Crusader

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- The Jacksonville Jaguars made one of the NFL draft's strangest calls Friday night by selecting Cal punter Bryan Anger in the third round.

Anger is the highest punter drafted since 1995, when the Chicago Bears chose Todd Sauerbrun in the second round. Anger averaged more than 44 yards a punt in 2011, and had at least one punt of 50 yards or more in 11 games.

Impressive stats, but taking him in the third round over players who certainly would have a chance to get on the field more often than a punter seems questionable at best, but general manager Gene Smith said Anger "clearly will make an impact on our football team."

The Jaguars compared Anger to Oakland's Shane Lechler and NFL great Ray Guy, the best in the league today and arguably the NFL's best all time. Lechler was a fifth-round pick in 2000.

But that did little to quell a fan base outraged by the pick. It overshadowed the first two rounds in which Jacksonville made two solid selections - Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon and Clemson defensive end Andre Branch - and was widely mocked.

The move even surprised Anger.

"I was hopeful that I could get the chance to get picked up early, but I really had no clue," Anger said. "I didn't know they liked me that much."

Smith and new coach Mike Mularkey defended the pick as best they could.

"I'd rather take a starter over a backup, especially at a position where you can gain tremendous field position if you've got a guy with a leg like Bryan's," Smith said.


Read more: Jaguars mocked for drafting punter Bryan Anger*in*third round - NFL - SI.com


I actually think its a good move, field position is so crucial and here you have a guy who migt be your starter for the next 10-12 years, maybe longer.

W.T. Sherman is my favorite General. After all he did order Atlanta to be burned to the ground.