SO (tip of cap to SK) humble opinion. Here's a couple reasons why:

1. One of the biggest benefits of the draft is access to CHEAP talent. The only hope you have of having a good or great position player, for less than a brinks truck worth of $$, is to draft well and take advantage of his early years in the NFL. The Patriots are paying Richard Seymour like $1.5M or something ridiculous this year. A 3 time Pro Bowler, 2 time All Pro. Why? Because he's still in his initial NFL contract.

The most expensive punter in the NFL doesn't cost that much, so you're not using this pick to get a cheap position player. You're using it on a position that's ALREADY cheap.


2. With free agency, if your punting situation isn't good, it's relatively easy to just pay someone to come in and be an average or better performer. Unlike getting a mid or top CB, this hardly breaks your salary cap. In other words, the punting position is eminently "fixable" through free agency, without spending a pick.

3. A great punter doesn't impact a team or a game like a great position player. Reggie Roby or Ray Guy still isn't worth 1/10th of a Curtis Martin (3rd round pick), Terrell Davis (6th round), Tom Brady (3rd round), Joe Montana (3rd round), etc. Obviously, if any team KNEW how good these guys were, they wouldn't last until that round. But still, the 3rd round is a first day pick, a top 100 guy, and should represent significant value to your team. To spend it on a punter.... :shake: ... just not something I would do.

These would be some of the main reasons I cannot imagine ever spendign such a high pick on a punter.

[the Talking Can]

No, I wouldn't. Not in THIS era.

In the 70's, with no free agency, the ONLY way you'd have any hope of having a really good punter was to draft one. If you had a miserable punting situation, then the pick might be worth it.

NOW, with free agency AND the salary cap, there's no way they're worth a high pick, in my NOT SO (tip of cap to SK) humble opinion. Here's a couple reasons why:

1. One of the biggest benefits of the draft is access to CHEAP talent. The only hope you have of having a good or great position player, for less than a brinks truck worth of $$, is to draft well and take advantage of his early years in the NFL. The Patriots are paying Richard Seymour like $1.5M or something ridiculous this year. A 3 time Pro Bowler, 2 time All Pro. Why? Because he's still in his initial NFL contract.

The most expensive punter in the NFL doesn't cost that much, so you're not using this pick to get a cheap position player. You're using it on a position that's ALREADY cheap.


2. With free agency, if your punting situation isn't good, it's relatively easy to just pay someone to come in and be an average or better performer. Unlike getting a mid or top CB, this hardly breaks your salary cap. In other words, the punting position is eminently "fixable" through free agency, without spending a pick.

3. A great punter doesn't impact a team or a game like a great position player. Reggie Roby or Ray Guy still isn't worth 1/10th of a Curtis Martin (3rd round pick), Terrell Davis (6th round), Tom Brady (3rd round), Joe Montana (3rd round), etc. Obviously, if any team KNEW how good these guys were, they wouldn't last until that round. But still, the 3rd round is a first day pick, a top 100 guy, and should represent significant value to your team. To spend it on a punter.... :shake: ... just not something I would do.

These would be some of the main reasons I cannot imagine ever spendign such a high pick on a punter.

no one gives a ****

we needed a punter, Chiefs fans know this...we just drafted a starter with the 99th pick in the draft....

note to self: you are not actually Belicheck, you're just a Patriots fan who likes to lecture people....

[Chan93lx50]

no one gives a ****

we needed a punter, Chiefs fans know this...we just drafted a starter with the 99th pick in the draft....

note to self: you are not actually Belicheck, you're just a Patriots fan who likes to lecture people....


Ha ha ha, I never have been able to put a finger on the way Amnorix presents himself in his posts but you nailed it!

[redsurfer11]

No, I wouldn't. Not in THIS era.

In the 70's, with no free agency, the ONLY way you'd have any hope of having a really good punter was to draft one. If you had a miserable punting situation, then the pick might be worth it.

NOW, with free agency AND the salary cap, there's no way they're worth a high pick, in my NOT SO (tip of cap to SK) humble opinion. Here's a couple reasons why:

1. One of the biggest benefits of the draft is access to CHEAP talent. The only hope you have of having a good or great position player, for less than a brinks truck worth of $$, is to draft well and take advantage of his early years in the NFL. The Patriots are paying Richard Seymour like $1.5M or something ridiculous this year. A 3 time Pro Bowler, 2 time All Pro. Why? Because he's still in his initial NFL contract.

The most expensive punter in the NFL doesn't cost that much, so you're not using this pick to get a cheap position player. You're using it on a position that's ALREADY cheap.
Having a quality punter makes a great way to improve the defense, but he needs ti\o in
mprove his hang time.
Got to get my son back toi the field to start punting again. He's 6'-2" and 180 pounds. Haven't had a chance to get him out there since my knee surguries. He can hit the ball 40 to 60 yards, but he needs work on his timing.




2. With free agency, if your punting situation isn't good, it's relatively easy to just pay someone to come in and be an average or better performer. Unlike getting a mid or top CB, this hardly breaks your salary cap. In other words, the punting position is eminently "fixable" through free agency, without spending a pick.

3. A great punter doesn't impact a team or a game like a great position player. Reggie Roby or Ray Guy still isn't worth 1/10th of a Curtis Martin (3rd round pick), Terrell Davis (6th round), Tom Brady (3rd round), Joe Montana (3rd round), etc. Obviously, if any team KNEW how good these guys were, they wouldn't last until that round. But still, the 3rd round is a first day pick, a top 100 guy, and should represent significant value to your team. To spend it on a punter.... :shake: ... just not something I would do.

These would be some of the main reasons I cannot imagine ever spendign such a high pick on a punter.

[BigChiefFan]

In my humble opinion, there has never been a punter born that was worth a 3rd round pick. Ever.

The Patriots suffered through UNBELIEVABLY horrendous punting during the '02 and '03 seasons, and I still would not have been happy to have such a high pick spent on a punter.
Says the guy who's team franchised a kicker. We needed a punter, we drafted the BEST PROSPECT in the ENTIRE draft. Why don't you ask the Raiders how well Lechler is working out for them? It's not a sexy pick, but it addresses a huge need with the best prospect in the nation.

[keg in kc]

there has never been a punter born that was worth a 3rd round pick.I would normally agree, but we are talking about the 99th pick of the draft here, a comp two before the end of the round. I'd probably be upset about it if it'd been the 65th or 70th pick. I think Vermeil's comment that they say you take a specialist a round higher than his value or you probably won't get him gives some insight into the logic, too. And you have to remember we've been trying to find a punter for five years. Free agency and trading just hasn't worked for us, so it's time to try a different strategy.

[Frosty]

Wasn't there talk that Denver was really considering this guy in the third? If so, not only do we get a (supposedly) great kicker but we stick Denver with Jason Baker and Clarett. :)

[Straight, No Chaser]

...

note to self: you are not actually Belicheck, you're just a Patriots fan who likes to lecture people....

Classic.
I just wonder what Bellicose-speak will flow from his hole on 11/28/05?


--->

[trndobrd]

In my humble opinion, there has never been a punter born that was worth a 3rd round pick. Ever.

The Patriots suffered through UNBELIEVABLY horrendous punting during the '02 and '03 seasons, and I still would not have been happy to have such a high pick spent on a punter.


DV was quoted as saying that he was "the only starter left on the board". CP and DV are looking for players that can make an impact, even on special teams, THIS YEAR. The nice thing about kickers is they don't need to spend 2-3 years on the bench, developmental squad or NFLE before they are ready to contribute.

[DaWolf]

We've been looking for a punter for who knows how long. If this addresses that need then it is a good pick. I have no idea if this guy is gonna be a great punter or not but if he has the talent then it may pay off, sort of like Lechler did for the Raiders...

[RedDread]

anyone find any photos of Colquitt in action yet?

[teedubya]

http://web.knoxnews.com/slideshows/gvx04fla/flgame1.jpg

[teedubya]

http://www.wildlionspark.com/Draft/2005/dustin_colquitt.jpg

[teedubya]

http://www.nationalchamps.net/2004/sub/pics/large/tennessee_dustin_colquitt.jpg

[Old Dog]

I like it a lot better than some project.

[FringeNC]

Terrible pick. I have a feeling that punting statistics have very little predictive value as far as playoff sucess goes.

We already punt way too much on 4th and short, given how good our O-line is. Now Dick is gonna want to use his new toy.

Those extra few yards Tynes got us on KOs last year really made a huge difference to the D....

[Amnorix]

note to self: you are not actually Belicheck, you're just a Patriots fan who likes to lecture people....


Just cycled back to this thread and noticed the responses.

Your note to self is correct in all respects. It also happens that I definitely think my opinion in this case is correct.

A punter impacts at MOST (i.e. WORST) about 10 plays a game. For an offense like the Chiefs, which scores prodigously, it's even less than that. I'm not saying a decent punter isn't important, but a "starting" punter doesn't have nearly the impact as a starter at any other position on the field, except maybe kicker.

[Amnorix]

Ha ha ha, I never have been able to put a finger on the way Amnorix presents himself in his posts but you nailed it!

Should have asked me, I coulda told ya that. Hell, ask anyone in the DC forum and they could have too. :LOL:

[Amnorix]

Says the guy who's team franchised a kicker. We needed a punter, we drafted the BEST PROSPECT in the ENTIRE draft. Why don't you ask the Raiders how well Lechler is working out for them? It's not a sexy pick, but it addresses a huge need with the best prospect in the nation.

Franchise is a tag that you use or not. If you use it, it means you're assigning a certain $$ value to the player, nothing more.

Since Vinatieri's franchise salary is only like $2.5 million, they crunched the numbers and decided he was worth that much.

It's not like we let another star player go because we decided to franchise AV instead.

I'm not saying never draft punters, but I'm not certain that using such a high pick ever makes sense.

[Amnorix]

Classic.
I just wonder what Bellicose-speak will flow from his hole on 11/28/05?


--->

Probably either "Congrats", or "Good game, hope to see you in the playoffs".

Please refer back to the thread after we played each other last year.

:p

[Amnorix]

Terrible pick. I have a feeling that punting statistics have very little predictive value as far as playoff sucess goes.

We already punt way too much on 4th and short, given how good our O-line is. Now Dick is gonna want to use his new toy.

Those extra few yards Tynes got us on KOs last year really made a huge difference to the D....

Thank you. I found it hard to believe I was on a total island on this.

[redbrian]

Just cycled back to this thread and noticed the responses.

Your note to self is correct in all respects. It also happens that I definitely think my opinion in this case is correct.

A punter impacts at MOST (i.e. WORST) about 10 plays a game. For an offense like the Chiefs, which scores prodigously, it's even less than that. I'm not saying a decent punter isn't important, but a "starting" punter doesn't have nearly the impact as a starter at any other position on the field, except maybe kicker.

You have one key word in your otherwise erroneous diatribe. Starter, this kid will be the starting punter this year. No other player at that pick would start this year for the Chiefs.

The pick was the right pick, punters can and do lose games, recent history with the Chiefs is proof of this.

[patteeu]

I can't believe they picked a punter with Craphonso Thorpe still on the board. God, I hope he's there for our next pick. :cuss:

[siberian khatru]

Amno makes a very good argument, I can't really disagree with any of it. Yet, I'm still comfortable with the pick.

If Colquitt busts, it's gonna look embarassing, but it hardly makes him any different than a whole bunch of other Carl picks thru the years, including many made a lot higher. At least Colquitt addresses a need, was the best-rated player at his position and was projected by many to go late 3rd or 4th round. It's not like we drafted a 5th-round project DT at that spot.

I'm sure as things shake out through the next 2-3 years we'll identify players taken right after Colquitt who pan out and can say "Dammit Carl, you should've drafted X or Y!" But that's hindsight. There's no guarantee we would've picked that player, or that he would've produced the same results under Chief conditions as opposed to his current environment (coaching and supporting cast).

If Colquitt kicks well, we've got a starter who helps the defense. It's worth the gamble to me.

[htismaqe]

Just cycled back to this thread and noticed the responses.

Your note to self is correct in all respects. It also happens that I definitely think my opinion in this case is correct.

A punter impacts at MOST (i.e. WORST) about 10 plays a game. For an offense like the Chiefs, which scores prodigously, it's even less than that. I'm not saying a decent punter isn't important, but a "starting" punter doesn't have nearly the impact as a starter at any other position on the field, except maybe kicker.

10 plays a game is 10 more than last year's 3rd round pick.

I take the punter.

[KChiefs1]

I'd like to have some names of players who would have made in impact on the Chiefs this year who they could have taken instead of a punter?

They got the guy they passed on to draft Colquitt(Thorpe) in the 4th round anyway. Who could/would they have taken with the 99th pick other than Colquitt that woudn't have been there at the 116th pick who would contribute this year? :hmmm:

[Brock]

I can't believe they picked a punter with Craphonso Thorpe still on the board. God, I hope he's there for our next pick. :cuss:

ROFL

[Manila-Chief]

A punter impacts at MOST (i.e. WORST) about 10 plays a game. For an offense like the Chiefs, which scores prodigously, it's even less than that. I'm not saying a decent punter isn't important, but a "starting" punter doesn't have nearly the impact as a starter at any other position on the field, except maybe kicker.

You are incorrect regarding the number of plays impacted. If a punter has the ability to (1) kick the ball out of bounds near the goal; (2) Cause a fair catch inside the 10 yard line; (3) has a hang time that prevents the other team to run it back to half way from where it was kicked ... then it will make a big difference in the play of the D.

You must never have seen Ray Guy or Jerrel Wilson kick. Numerous times they got their team out of trouble. On the field the punting situation is the same today as it was pre-FA. Yes, you can get them cheap in FA today. But, can you get good ones??? ... When it comes to playing the game ... a good one is worth his weight in gold.

Sure a punter may only punt a few times a game but if he puts the ball near the goal line ... the other team goes 3 and out ... and your team has excellent field position ... it will turn around lots more than 10 plays a game.

BTW ... do you know how many punters we have been through since DV arrived? I believe it was like 3 last year, alone. What assurance is there that we can find a decent punter this year? NONE!!!!!

A good punter is one of those players you never notice until he messes up ... and we have had lots of those notices lately.

BTW-2 .... who would you propose that C.P would have drafted in place of the punter? Do you know C.P.'s draft record? With his draft record I'll take the punter.

This is our year of opprotunity ... I'd rather have a starter for this year than some one like one of those 3rd. round DL that we cut last year.... they take years to develop and most never do.