Key Takeaways:
– Undrafted free agent Austin McNamara could secure a place on the Cincinnati Bengals’ roster.
– McNamara’s college football track record includes a record-setting average of 46.3 yards per punt.
– McNamara’s competition, Brad Robbins, had an average of 44.3 yards per punt last season.
– The Bengals’ special teams have struggled, with no Pro Bowl punters since 2014.
– Cummings is crucial to improving the team’s special teams performance.
The Cincinnati Bengals’ ongoing search for a much-needed solution to their special teams woes might have finally ended. They have now pinned their hopes on undrafted rookie punter, Austin McNamara, who according to sports analysts, is likely to secure a position in their roster.
A Potential Solution for Cincinnati Bengals’ Punt Game
The Bengals, aware of their need for a solid punting force after ranking 30th in the league last year, may have found a gem in the undrafted rookie McNamara. The former Texas Tech punter had an impressive final year in college, averaging a remarkable 46.3 yards per punt. Experts Nick Baumgardner and Scott Dochterman of The Athletic predict a tight competition between McNamara and the current punter, Brad Robbins, for the position.
The Tale of Robbins Versus McNamara
While Robbins might not be the NFL’s weakest punter, he came remarkably close last season with an average of only 44.3 yards per punt. Moreover, his record of 20 punts within the opponents’ 20-yard line only tied for 23rd in the NFL.
On the other hand, McNamara is a four-time All-Big 12 selectee, further reinforcing his chances of bringing a much-needed change to the Bengals’ special teams. His list of achievements includes setting a Big 12 record with an 87-yard punt in 2020 and another record for averaging 48.2 yards per punt in 2021. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein touts McNamara as a draftable talent due to his ideal physicality and ability to leverage hang-time into long-distance punts.
A Timeline of All-Pro Punters in Bengal’s History
The Bengals have a somewhat lackluster history when it comes to All-Pro punters – they have only had one such player in their franchise history. It was Pat McInally, a Harvard wide receiver and punter the Bengals drafted in 1975. A notable fact about McInally is that he is the only NFL player to have scored a perfect score on the Wonderlic test, famed for assessing cognitive ability.
The team hasn’t celebrated a punter making the Pro Bowl since 2014 when Kevin Huber led with an average of 46.8 yards per punt. Having McNamara on the team could bring about a refreshing improvement.
In a nutshell, it seems like rookie Austin McNamara could be the solution the Cincinnati Bengals are looking for to enhance their special teams performance.
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