Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
 

Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
NewOrleansSaints.com,
Tuesday, January 05, 2010 - 3:50 PM


New Orleans Saints rookie punter Thomas Morstead has been named the NFC’s Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts during the season finale against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

Morstead, a 6-4, 225-pound product of Southern Methodist University, was selected by the Saints in the fifth-round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

On Sunday Morstead had a season-high nine punts for 417 yards for a 46.3 average, with a 42.3 net average. Of his nine punts, seven were placed inside the Panthers’ 20-yard line. He had two punts downed at the Carolina 9 (neither was returned), one fair caught at the Panthers’ 12, a punt downed at the Carolina 4, a punt that was fielded at the Panthers’ 16 that was returned for five yards, a 55-yard effort with the Saints backed up deep in their own territory, a punt that was fielded at the Carolina 14 and returned for 0 yards and a punt that bounced out-of-bounds at the Carolina 11-yard line.

This marks the second time that Morstead has been named the NFC’s Special Teams Player of the Week, having also earned the award in the Saints’ win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in game 10 (11/22/2009).

New Orleans Saints - Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week

I understood the pick but never really liked it. But I am really warming up to this kid.

Re: Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
 

I can remember people wanting to storm the facility with pitchforks cause they had traded up for a punter, looks like a smart move now. Just wondering if they might let him kick field goals since Hartly hasn't been the same the last couple weeks

Re: Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
 

Still a bad trade up. Two picks for a punter is dumb.

The arguement was never about whether or not Morstead would be a good punter, it was about burning 2 picks on the least important position on an NFL team in a draft where we only had 4 picks..

Re: Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
 

Given how terrible our special teams have been this season, any player who can give us an upgrade at a top 5 level is worth two draft picks. Field position for our team is an essential component of post season play, and if he delivers, he'd be worth a 4th round pick!

Re: Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
 

He's ranked almost dead last in every punting category in the NFL so far, but even if he was top 10, or top 5, its not worth 2 draft picks in a 4 pick draft.

He looks like a promising punter, but in my opinion, it was a stupid move.

Re: Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
 

I agree he is worth the move up, as it was two late picks, not like the year before with Pittman.

However, having your punter be player of the week seems to be a sure-fire indicator that you lost the game

Re: Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
 

The punter is very crucial to a teams success ..im glad we have Moorstead..it was worth it to me..and dont forget he kicksoff as well..so he's doing double duty...

Re: Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
 

The Punter is less crucial to a team's success than ANY other position on the field. Well, maybe long snapper is.

Re: Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
 

I hope that we never need his player of the week performance ever again. As slow and as stagnant as our offense has been of late, I'm kind of glad we don't have a guy dribbling and muffing 20-30 yard punts. I agree, two picks were a lot.

Re: Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
 

Be careful, you'll be labeled as a Thomas Morstead hater.:rolleyes:

Re: Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
 

Would someone please label me as a Thomas Morestead lover......err that didn't come out right. Since I've been a member of this board this is possibly the first time that I haven't agreed with Danno. I respect Danno's opinion because it's hard to disagree with his logic. However, I have been a big fan of the move(and yes it's because he played Rugby)I'm just glad he's doing as well as he is.

Re: Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
 

Well him pinning teams deep is crucial..that fumble recovery for a td that was called back had a lot to do with Moorstead pinning them deep..No?.It will comne into play in the playoffs ..its called winning the field position battle.

Re: Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
 

Thats what Punters are supposed to do. Morstead isn't the only punter who pins teams deep.

It doesn't change the fact that its the least important position on the team, and we burned 2 draft picks in a 4 pick draft to get one.

Re: Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
 

And thats excactly why he was worth the picks to me..he's doing his job..it will come into play in the playoffs...this i do believe..

Re: Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
 

If "ifs", and "buts".......... you all know the rest.....

Re: Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
 

I liked the move. Double duty and kicks further than Hartly. We are gonna want to pin teams back on the 9 yard line in the playoffs.

Re: Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
 

Yes indeed...and i think were set at Punter for a long time.. It wasnt that long ago that we were struggling at this position...

Re: Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
 

Like perhaps week 16 of this year?

He ranks near last in almost every punting category.

Re: Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
 

That's not a fair point, Danno. The Saints have the best offense in the league. They didn't have a lot of 3-and-outs, save the last 3 games, so they punted closer to the other teams' endzone more than most other teams did.

I didn't like the picks given up for a punter due to the fact that the Saints didn't have a lot of draft picks last year but I think that he's playing well enough to make it easier to accept.

Re: Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
 

No they didn't. And if that were the case he'd rank pretty high in either punts Inside the 20 or Touchbacks. He ranks near the bottom of those rankings too, and that is adjusted for number of punts.

Sports Illustrated and NFL.com both have him ranked outside of the top 34 punters in the league. There are only 32 teams, he ranks 34th.

To be fair, the rankings didn't include week 17 yet and he pinned about 4 punts inside the 20.

He's probably going to be a good punter one day, but right now he's nothing but a promising rookie that we gave up too much for.

I'm glad we got him, I'm not happy about what it cost us.

Re: Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
 

This cant be...not our Tommy Boy..lol..and i agree having the 1 offense doesnt help his stats...but we know whats up..

Re: Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
 

In fairness, his Inside 20yd percentage is 31.0% and touch back percentage is 6.9%. Lechler from OAK is inside 20 is 31.3% and touch back is a whopping 12.5%; Lee from SF inside 20 is 30.3% and touch back is 8.1%. Morstead was better than Lee in the inside 20yd line and better than both Lechler and Lee in the touch back percentage. Field position is why we drafted him, and he out-punted this year's 2 pro bowlers. What killed his average in other areas was the incompetent kick coverage team the Saints fielded this year. BTW, Lechler and Lee don't kick-off, either.

So, I'm obviously stoked to have Morstead kicking for us. He won't have the long boomers like Lechler, but his hang-time and placement of kicks is where he is our butter.

Re: Morstead Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week
 

Yep..MORSTEAD for MVP...baby..glad he's here and watch in the playoffs he will be money....