Downing

[Skidoosh]

I think this kid deserves his own thread. Both Downing and Netten have played well so far, credit to them.

Mostly Downing, for being able to get a punt off after miss-handling the snap. Had the presence of mind to evade the first tackle, and get a kick off as opposed to trying to run for a 1st down. That was a veteran play.

 

[CornFedIABoy]

Yep, he's been very good for us. Now if he could just learn to pooch it, he'd be a complete punter.

 

[awd4cy]

We are lucky we have a freshman punter that has been solid from the get go. We are set for the next 4 years with Collin.

 

[Triggermv]

My guess is that these two likely turn into our best punting/kicking duo ever

 

[Triggermv]

Netten also needs to work on his onside kicks, but that is likely the only thing his predecessor was better at.

 

[Wesley]

Yep. Netten and Downing look like a strong part of our team. We have a luxury with Cole that some teams locally do not have.....

 

[swarthmoreCY]

Yep, both have been great.

 

[azhuth09]

Downing IMO is already better than Kirby was, especially last year. And Netten has been the most reliable kicker that I have seen at ISU since I came to school here (2009). To think that they are both still very young gives hope to at least the special teams units.

 

[NorthCyd]

With our offense we should have no problem getting a quality punter in every 4 years. Hey, want to play in one of the best conferences, be guaranteed 5-8 attempts every game, and be widely considered one of the best players on the team...choose your adventure at Iowa State!

 

[Clonefan32]

I'm worried about Downing's leg falling off by the time he is a senior.

 

[awd4cy]

Downing IMO is already better than Kirby was, especially last year. And Netten has been the most reliable kicker that I have seen at ISU since I came to school here (2009). To think that they are both still very young gives hope to at least the special teams units.

Downing has been solid, but I don't think it's fair to say he is better than KVK yet. Kirby didn't have a great senior season, but he was an outstanding punter overall in his 4 years. Don't get me wrong, Downing has been great.

 

[IcSyU]

I would prefer to see much less of Downing and a steady dosage of extra points for Netten.

 

[awd4cy]

With our offense we should have no problem getting a quality punter in every 4 years. Hey, want to play in one of the best conferences, be guaranteed 5-8 attempts every game, and be widely considered one of the best players on the team...choose your adventure at Iowa State!

Exactly.

 

[cloneu]

Iowa State is 17th in net punting yards, 36% of Downings punts have been fair catches, 25% of his punts have been over 50 yards and his current punting average is .6 yards more than the career best at Iowa State. So far so good.

 

[Wesley]

Iowa State is 17th in net punting yards, 36% of Downings punts have been fair catches, 25% of his punts have been over 50 yards and his current punting average is .6 yards more than the career best at Iowa State. So far so good.

Just shows that we know how to recruit kickers.

 

[khardbored]

Last two games the 2nd string punter has come in at least one play. 'Spose that's just to get him reps? (Kramer? I think that's his name...)

 

[khardbored]

I'm worried about Downing's leg falling off by the time he is a senior.

We all think of this:

[video=youtube;aDMKXFeBNVU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDMKXFeBNVU[/video]

 

[agardini]

Last two games the 2nd string punter has come in at least one play. 'Spose that's just to get him reps? (Kramer? I think that's his name...)

I have noticed that too. It might be me being crazy, but it seems to me that Kramer has punted in shorter field situations. I wonder if Downing isn't too confident in short field situations yet?

 

[dmthornt]

Iowa State is 17th in net punting yards, 36% of Downings punts have been fair catches, 25% of his punts have been over 50 yards and his current punting average is .6 yards more than the career best at Iowa State. So far so good.

One reason Downing's average remains higher than Kirby's is because Holden Kramer handles the pouch punts. Kirby was so good at dropping the ball inside the 20, that he had a lot of pouch punts. A few 30 - 35 yard punts really drops your average. Also, punting into a 30 MPH wind really cuts into your punt distance. One of Kirby's punts at Oklahoma last year, the wind not only stopped the balls forward progress, but drove it backwards.

 

[cyfanatic13]

The dual punter system is actually genius and innovative and I think it is a huge weapon of our special teams arsenal