Kevin Huber is on pace to shatter the NFL single-season record for punts inside-the-20

by Kirkendall on Sep 22, 2009 11:56 PM EDT in Stats Comment 16 comments

Lost in all the hubbub after beating the Green Bay Packers in a genocidal effort to cause all Bengals fans to have a collective heart attack, Bengals punter Kevin Huber isn't just fulfilling all of the accolades he earned in college. He's actually making a difference. A fifth round draft pick, Huber was selected higher than Bernard Scott and Morgan Trent, two guys that have a decent future in the NFL as, at least, backup role players. Huber, isn't a backup role player. He's helping the Bengals dictate games. Such as his 61-yard punt against the Packers that denied Green Bay field position and eventually set up Quan Cosby's 60-yard return; thanks to a tough defense.

More specifically, Huber has one hell of an ability to punt the football inside the 20-yard line.

His five punts inside-the-20 against the Denver Broncos (his first five career punts) ranks second in franchise history in a single game. He's on pace to shatter the NFL single-season record for most punts inside-the-20, dating back to 1976 when the record was kept. San Francisco's Andy Lee kicked 42 punts inside-the-20. Huber is on pace to do it 56 times. Franchise record? Forget about it. He's already a quarter of the way there. Kyle Larson set the franchise mark in 2008 with 28. Huber is on pace for 56 punts inside-the-20. He's so adapt at dropping the football inside the 20-yard line, that 63.6% of his total punts this year have fallen inside the 20; in 2008, Larson dropped 28% of his punts inside the 20.

Yea, yea. We're talking about a punter. And in truth, the Bengals have moved the ball well enough on offense in both regular season games to allow Huber to make these punts. We're also only talking about two regular season games. On the other hand, Huber is the type of punter that will make it very hard for opposing teams to win field position. When Huber shanks a punt, it'll probably be longer than Kyle Larson's career average. Oversimplification. I know. I'm trying to make a point here. Did you know that on the four punts that Huber didn't place inside the 20, he's actually averaging 52.3 yards per punt? Look at the starting position by the opposing team's offense after Huber punts the football.

DEN-16
DEN-16
DEN-18
DEN-14
DEN-5
DEN-34
DEN-35
GB-10 (originally a touchback; Packers were called for holding)
GB-4
GB-16 (originally kicked to the GB-26 yard-line; Packers were called for holding)
GB-15

Say what you will about blabbering about a punter. However, if you really wanted change with this football team -- and I mean real change -- then the Bengals needed a punter like Kevin Huber, who will make it very hard on the opposition to win field position. This also just proves that Cincy Jungle leaves no stone left unturned.

0 recs | Comment 16 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Right On !

Even if Andre the Giant is a bust, we had a very good draft, and Huber was the shrewdest pick of them all. He’s an incredible weapon as field position is so important to winning . He is a vital key to the Bengals’ success which will hopefully be long and storied. How can you not love Rey Maualuga and Kevin Huber ? Cudos to Kirk for the excellent punting stats.

by laibach on Sep 23, 2009 12:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That's my BOY

by jsl413 on Sep 23, 2009 1:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It's Punt-astic!

Having a great punter forces our opponents to beat our Defense all the way down the field. Last year it seemed like everyone always started their drives against us on the 40 (take your pick on which 40 line).

Nice insight Kirk.

by UpStateMike on Sep 23, 2009 7:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah but...

They started every drive on the 40 because our offense couldn’t move the ball and we had so many 3 and outs I think I went bald last season. But yeah, Huber is a beast kicker, Who Dey!!!

If you don't live like you wanna, you live like you shouldn't

by trotanoy on Sep 23, 2009 10:27 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Huge difference

Cosby is also a huge improvement over the tackling dummy that was used to field punts last year as well. Until this year I have been very disappointed in the Bengals field position game, but they have shown great improvement.

by jim0ijk on Sep 23, 2009 8:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

and huber still can’t get mentioned by peter king in his weekly “special teams players of the week” portion of his column. and he names multiple people!

you're all posers. i hated bratkowski before it was cool.

by Raging Clue on Sep 23, 2009 9:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

it's only his second game. he'll turn some heads soon enough.

by GrooveLeg on Sep 23, 2009 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Whoa!!

Hold on there laibach!! Who has any clue as to Andre being a bust of not. The guy had a stupid agent and didn’t stay in shape but the training staff will take care of that. Am I pleased that it happened – no. But, lets wait until he plays before calling him a bust. I see prowbowl in 3 years is way more likely than him being a bust. Too much talent that has not been refined by discipline.

Huber is a real gem and we are very lucky to have him. It isn’t likely but possible that he could be a rookie probowler. If he keeps it up he will be.

" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran

by JUNGLEJOHN on Sep 23, 2009 9:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

just making sure you knew that you can reply to somebody's comment by hitting the +reply link directly next to their name

it’s easier for users to follow the conversation that way :)

by GrooveLeg on Sep 23, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Groove, now I know.

" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran

by JUNGLEJOHN on Sep 24, 2009 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Easy There

My point was that even if he busts, we still had a good draft. I’m looking forward to Smith reaching his potential as a force on our line. If he turns out to be a stud, the 2009 draft will probably be our best ever . We need Andre the Giant to come up huge for us….no pun intend

by laibach on Sep 23, 2009 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My bad

I hope you can see that the phrasing can be interpreted two ways and with all of the negativity which has entered our daily dscourse. I understand now what you meant and totally agree. Along with the return of Rivers the drafting of Andre, if he works out and Rey it is almost like getting 3 first round picks in one year with MJ and Huber thrown in as bonus. Now if MJ can begin having some impact that will be 4 rookie players who actually make a difference this year. That could also be expanded to Scott and Nelson – maybe. This just shows the difference a good draft can make. Compare Simpson and Rey as second rounders and the difference is obvious.

" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran

by JUNGLEJOHN on Sep 24, 2009 9:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow and I forgot Cosby.

Is it possible that this could be in the running for the best draft ever that does not include a QB. I can’t think of a draft where a team drafted as many as 6 and maybe 7 players who came in their first year and made a noticeable contribution Can you? If so I would like to hear it about it.

" My enemy said "Love your enemy". I obeyed and loved myself." Gibran

by JUNGLEJOHN on Sep 24, 2009 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

we love our punter

"Ghiaciuc's play was a distraction"

by firstPick on Sep 23, 2009 10:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Keep it up

Huber is a good one. Bengals had great field positions in both games and in fact gained yardage after both offenses cannot move the ball. In other words, even if we kick the ball back and forth, Bengals will end up with better field position as a result. Check the stats.

by Richard L on Sep 23, 2009 11:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs