Saints are set for a training camp punter battle to replace Thomas Morstead

SmashMouth · 05-02-2021, 07:08 AM

Blake Gillikin spent his rookie year learning everything he could behind longtime Saints punter Thomas Morstead, and now he’ll have to put his skills and knowledge to the test in a training camp competition for the right to replace the fan-favorite specialist. The Saints moved quickly after the 2021 NFL draft to bring in Syracuse punter Nolan Cooney, one of the nation’s best, who went through a pro day workout with the Saints’ special teams coach earlier this spring.

Of course Gillikin was an accomplished punter in his own right. So how do the two of them compare? Let’s look at some stats putting Gillikin’s 2019 season at Penn State against Cooney’s numbers with the Orange in 2020:

Cooney punted 74 times for 3,314 yards in 11 games, averaging 44.8 yards per punt with 3 touchbacks and 24 landing inside the opposing 20-yard line. 25 of his punts traveled 50-plus yards and 14 traveled out of bounds, while 22 were fair catches. 26 of his punts were returned for 170 yards, resulting in a net yards per punt of 41.7, while 9 were downed by his teammates. He posted a long of 64 yards and had no punts blocked.
Gillikin punted 62 times for 2,615 yards in 13 games, averaging 42.2 yards per punt with 4 touchbacks and 32 landing inside the opposing 20-yard line. 12 of his punts traveled 50-plus yards and 7 traveled out of bounds, while 16 were fair catches. 20 of his punts were returned for 34 yards, resulting in a net yards per punt of 39.7, while 15 were downed by his teammates. He posted a long of 72 yards and had one punt blocked.

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05-02-2021, 07:08 AM	#1
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,477 Blog Entries: 29	Saints are set for a training camp punter battle to replace Thomas Morstead Blake Gillikin spent his rookie year learning everything he could behind longtime Saints punter Thomas Morstead, and now he’ll have to put his skills and knowledge to the test in a training camp competition for the right to replace the fan-favorite specialist. The Saints moved quickly after the 2021 NFL draft to bring in Syracuse punter Nolan Cooney, one of the nation’s best, who went through a pro day workout with the Saints’ special teams coach earlier this spring. Of course Gillikin was an accomplished punter in his own right. So how do the two of them compare? Let’s look at some stats putting Gillikin’s 2019 season at Penn State against Cooney’s numbers with the Orange in 2020: Cooney punted 74 times for 3,314 yards in 11 games, averaging 44.8 yards per punt with 3 touchbacks and 24 landing inside the opposing 20-yard line. 25 of his punts traveled 50-plus yards and 14 traveled out of bounds, while 22 were fair catches. 26 of his punts were returned for 170 yards, resulting in a net yards per punt of 41.7, while 9 were downed by his teammates. He posted a long of 64 yards and had no punts blocked. Gillikin punted 62 times for 2,615 yards in 13 games, averaging 42.2 yards per punt with 4 touchbacks and 32 landing inside the opposing 20-yard line. 12 of his punts traveled 50-plus yards and 7 traveled out of bounds, while 16 were fair catches. 20 of his punts were returned for 34 yards, resulting in a net yards per punt of 39.7, while 15 were downed by his teammates. He posted a long of 72 yards and had one punt blocked. more here jeanpierre likes this.