Can you get a punt off in 2.1 seconds?

Here’s something you don’t see everyday. Jessica Hopp, a staff writer at the Nashville Tennessean, has written a very informative article about punting. The article talks about pre-snap routines and what to do after the snap. Again – not something you expect to see in your local sports section.

Hopp’s article focuses on the routines of Tennessee Titans punter Craig Hentrich, who has just 2.1 seconds from the time the ball is snapped to get his punt off. But what do punters really have to be worried about? A lot – according to Hentrich. Since punting is a skill that is relied upon at crucial times during a football game. It’s important not to kick it too far or too short, in order to put your defense in a better position on the field.

According to Hopp, here’s a punter’s checklist:

BEFORE THE SNAP
1. Size up the defense. Gauge how many players are in the box to determine how quickly the ball needs to get in the air. For Titans punter Craig Hentrich it ranges from 1.9 seconds (eight men in the box) to 2.1 seconds (six).
2. Pick a drop. Various factors come into play — wind speed and direction, field position, the return man’s skill level. If a punter is facing into the wind he will drop the ball a little lower to avoid resistance. If he is downwind, he raises the nose of the ball so it carries further.
AT THE SNAP
1. Prepare to receive. Titans long snapper Ken Amato gets the snap to the punter in .6 to .7 seconds. Hentrich must maintain a stance that will allow him to catch a snap that is high, low or wide.
2. Make the drop. Hentrich says 90 percent of a good punt is in the drop. The direction the nose faces and the levelness of the ball when it hits the foot affect height, distance and velocity.
3. Choose a direction. At the last second the punter may turn to face one corner or the other in order to confuse the return team. But he still needs to keep his hips square to the ball and make the drop just outside his kicking leg. An inch or two in either direction could lead to a pull or shank.
4. Swing away. Much like a golf swing, the rhythm of the leg swing needs to be consistent punt after punt after punt.

There seems a little more to it than I remember from high school football. In those days, it was just cool to be the up-back that got to yell, “Fire in the hole!” to let the snapper know that the punter was ready. Of course, in high school football, the punter was usually the quarterback or some lineman that could just punt the ball about 30-35 yards. Not like the NFL, where you see hang times that last close to five seconds and can average 50-55 yards (sometimes more).

Photo: Newscom