The Wall of Challenge

I quickly saw first-hand the large gap between a college and NFL-caliber punter/kicker today. We had two new guys show up for camp today and both put on quite a show during charting. Both have solid resumes as free agent signees to some of the best teams in the NFL (Giants, Jets, Cardinals, Bears, etc.) As charting began, one of the punters was hitting a consistent 50-yard, 5.2+ hangtime bomb. It was like magic. Likewise, I was happy with how I performed today during the two charts that I was able to record. The first set included a low punt of 38 yards, with the remainder of the punts between 43-47 yards, with the longest at 53 yards. However, the second chart was not as convincing. Of the 8 punts charted, my hang-times were in the lower 4.0 range and I had 4 in the high 30s range. I did not feel very comfortable on the set and it did not help when I was crossing over and trying to crush the ball. The hang-times were NFL-caliber (4.4-4.6) during the first chart but my hand-to-foot times are still slower than I would like. Thus, in my final week of workouts, I am looking to improve on my mechanics and put together great charts and great film for the scouts.

I'm looking forward to a great couple of days of charting. So far, the trip has been a good one and I have met some very great people who I look forward to staying in touch with once the camp comes to a close. God has blessed each one of us and whether or not the NFL journey is in my future, I know that I have been given this purpose for a reason and have learned more about myself during this trip than ever before. 

-Light the Way