Examining the Oakland Raiders most underrated strengths and weaknesses heading into training camp
Oct 27, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders punter Marquette King (7) punts the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Oakland Raiders defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-18. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Strength: Punting
One of the most underrated positions in football is the punter, this is exemplified even more with Ray Guy JUST being inducted into the Hall of Fame. The punter has the ability to change the momentum of a game with a single kick, whether it be pinning an opponent deep in their own territory or getting their own team out of trouble, he is, dare I say, one of the most important positions in football behind the QB.
Believe me or not, the facts are that six of the top 10 worst punting teams in the NFL ( Buffalo, Washington, Tennessee, Cleveland, Tampa Bay and Minnesota ) were also six of the worst teams in the league having a top-10 draft day selection. The other 4 teams include two good teams that had a down year (Houston and Atlanta), the Jaguars and the Raiders.
Obviously there are plenty of variables that go into what makes a team bad, but take out of the outliers of Atlanta and Houston and and 6 out of 8 of the worst teams in the league also were the worst punting teams.
Argue with me about the importance of punters all you want, but you better hope that I am right because you know who ranks at the top? That’r right, our dear Oakland Raiders.
After a near decade with the great Shane Lechler punting for us, we decided to start anew with a young guy by the name of Marquette King…and oh does he have a leg.
Marquette King gets roars of approval after 84-yard punt.
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) July 27, 2014
Look up some of his videos on YouTube, or if you too lazy, just watch the one I attached for you.
Point is this kid is crazy good, leading the NFL in punting average last year, his ceiling is as high Ray Guy’s, and that is not an exaggeration.
The Raiders can sleep well at night knowing they have “The King” to get them out of sticky situations.