I reckon, Who dares wins. However you do need to have a back up plan in place just in case you get bitten on the bum. So if the Jets don't have anybody on the list that is capable of doing the punting, well no. Team first, team second & team third.
I'm sure Ben is up for anything, but I rather him just punt the ball. He's amazing at what he was signed to do, and I want him doing that. I wouldn't want to risk injury for him.
There are some sick metaphors in this thread! I say lets try him out. You can't get to heaven with wooden nickles.
While he's a good punter, I'd say he's just as likely to get hurt on a punt, with a guy diving in to block it, getting chopped in the knee, as he is lining up at tightend. Let the guy do it. Fortunately for the NFL, teams don't live and die by their punter. That's why they make the least amount of money in the league, because they're replaceable. He's impressive, but most punters are impressive or else they're replaced.
...although, if he was hurt, and say Nugent had to punt. Could you imagine the 25 yard punts he could blast? Even worse into the wind...
Mangini said. "Punters are tough to get, and punters of his caliber are tougher to get. I'm so confused! :breakdance:
I actually like the idea of getting ben graham involved in the game, But i dont like the concept of him playing offense (even on a before the snap trick audible that would line him up as a tight end), way to much risk for no reason. Yea hes a tough guy, but lining up on 4th and short as a TE and catching a pass is not something i want a 33 year old who is our only punter on the roster doing. Id like to see graham get involed in more aspects of special teams like kickoffs and hell let him try a few field goals in practice, but a TE??? Seems almost desperate....Lets get some ball boys on the side lines some jerseys and line then up next to Coles. Seriosuly though its not worth the risk, mangini should be concerning himself with other things then having the Aussie on the tele down under for catching a TD.
Mangini addressed the idea of using Graham on offense in a presser the other day, and basically stated that good punters are too hard to find. It's too much risk.
While I would just love to see Ben do something other than punt,I dont think it's worth the risk. But I do know something, along with his "Big Leg" he has a great pair of hands.
id give it a go. even if he runs a route or something as a dummy, atleast he will take a defender as they would half be thinking the ball is going his way. plus, he can take a hit :grin: but he wasnt the toughest bloke in aussie rules footy
If a high pass is thrown, similar to a Hail Mary pass, there would be nobody with a higher chance of catching that pass than Ben. In Australian Rules Football we grow up kicking the ball and catching the ball above our heads. Usually with a bunch of other people jumping at the same time trying to do the same thing. On the few occasions when I have seen a Hail Mary pass thrown in college or the AFL, the ability to catch above the head and also the defensive skills in that situation are below that of Australian Footballers. Ben is 6ft 5, so he would heve a big height advantage, although success is more about body position and timing of your jump. Even if he was slightly out of position to catch it, with his height he could knock it up in the air, perhaps to a spot planned earlier, where wide receivers may catch it. So if it is late in the game and you need big yardage, send in Benny, then throw it deep and high and let him have a jump at it.
This a bit off topic, Has anyone noticed Thunderbirdjet around here? It seems like he went missing since just after the Cleveland game. I'm sure all the Aussies were waiting for the Ben Graham report, which would have been a good one. Maybe the pressure of his growing celebrity status down here got to him. Hope he is sitting on a beach somewhere enjoying a brew and a mid season, well deserved vacation, and I hope he is back here soon.
I'm not sure what the rules are in Aussie rules football, but Ben is not aloud to contact anyone else in the vicinity of the pass if it's past five yards. So while he could use his height, I'm sure that the AFL players are a lot more physical going up for the ball which is illegal in the NFL, and would thus cost our team a ten yard penalty. I'm not sure how well you know the rules or not, so I'm not trying to be arrogant. Just trying to explain it, so you understand that he cannot contact a defender at all.
This lack of contact would actually help Ben catch the ball. When I have seen similar contests in American Football, there is some contact as everybody tries to jump for the ball at the same time. I am sure Ben could avoid getting a penalty with some practice. Although it may look simple, there is real skill in the timing of the jump relative to the defenders. With his experience and the benefit of the extra height, he would almost certainly get his hands to the ball. Of course catching it is still difficult. However the quarterback would need some protection as he would not break any speed record getting downfield!
Why would he not be lined up as a decoy? He never even has to touch the ball. If he lines up one of 2 things happen. He is covered and nobody throws the ball his way or he isn't covered and he is wide open. I'm sure it's already been done in practice, he can get hurt in practice so the risk is always there. I'd put the reward ahead of the risk. If all else fails Randal Cunningham is available to punt....
