Hammock Parties
04-24-2005, 11:39 AM
ON THIRD-ROUND SELECTION
P DUSTIN COLQUITT
CARL PETERSON: “I think both Dick and I when we were in Philadelphia competed against his dad who punted at Pittsburgh. He obviously comes from good lineage and he was the best punter in the draft without any question.
“He’s been very consistent at Tennessee and our special teams coach worked him out again after Indianapolis. One of the most impressive things in regards to his stats is 73 punts inside the 20. As a punter should be, he can be a defensive player on your special teams.”
DICK VERMEIL: “He’s also left footed and as you study him in his career there are a number of times that the punt returner fumbles the ball. For some reason his punt when it comes down does a little bit more than the normal left footer does to his ball. When you put the tapes together and watch this guy it’s not unusual to see the returner drop the football. It’s a tough punt to catch.
“He can direction punt too. Coming from a punting family he understands what a punter has to do to be really good, so he’s been working at it a long time. It isn’t all just hitting 54-yarders. He’s not worried about hitting the long one so his average goes up; he’s worried about his net punt and directional punting for coverage sake. He’s demonstrated those skills already. He did a great job in the personal workout.”
Q: Just in talking to him he seems very in tune to his craft, a technician. He said his object is to let a coach sleep well at night.
VERMEIL: “He was raised as a punter and that’s what he grew up to be. Actually Carl made the statement and we all concurred that he was the only starter still left on the board. Chances are you draft him he’s going to be your starter. Now, he may only play 75 snaps a season but he is going to be involved as an offensive and defensive football player.
“We’ve all seen punters go to training camp and not do well. I think last year’s third round pick punter (Green Bay’s) didn’t make it.”
PETERSON: “He made it, but he was 16 games inactive.”
VERMEIL: “You do it with the idea of this guy being the Kansas City Chiefs punter for years to come.”
Q: Was this a difficult decision or an easy choice?
VERMEIL: “We all believe and have learned through our careers is if you want a specialist draft him one round earlier than you think you ought to or you won’t get him.”
PETERSON: “We took the top-rated five players to discuss as we got close and he was one of those five. His net has been over 39 yards a year for the last three years. Again, he comes from a punting family and he is a technician and a most impressive guy.
“He has the ability and capacity to be our long-time punter. Now, he’s got to come and do it, but I think we’re pleased at this point: the 99th pick. Some people would say it’s the early fourth round.”
VERMEIL: “We’re hopeful that when we pick the 15th pick tomorrow the other people that were competing for his pick tonight will still be there. Then we’ll have the same decision to make. Now, maybe they won’t be. A lot of things happen.”
Q: Has he kicked off?
PETERSON: “No, he does not kick off.”
Q: He has been a holder?
PETERSON: “Yes.”
Q: His dad punted in the Super Bowl for the Steelers, right?
PETERSON: “Craig. He was on two Super Bowl teams.”
P DUSTIN COLQUITT
CARL PETERSON: “I think both Dick and I when we were in Philadelphia competed against his dad who punted at Pittsburgh. He obviously comes from good lineage and he was the best punter in the draft without any question.
“He’s been very consistent at Tennessee and our special teams coach worked him out again after Indianapolis. One of the most impressive things in regards to his stats is 73 punts inside the 20. As a punter should be, he can be a defensive player on your special teams.”
DICK VERMEIL: “He’s also left footed and as you study him in his career there are a number of times that the punt returner fumbles the ball. For some reason his punt when it comes down does a little bit more than the normal left footer does to his ball. When you put the tapes together and watch this guy it’s not unusual to see the returner drop the football. It’s a tough punt to catch.
“He can direction punt too. Coming from a punting family he understands what a punter has to do to be really good, so he’s been working at it a long time. It isn’t all just hitting 54-yarders. He’s not worried about hitting the long one so his average goes up; he’s worried about his net punt and directional punting for coverage sake. He’s demonstrated those skills already. He did a great job in the personal workout.”
Q: Just in talking to him he seems very in tune to his craft, a technician. He said his object is to let a coach sleep well at night.
VERMEIL: “He was raised as a punter and that’s what he grew up to be. Actually Carl made the statement and we all concurred that he was the only starter still left on the board. Chances are you draft him he’s going to be your starter. Now, he may only play 75 snaps a season but he is going to be involved as an offensive and defensive football player.
“We’ve all seen punters go to training camp and not do well. I think last year’s third round pick punter (Green Bay’s) didn’t make it.”
PETERSON: “He made it, but he was 16 games inactive.”
VERMEIL: “You do it with the idea of this guy being the Kansas City Chiefs punter for years to come.”
Q: Was this a difficult decision or an easy choice?
VERMEIL: “We all believe and have learned through our careers is if you want a specialist draft him one round earlier than you think you ought to or you won’t get him.”
PETERSON: “We took the top-rated five players to discuss as we got close and he was one of those five. His net has been over 39 yards a year for the last three years. Again, he comes from a punting family and he is a technician and a most impressive guy.
“He has the ability and capacity to be our long-time punter. Now, he’s got to come and do it, but I think we’re pleased at this point: the 99th pick. Some people would say it’s the early fourth round.”
VERMEIL: “We’re hopeful that when we pick the 15th pick tomorrow the other people that were competing for his pick tonight will still be there. Then we’ll have the same decision to make. Now, maybe they won’t be. A lot of things happen.”
Q: Has he kicked off?
PETERSON: “No, he does not kick off.”
Q: He has been a holder?
PETERSON: “Yes.”
Q: His dad punted in the Super Bowl for the Steelers, right?
PETERSON: “Craig. He was on two Super Bowl teams.”