Punter debate

MTK · 08-27-2005, 10:51 AM

I know this is weighing heavily on everyone's mind, who should the Skins keep as the punter?

Actually in all seriousness Groom has looked great and is booming the hell out of the ball this preseason.

At only 23 years old, I think the staff has a difficult decision, do you keep the young and obviously talented Groom, or do you keep the reliable Tupa who's having some back problems right now?

skinsguy · 08-27-2005, 11:00 AM

I also think Groom has punted quite well for us and this position battle has weighed heavier on my mind than the Quarterback position!..LOL!!!! just kidding!

Seriously, I wouldn't mind seeing Groom punt for us! We are going to have games where field position is a big factor and that is where special teams become extremely important.

BrudLee · 08-27-2005, 11:03 AM

Normally, I'd say Tupa. His experience as a starting QB gives us a better opportunity to run fakes - and even if we don't the other team must respect that.

But...

Tupa is a 40 year old with back problems. He also costs more. You have to go with the kid here.

GoSkins! · 08-27-2005, 11:37 AM

I'm not sure what the real extent of the back problem is for Tupa. Clearly Tupa is top shelf and I expect him to be the guy. Groom will play in the NFL somewhere after his performance this preseason. I see him making the first cut while we find out more on Tupa.

EEich · 08-27-2005, 11:52 AM

I think Tupa still may have a good year in him... but he's getting old, has a cranky back and is wearing down. There's a good chance that he may not be able to stay healthy this year.

Groom has a big leg... his big negative is that he sometimes outkicks the coverage and doesn't have the touch that Tupa has. That will come with experience. He is a young guy and could be our punter for the next 5+ years.

Gibbs isn't the kind of guy that runs alot of punter fake plays... heck, he doesn't even like the shotgun formation, so I really don't see that being an issue.

I think Groom is our best bet.

That Guy · 08-27-2005, 12:04 PM

groom is good enough and much younger/somewhat cheaper... tupa has 2 years or so left, groom could have 10+ so I really wouldn't mind.

Sheriff Gonna Getcha · 08-27-2005, 12:07 PM

I am having a very hard time deciding whether the Redskins should keep Tupa, Groom, or both. Good free agent punters don't come around often and so snagging a good, young punter is a rarity. In that sense, I really like Groom. On the other hand, Tupa is a great vet with good experience.

All in all, I think I'll be happy no matter what we do as I trust our coaching staff to make the right choices.

MTK · 08-27-2005, 12:36 PM

If I was the coach I think I would be leaning towards Groom because he's so much younger... but we all know how Gibbs loves the vets and as long as Tupa's back isn't a serious concern I'd expect Tupa will keep the job.

Groom is going to have a job somewhere though, he's really been impressive.

Gmanc711 · 08-27-2005, 12:42 PM

I'd probaboly keep Tupa and waste a practice squad spot on Groom. Yeah I know you shouldnt waste a spot like that for a punter, but the guys got talent and we could use him soon. Tupa was really reliable last year, so we'll see how they decide.

jrocx69 · 08-27-2005, 12:48 PM

Tupa is to streaky, even for us, he would have a great two or three games and suck the next, so I'd take groom (not to say he is going to be streaky) but you cant say out kicking the coverage is a bad thing. some of these guys are paid to get there quicker. groom has had good hang time, so its not outkicking the coverage, its ST'mers not getting there quick enough and or not making the initial tackle IMO. Ive watched groom punt for OSU and he has never had a prob BOOTING the ball.

Sheriff Gonna Getcha · 08-27-2005, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrocx69

Tupa is to streaky, even for us, he would have a great two or three games and suck the next, so I'd take groom (not to say he is going to be streaky) but you cant say out kicking the coverage is a bad thing. some of these guys are paid to get there quicker. groom has had good hang time, so its not outkicking the coverage, its ST'mers not getting there quick enough and or not making the initial tackle IMO. Ive watched groom punt for OSU and he has never had a prob BOOTING the ball.

I respectfully disagree with your assessment of Tupa. From where I'm standing, Tupa is very consistent. While I like Groom a lot, a good case can be made for keeping Tupa.

CRT3 · 08-27-2005, 01:41 PM

Tupa

skinsfanthru&thru · 08-27-2005, 01:43 PM

Tupa when healthy is a very reliable which we haven't really seen in DC in a while, but since he is hurting and Groom has been doing a great job (and as someone posted he's cheaper and a heck of a lot younger) I'd lean more towards Groom. And I'm not sure, but I wouldn't be suprised if more than half of his punts have been downed within the 20 and that in the preseason he has one of the smallest gaps between avg punt and net avg of any punters who've seen action.

BigSKINBauer · 08-27-2005, 04:35 PM

Tupa did better last year than Groom has done thus far, I don't know if Groom knows how to drop a ball in the 5 but i do know that tupa does

Net Average for Groom this preseason: 34.7
Net Average for Tupa Last Season: 35.2
Gross Average for Groom this preseason:42.3
Gross Average for Toooop Last Season: 44.1

cpayne5 · 08-27-2005, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gmanc711

I'd probaboly keep Tupa and waste a practice squad spot on Groom. Yeah I know you shouldnt waste a spot like that for a punter, but the guys got talent and we could use him soon. Tupa was really reliable last year, so we'll see how they decide.

Someone would sign him off the squad, so unfortunately there's really no point.

View Poll Results: Who should be the Skins punter?
Groom	22	52.38%
Tupa	20	47.62%
Voters: 42. You may not vote on this poll

08-27-2005, 10:51 AM	#1
MTK \m/ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NY Age: 52 Posts: 99,518	Punter debate I know this is weighing heavily on everyone's mind, who should the Skins keep as the punter? Actually in all seriousness Groom has looked great and is booming the hell out of the ball this preseason. At only 23 years old, I think the staff has a difficult decision, do you keep the young and obviously talented Groom, or do you keep the reliable Tupa who's having some back problems right now? __________________ Support The Warpath! \| Warpath Shop

08-27-2005, 11:00 AM	#2
skinsguy Pro Bowl Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Greensboro, North Carolina Posts: 6,766	Re: Punter debate I also think Groom has punted quite well for us and this position battle has weighed heavier on my mind than the Quarterback position!..LOL!!!! just kidding! Seriously, I wouldn't mind seeing Groom punt for us! We are going to have games where field position is a big factor and that is where special teams become extremely important. __________________ "Fire Up That Diesel!"

08-27-2005, 11:03 AM	#3
BrudLee Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE Posts: 3,494	Re: Punter debate Normally, I'd say Tupa. His experience as a starting QB gives us a better opportunity to run fakes - and even if we don't the other team must respect that. But... Tupa is a 40 year old with back problems. He also costs more. You have to go with the kid here. __________________ There's nowhere to go but up. Or down. I guess we could stay where we are, too.

08-27-2005, 11:37 AM	#4
GoSkins! The Starter Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Yorktown, Va Age: 55 Posts: 1,587	Re: Punter debate I'm not sure what the real extent of the back problem is for Tupa. Clearly Tupa is top shelf and I expect him to be the guy. Groom will play in the NFL somewhere after his performance this preseason. I see him making the first cut while we find out more on Tupa. __________________ Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts. A. Einstien

08-27-2005, 11:52 AM	#5
EEich The Starter Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bristol, CT Age: 60 Posts: 1,001	Re: Punter debate I think Tupa still may have a good year in him... but he's getting old, has a cranky back and is wearing down. There's a good chance that he may not be able to stay healthy this year. Groom has a big leg... his big negative is that he sometimes outkicks the coverage and doesn't have the touch that Tupa has. That will come with experience. He is a young guy and could be our punter for the next 5+ years. Gibbs isn't the kind of guy that runs alot of punter fake plays... heck, he doesn't even like the shotgun formation, so I really don't see that being an issue. I think Groom is our best bet.

08-27-2005, 12:04 PM	#6
That Guy Living Legend Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: VA Age: 42 Posts: 17,553	Re: Punter debate groom is good enough and much younger/somewhat cheaper... tupa has 2 years or so left, groom could have 10+ so I really wouldn't mind.

08-27-2005, 12:07 PM	#7
Sheriff Gonna Getcha Franchise Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Age: 45 Posts: 8,317	Re: Punter debate I am having a very hard time deciding whether the Redskins should keep Tupa, Groom, or both. Good free agent punters don't come around often and so snagging a good, young punter is a rarity. In that sense, I really like Groom. On the other hand, Tupa is a great vet with good experience. All in all, I think I'll be happy no matter what we do as I trust our coaching staff to make the right choices.

08-27-2005, 12:36 PM	#8
MTK \m/ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NY Age: 52 Posts: 99,518	Re: Punter debate If I was the coach I think I would be leaning towards Groom because he's so much younger... but we all know how Gibbs loves the vets and as long as Tupa's back isn't a serious concern I'd expect Tupa will keep the job. Groom is going to have a job somewhere though, he's really been impressive. __________________ Support The Warpath! \| Warpath Shop

08-27-2005, 12:42 PM	#9
Gmanc711 Thank You, Sean. Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Age: 39 Posts: 7,506	Re: Punter debate I'd probaboly keep Tupa and waste a practice squad spot on Groom. Yeah I know you shouldnt waste a spot like that for a punter, but the guys got talent and we could use him soon. Tupa was really reliable last year, so we'll see how they decide. __________________ #21

08-27-2005, 12:48 PM	#10
jrocx69 Special Teams Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Dallas Age: 43 Posts: 461	Re: Punter debate Tupa is to streaky, even for us, he would have a great two or three games and suck the next, so I'd take groom (not to say he is going to be streaky) but you cant say out kicking the coverage is a bad thing. some of these guys are paid to get there quicker. groom has had good hang time, so its not outkicking the coverage, its ST'mers not getting there quick enough and or not making the initial tackle IMO. Ive watched groom punt for OSU and he has never had a prob BOOTING the ball.

08-27-2005, 01:41 PM	#12
CRT3 Impact Rookie Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Rockville Age: 61 Posts: 795	Tupa __________________ 16-0 for 2007

08-27-2005, 01:43 PM	#13
skinsfanthru&thru Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Age: 44 Posts: 3,813	Re: Punter debate Tupa when healthy is a very reliable which we haven't really seen in DC in a while, but since he is hurting and Groom has been doing a great job (and as someone posted he's cheaper and a heck of a lot younger) I'd lean more towards Groom. And I'm not sure, but I wouldn't be suprised if more than half of his punts have been downed within the 20 and that in the preseason he has one of the smallest gaps between avg punt and net avg of any punters who've seen action.

08-27-2005, 04:35 PM	#14
BigSKINBauer Pro Bowl Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Washington, DC Age: 36 Posts: 5,688	Re: Punter debate Tupa did better last year than Groom has done thus far, I don't know if Groom knows how to drop a ball in the 5 but i do know that tupa does Net Average for Groom this preseason: 34.7 Net Average for Tupa Last Season: 35.2 Gross Average for Groom this preseason:42.3 Gross Average for Toooop Last Season: 44.1

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