"Greatest ever" on current Raiders roster?

[fredtoast]

Raiders punter Shane Lechler just might be the greatest punter in the history of the NFL.

He currently holds that all-time career record for yards per punt (47.6).

He has lead the league in punting average 5 times ('03-'05, '07, '09)

His average this year is 48.5. If that holds up it would be the 17th best single season average in history, but it would only be Lechler's fifth best season.

Lechler is the only punter to average over 50 yards a punt twice (51.1 in '09, 50.8 in '11). Those are the second best and fifth best averages ever. He also has the 9th best (49.1 in '07) and the 14th (48.8 in '08).


I don't think I have ever said this about an opponent before, but I want to see Lechler get A LOT of chances to show off Sunday.

[kevin]

Originally Posted by fredtoast

Raiders punter Shane Lechler just might be the greatest punter in the history of the NFL.

He currently holds that all-time career record for yards per punt (47.6).

He has lead the league in punting average 5 times ('03-'05, '07, '09)

His average this year is 48.5. If that holds up it would be the 17th best single season average in history, but it would only be Lechler's fifth best season.

Lechler is the only punter to average over 50 yards a punt twice (51.1 in '09, 50.8 in '11). Those are the second best and fifth best averages ever. He also has the 9th best (49.1 in '07) and the 14th (48.8 in '08).


I don't think I have ever said this about an opponent before, but I want to see Lechler get A LOT of chances to show off Sunday.

He may not be the best in the history of the Raiders, let alone the NFL.....Ray Guy......Ray Guy was a master of the punting game, he could coffin corner inside the 5 like it was nothing. He had the best hang time of anybody. He kicked the ball so it was hard to catch, hung high and couldn't be returned. Teams couldn't return his kicks for any yards at all, and that made him great....and he did this for many years in the NFL, a great long career......He changed the punting position in the NFL forever. Before Ray Guy, teams would never have drafted a punter. Punters weren't thought of very high by anybody. Ray Guy changed that forever. Teams soon wanted their own version of Ray Guy. ...He should be in the Hall Of Fame for changing the punting position as much as he did by being as good as he was.....Teams that had asked a Paul Hornung or a Gary Collins if they could also punt, soon decided they wanted their own Ray Guy, and all teams quickly carried punters as opposed to asking kickers, WRs or RBs to try to do the punting.

...but I hope all the Raiders can do is punt......also fumble and throw interceptions.

[Slappy from New Haven]

I will disagree with both.

Sammy Baugh was the greatest. Looking at stats is a waste of time because of the difference in football, bounce of turf, conditioning, etc but he has NFL punting records that still stand and he was a starting QB. Look him up and we can keep the discussion going

[Truck_1_0_1_]

Originally Posted by kevin

He may not be the best in the history of the Raiders, let alone the NFL.....Ray Guy......Ray Guy was a master of the punting game, he could coffin corner inside the 5 like it was nothing. He had the best hang time of anybody. He kicked the ball so it was hard to catch, hung high and couldn't be returned. Teams couldn't return his kicks for any yards at all, and that made him great....and he did this for many years in the NFL, a great long career......He changed the punting position in the NFL forever. Before Ray Guy, teams would never have drafted a punter. Punters weren't thought of very high by anybody. Ray Guy changed that forever. Teams soon wanted their own version of Ray Guy. ...He should be in the Hall Of Fame for changing the punting position as much as he did by being as good as he was.....Teams that had asked a Paul Hornung or a Gary Collins if they could also punt, soon decided they wanted their own Ray Guy, and all teams quickly carried punters as opposed to asking kickers, WRs or RBs to try to do the punting.

...but I hope all the Raiders can do is punt......also fumble and throw interceptions.

And Lechler is still better; have you seen his precision pounts? Just as good as his boomers.

[BritishBengal]

Originally Posted by fredtoast

If that holds up it would be the 17th best single season average in history...

My oh my, the 17th best single season punting average in NFL history, that is something to tell the grandchildren.

[Go Cards]

Hope to see a lot of Lechler Sunday !

[McC]

Originally Posted by fredtoast

Raiders punter Shane Lechler just might be the greatest punter in the history of the NFL.

He currently holds that all-time career record for yards per punt (47.6).

He has lead the league in punting average 5 times ('03-'05, '07, '09)

His average this year is 48.5. If that holds up it would be the 17th best single season average in history, but it would only be Lechler's fifth best season.

Lechler is the only punter to average over 50 yards a punt twice (51.1 in '09, 50.8 in '11). Those are the second best and fifth best averages ever. He also has the 9th best (49.1 in '07) and the 14th (48.8 in '08).


I don't think I have ever said this about an opponent before, but I want to see Lechler get A LOT of chances to show off Sunday.

Def. a lot of chances. Every 4th play would suit me fine.

A former Raider punter has his name on the best punter in college award.

[Xs&Os]

Raiders have historically placed quite a bit of value in their kicking and punting.

[Slappy from New Haven]

Originally Posted by Xs&Os

Raiders have historically placed quite a bit of value in their kicking and punting.

Wish we had in '06

[khamla]

5th rounder, great pick by the Raiders. They learned there lesson not to do it in round 1 or 2.