Browns trade for Pro-bowl punter

miktoxic

thank freakin god!! i screamed about the field position game last year with him punting. although his #'s aren't that bad i just remember him punting from our 30s after a one series first down then stall......... it seemed like the opposition would always be getting it back at their 40.

see ya spence!!

Mudfly

I know there is only so much that a punter can do and only so many ways to grade em out. But didnt know enough about this guy to like or not like the move.....though the immediate cutting of Lanning was a pretty good indication of how the Browns feel....

So I just finished some quick research and got some nice Andy Lee info for those interested...(I know, punters are boring)...

Fun facts...

1) PFF has him basically as a top 10 punter for 8 consecutive years(was 11th last year)

2) Made the ALL-PRO team 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2012

3) Made the Pro Bowl 2007, 2009 and 2011

4) He is the 49ers all-time leading punter

5) In 2011, he established the NFL record for highest net punting avg ever(broken in 2013, btw)

For punters, most stat sources are only gonna quote net averages and stats that are gonna be affected by special teams play and coverage....so I did the ole PFF search and reviewed his stuff over the last 6-7 years....did some Lanning comparisons....and NOW feel like we just took a very good step.....here's the gist.....

First.....Lee does NOT rank low in any one category, where Lanning does in almost every single one...Lee is top 5-10 in everything....Pff gives Lee a +18.9 and gives Lanning a -8.7.....for comparison sake, Bitonio and Thomas are the only 2 Browns to earn a higher score...so, at least PFF thinks this guy is one of the better ones...

here are their NFL ranks in some punting stats...

Avg Punt : Lee 4th........Lanning 20th

Hang Time : Lee 10th......Lanning 31st

Inside the 20: Lee is 9th....Lanning 17th

Out of Bounds %: Lee is 2nd....Lanning 20th...

So.....this looks like a really good trade to me....add that SF(like Cleveland) is considered a hard place to kick....I LIKE IT!

OldBrownsFan

Big upgrade with our punting. Is he a head hunter too?

Mudfly

@oldbrownsfan said:
Big upgrade with our punting. Is he a head hunter too?

I hope!....tho definitely not necessary.....

Found a nice article out of San Fran on him.....just a lil more insight.......(Im bored, if you cant tell)....

Inside the locker room, he’s simply known as “Buddy Lee.”

The moniker doesn’t get used very often outside the walls of 4949 Centennial Blvd., but that doesn’t mean San Francisco 49ers three-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl punterAndy Lee isn’t well-known by those who know professional football.

It’s hard to look past the accomplishments of the valued specialist, and that’s exactly why the 49ers extended Lee’s contract six more years through the 2018 season.

“Sometimes it’s underestimated probably, to be honest with you,” coach Jim Harbaugh said at the conclusion of Wednesday’s Organized Team Activity. “Andy is one of those guys that wins games for our football team. And it’s great to see guys that play all the games, play all 16, 17, 18 games and help our football team win games, get rewarded with a new contract.”

Lee, too, spoke positively about the extension following the voluntary workout, one that saw him only serve as a holder during a special teams field goal period.

“My performance has been good and we were trying to get something done,” explained Lee on the extension’s timing. “I think both sides gave a little here and there to get this done early to get me a contract I’m happy with and my family’s happy with and I think the team’s happy with it too.”

As a sixth-round pick of the 49ers in the 2004 NFL Draft (No. 188 overall), Lee has become one of the league’s most successful specialists since he was drafted.

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound punter’s booming right leg enabled the eight-year veteran to break the NFL’s single-season net punting average record (44.0), while Lee’s gross average (50.9) ranked third in league history.

However, if Lee has his way, such records won’t be challenged any time soon like they were in 2011.

“I just hope to do what I can do to help this team win week in and week out,” said Lee, who made Pro Bowl appearances in 2007, 2009 and 2011. “Hopefully as we get better, we’ll have to punt less, and hopefully the average will come down because we’re pinning guys inside the 20 a lot more.”

Lee’s presence, however, doesn’t go unnoticed in the 49ers locker room by any means.

“We’re all really excited and happy for Andy,” Harbaugh went on to say. “And selfishly for ourselves we’re happy and excited that Andy Lee will be with us for the next six years.”

Lee has been responsible for every regular season punt and field goal hold since 2004 and will look forward to maintaining the responsibilities through 2018.

“It makes me feel really good; it makes me feel respected by this team and the organization,” Lee added. “I’m excited to be here for awhile.”

Keeping Lee under contract was crucial to San Francisco’s emphasis on special teams under the guidance of respected coordinator Brad Seely.

“The 49ers are pleased to have reached a long term contract extension with Andy,” general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement released by the team. “Andy has established himself as one of the top players in the game at his position. He is a valued member of our organization and community. As we stated earlier this year, it is our objective to keep the core of this team together long term, and this is just another step in that direction.”

Lee sensed that direction with the team re-signing defensive difference-makers likeCarlos Rogers and Ahmad Brooks over the offseason.

Lee, himself, was pleased to be thought of similarly as a key component of the team’s future.

“I think it shows the type of guys we have here, they want to keep this team together,” Lee said. “They did a good job of signing other guys and keeping this team intact so we can make a run at the Super Bowl next year.”

A world championship is a lofty goal, but when you consider Lee has played in 128 games for the franchise and holds team records in all major punting categories, its understandable why Lee is looking past numbers at this point of his career.

Even so, Lee holds 49ers records in punts (723), yards (33,069), gross average (45.7), net average (38.9) and punts downed inside the 20-yard line (209).

Furthermore, Lee’s gross punting average (47.9) and net average (40.7) since 2007 both rank second in the NFL during that time span, while his total number of punts downed inside the 20-yard line (147) rank third-best.

After hearing all that, the “Buddy” nickname makes a lot more sense.

Lee has been a friend to the offensive, defensive and special teams units since 2004 and will continue to be reliable ally for the 49ers.

gumby73

Imo Lanning had one good season and we stuck to long, waiting for another one. But if everyone is so bored, try to repost the picture of his girl so we can say our final goodbyes ( if I remember a 8 sober)

Canton Mike

I did some checking on Lee too & I'm pleased.

One thing I'll bring up is the burning question...."What the hell are those yuppies DOING in SF?" Look at the guys who are gone...I'm sorry, but when turnover by retirement, trade, etc of SUCCESSFUL players & coaches is as high as it is there, something is wrong.....Bad for them, good for us!

Mike

miktoxic

@canton-mike said:

..."What the hell are those yuppies DOING in SF?" Look at the guys who are gone...I'm sorry, but when turnover by retirement, trade, etc of SUCCESSFUL players & coaches is as high as it is there, something is wrong.....Bad for them, good for us!

Mike

Total implosion.

TexasAg1969

Verifies what one of the guys on NFL Network was saying couple of day ago after that last retirement, SF is falling apart and "it's not over yet". Must have had inside information on this trade coming.

WalterWhite

Odd story but I did a shot with the Bengals punter tonight. Kevin Huber.

ballpeen

Lanning finished 17th in the NFL last season with 39.2 net yards per kick. Lee finished 15th in that category with a net of 39.6 yards.

Looks like we gained 18 inches.

Tour2ma

So in essence we drafted a 32 yo punter. While we needed to upgrade the position, I'm not sure about the route we took.

@ballpeen said:

Lanning finished 17th in the NFL last season with 39.2 net yards per kick. Lee finished 15th in that category with a net of 39.6 yards.

Looks like we gained 18 inches.

English major?

Mudfly

@ballpeen said:

Lanning finished 17th in the NFL last season with 39.2 net yards per kick. Lee finished 15th in that category with a net of 39.6 yards.

Looks like we gained 18 inches.

ahhh, but thats net yardage.....more of a coverage stat than a kickers stat....

Lee actually had a net of 40.2 vs Lannings 39.2 (a full yard).....then add to that the difference in special teams coverage(which is really what net yardage is about.....coverage)....

Browns allowed 5 yds avg VS SF allowing 7.5 yds avg.....giving him +2,5 yds more.... meaning we gained 3.5 yds(which is a lot actually)......

Lee way out distances him in yards per kick...and more importantly...hang time.......and now it's up to our special team gunners to make sure they dont bring it back......

Mudfly

@tour2ma said:

So in essence we drafted a 32 yo punter. While we needed to upgrade the position, I'm not sure about the route we took.

Oh damn....perspective......I hate when you do that.....

I guess spending a draft pick on punter isnt always a great idea.....especially an old punter......but, if you want to win now AND you know the punter is already one of the better ones in the league.....then?.....I say ok......

Honestly think there is still another trade in the tank....dont know why, but I do......and instead of getting more players,we will recoup a pick or 2 for the future perhaps......

Thinking it's possible for a DL or RB to be moving on before it's all said and done.....

Zombo

@mudfly said:

Browns allowed 5 yds avg VS SF allowing 7.5 yds avg.....giving him +2,5 yds more.... meaning we gained 3.5 yds(which is a lot actually)......

And we punted 93 times, so that is 325 yards.

In reality, we picked a better all-around veteran punter on the downside of his career.

I'm OK with a 7th rounder to upgrade the position for a year or two.

Zombo

Tour2ma

LOL... Usually you're the one handing out doses of reality.

Farmer can recoup a 7th anytime he wants to and not hurt his draft at all, and Punters often punt effectively into their mid-thirties.

Better?

EDIT: Plus if his pattern holds he won't have a punt blocked the next two years.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LeexAn20.htm

Mudfly

@tour2ma said:

LOL... Usually you're the one handing out doses of reality.

Farmer can recoup a 7th anytime he wants to and not hurt his draft at all, and Punters often punt effectively into their mid-thirties.

Better?

Ha!....yes, better....

When you think about it.....Farmer has completely revamped the skill positions on the kicking squads......

New punter.....new place kicker......new long snapper......and new holder.......plus, just watched a Dawg Pound Report and they said the Browns are working on getting some different guys returning kicks.....OH JOY!!!!!!

OTA's had Tramon Williams, Benji and Duke as the punt returners......and Gilbert, Duke and Benji as the kick returners....so....Oh joy again!!!

Mudfly

Zombo said:

And we punted 93 times, so that is 325 yards.

And, ironically, we had 5200 yds of total offense last year......divide that by 16 games = 325 yds per game of offense(exactly)...

Which means, just by switching punters, we have in literally gained a full games worth of offense(and field position).....

To me....that sounds a lot better than 18".....

Comeonman

Any position on the field can change games. I was sick of Lanning, so good move. Anybody want to kick for us?

ballpeen

@tour2ma said:

So in essence we drafted a 32 yo punter. While we needed to upgrade the position, I'm not sure about the route we took.

English major?

LOL....ok....I see the mistake....3.6 is the factor. Actually, History. Anything but math, so point taken.

jrb12711

To use a late round pick to objectively upgrade a position is fine with me no matter the position played. Sure this might be a 2-4 year deal but there's not much downside to this at all.