r/NFLNoobs • u/dozer_a_little_crazy • 1d ago
Kicker vs. punter
What is the difference in skill set between a punter and a kicker? I've seen players do both, but I just wondered what the difference is.
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u/platinum92 1d ago
Punter has to have precision with kicks in both direction and distance. Most kicker kicks are more about direction and power than nailing an exact distance.
Spin also matters more for punters since the goal is near the other end zone without going in and you don't want it to bounce to the end zone.
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u/Beet_slice 1d ago
Punter has to have precision with kicks in both direction and distance. Most kicker kicks are more about direction and power than nailing an exact distance.
It usually the kicker who is doing the kickoffs to the landing-zone method, so that has added the distance thing.
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u/womp-womp-rats 1d ago
Punting is kind of like shooting baskets. Placekicking is more like throwing darts.
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u/SelfRepa 1d ago
It is easy to do both, but hard to master. Average player with some kicking experience can kick a 30 yard field goal with some or very little training, but becoming a 50 yard kicker is damn hard. Same goes for punters. You can quite easily punt 30 yarder with very little accuracy, but blasting a 50 yarder with 5.0 hangtime and pinning the ball near desired area with desired spin is damn hard.
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u/Corsonacon 1d ago
drop kick vs set kick is a big one, but also kickers are always going for max power with accuracy. Punters go for a wide variety of power levels and accuracy required. Punters also may need to practice trick balls that can throw the returner off and may even be tasked with blocking if the return gets too bad.
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u/Own-Jeweler-6762 1d ago
À punter will never be lifted off ground / briefly carried by teammate on final play of game
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u/Euphoric_Loquat_8651 1d ago
Seen some punters get carried by teammates after TD-saving tackles though.
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u/Eastern_Antelope_832 1d ago
Kicking with a holder and punting have a lot of overlap, but they're still different skills. The place kicker needs a great deal of accuracy kicking off the ground. The punter needs distance and hang time, with a secondary emphasis on directionality and fixed distance.
I read a pro describe the need for both as you want a place kicker (PK) who's a 9/10 or 10/10 in skill. If he splits his time at punting and place kicking, you might get a guy who's 7/10 in both, which is a bad compromise. Better off to dedicate a roster spot for each position.
Your punter can also be your kickoff guy (that's the biggest overlap), but chances are, he's not going to be elite at both punting and FG kicking. If your punter goes down during the game, you might ask your PK to be his emergency backup. But if your PK gets hurt, you can ask your P to do kickoffs (assuming he doesn't already do so), but you probably should skip 1-point PATs and FGAs.
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u/V1c1ousCycles 1d ago
Different kicking motion. They can all probably execute both kicks fairly easily, especially if they have a background in soccer or rugby/Aussie rules, but not to point of being requisitely "elite" by NFL standards. Being specialists, they have only been drilled in that one style of kicking day-to-day, with maybe a handful of reps practicing the other just for emergencies.
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u/grizzfan 1d ago
Kicking is a game of mental focus and consistency. A lot of kickers have their own way of kicking. Outside of the common techniques like following though, eyes down through the kick, etc, it's largely a matter of consistency and being able to mentally focus in pressure situations.
Punting is a game of science and precision. There's a lot less pressure and spotlight on you, but your technique and dedication to different types of punts, angles, and getting the ball to bounce specific ways is very technical.
Also, IMO as a former kicker, kicking is something that comes more naturally...you either can or can't do it. Punting, being so scientific and technical, is something most people can learn to do with enough practice.
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u/frostyflakes1 1d ago
Both positions need to kick the ball precisely, but in different ways. Kickers need to kick it far and accurately to get the football between the goalposts.
Punters have to kick it as close to the opponents endzone as possible, without going through the endzone (otherwise it's a touchback) to maximize their teams field position and make it harder for the offense to score. They also need to make sure the ball has a good hang time so that the gunners on their team get to the ball before it can be returned.
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u/SmoothConfection1115 1d ago
Punters catch the ball from a long snapper, drop and kick the ball.
Kickers either kick a stationary ball, or have someone catch it and place it for them to kick hopefully through the uprights for some points.
Could a player theoretically do both? Yes.
But a team is probably going to keep one of each on their roster.
Because if that player is injured, suddenly the team is in trouble for that game. Their ability for kick-offs, punts, extra points, and field goals are all gone. That is likely to cost you a game. After the game, if you don’t have roster space, what do you do to fill the 2 positions one player fulfilled?
It’s also a practical matter for practicing. Punters are typically the holders, so the LS, the P, and the K can all practice together without the rest of the team.
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u/InevitableWaluigi 1d ago
I know this has already been answered, but I want to put my two cents in.
Go and look up a couple videos of modern kickers and punters and watch their leg. Kickers rarely get their leg up to their waist. They're also leaning hard opposite the direction of the leg their using. If they're kicking with their right leg, they're learning left pretty hard. Kickers, while trying to get distance, are more worried about accuracy (for field goals.) Whether the ball clears the bar by inches or by a mile, as long as it clears the bar, they're good.
Punters, on the other hand, rarely have a lean and a lot of punters legs go above their head. They're trying to get as much distance and air time as possible. Obviously, there are circumstances where they don't need as much distance as possible, but generally, they want that sweet spot of distance and height to give their team time to get down and cover it while also pinning the enemy team back as far as possible.
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u/UnivrstyOfBelichick 1d ago
Punter has a different kicking motion using different muscles and has balancing priorities of hangtime and distance control. Kicker has to account for power, direction, and (most of all) pressure. No one is going to blame the punter for losing the superbowl.
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u/Some_Internet_Random 1d ago
Completely different kicking motions. It’s incredibly difficult to master 1 skill and be able to do the other. Typically the best they can offer at the NFL level is “emergency backup” which rarely goes well.