[ColoradoTree]

[quote author=washingtonismoney link=topic=14617.msg156706#msg156706 date=1455724239]
https://twitter.com/SportSourceA/status/...1892048896

Is this a bad thing? I've always wondered about this.
Why wouldn't you always punt out of bounds? Developing a technique where you give the ball less hang time but allow it to travel further and eliminate the chance for a return.
[/quote]

I suppose the ideal punt, without considering game situations, would be landing just out of bounds, which would mean no return and would also maximize distance.  That's risky, though, because you then have to depend on the official's judgment of where the punt went out of bounds, which isn't always particularly accurate. 

Though what you want from a punt depends on the situation, of course.  I want a lot of distance when we're punting from our own 20.  I don't when we're punting from the other team's 40 (and I usually don't want a punt at all then, though I'll forgive it if it's 4th and very long).  If I could have every punt roll out of bounds (or land just out of bounds) inside the opponent's 5-yard line, then absolutely.  But it seems to me that if you aim for just out of bounds, you're as likely to kick it well out of bounds (and thus shorter) than you are into the middle of the field.  I know these guys are good at aiming punts, but it's still pretty inexact, yeah? 

[ColoradoTree]

[quote author=washingtonismoney link=topic=14617.msg156706#msg156706 date=1455724239]
https://twitter.com/SportSourceA/status/...1892048896

Is this a bad thing? I've always wondered about this.
Why wouldn't you always punt out of bounds? Developing a technique where you give the ball less hang time but allow it to travel further and eliminate the chance for a return.
[/quote]

I suppose the ideal punt, without considering game situations, would be landing just out of bounds, which would mean no return and would also maximize distance.  That's risky, though, because you then have to depend on the official's judgment of where the punt went out of bounds, which isn't always particularly accurate. 

Though what you want from a punt depends on the situation, of course.  I want a lot of distance when we're punting from our own 20.  I don't when we're punting from the other team's 40 (and I usually don't want a punt at all then, though I'll forgive it if it's 4th and very long).  If I could have every punt roll out of bounds (or land just out of bounds) inside the opponent's 5-yard line, then absolutely.  But it seems to me that if you aim for just out of bounds, you're as likely to kick it well out of bounds (and thus shorter) than you are into the middle of the field.  I know these guys are good at aiming punts, but it's still pretty inexact, yeah?