Anyone See This yesterday?

[Flugel]

During the game, they showed a little statistical reality about the guy we had to replace David Zastudil with. Anyway, they showed Reggie Hodges was leading the NFL with punts inside the 10 yard line with 9. His next punt was fair caught at the 11 yard line.

Alot of people didn't want to acknowledge that Reggie Hodges was a good signing last year when Mr Zastudil did what he did best for Cleveland and miss games with injuries for most of the last 3 seasons as the highest paid FA punter. Anyway, Mangini did INDEED problem solve some bad personnel decisions like Zastudil, Wimbley and Veikune with much better bangs for the buck via Hodges, Benard and Roth. Come to think of it, this might be a good time to point out our record improving when David Bowens took over inside for D'Qwell Jackson. I think we became more stout vrs the point of attack and time of possession battles the last 6 weeks or so took a turn for the better. We can at least acknowledge Bowens was an effective problem solve for the injury prone Jackson.

This was only ONE win; but it was a very important one for this team. When our QB startign QB doesn't play Santa Claus with the pic 6 thing - see how this translates to a W? Those pic 6 things and big swings and momentum busters. Just ask Drew Brees who felt like Drew Mudd when our defensive game plans did a nice job of hiding Eric Wright when the penalty flag wasn't protecting his ass otherwise. He scares me into some drew mudd too; so it's probably a good thing we have a bye on Halloween. I got a new nick name for Eric Wright - "The Exorcist." The Exorcist is a pretty good blitzer just like Elam is though. That's kind of like that thing where blind people can hear better or smell better. These 2 knuckleheads are pretty good at sic em, sock em and sack em when we gotta resort to a clever way to hide their liabilities in coverage.

Last but not least, I adore TJ Ward. He's all over the place like the rhino virus in cold and flu season. The ONLY problem I have with him and this is nitpicky - he's got stone hands like Braylon Edwards in traffic. They might even be as bad as Quincy Morgan's hands. That said, I can only appreciate how he flies to the football.

Hey, thanks for reading!

As you were,
- Tom F.

[hiwaygal]

Dan brought up the Hodges/Zastudil comparison in chat yesterday.

He wondered what do we do when Big Z is ready to come back.

Part of me thinks we keep Z but now I'm not so sure.

[DeadWombat]

I would not go as far as to say Zastudil is a "bad personnel decision".... He certainly is a great punter in his own right.

But Reggie Hodges has been fantastic as well. I'll admit I was among the Doubting Thomases. I didn't think he'd be anywhere near as good as Z... until I actually saw he could consistently make good punts. I like him more and more after every game.

[golfer704u]

Punters and FG kickers have it rough, people only remember the bad punts and missed FGs.

[samoth]

Zastudil has been one of the best, but Hodges is playing like a pro bowler. I can't imagine paying big Dave to come back when Reggie is playing so well.

[Solon16]

Hodges is 71 years old! He has been in the league he has got to be in his 40's...Zasty aint goin nowhere

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by DeadWombat

I would not go as far as to say Zastudil is a "bad personnel decision".... He certainly is a great punter in his own right.

But Reggie Hodges has been fantastic as well. I'll admit I was among the Doubting Thomases. I didn't think he'd be anywhere near as good as Z... until I actually saw he could consistently make good punts. I like him more and more after every game.

True, BUT since the Cleveland Browns made ZASTUDIL the highest paid FA punter in the league - he's missed the majority of 3 seasons. More specifically, he hasn't been able to provide the exchange value this franchise had hoped for. Since some are still holding out hope for Zastudil - at what point do we understand Zastudil's best days are all rear view mirror? How hard is it for a punter to stay somewhat injury free? 3 swing and misses sits a batter back down to give the next guy a chance. When the next batter continues to be one of the most consistent guys in the league, it's time to weigh overpay a never healthy vrs paying a guy that's consistently reliable at much less than we have to pay the never healthy guy. I posted about this guy's ability to pin opponents deep in there territory for his outing vrs Pitt LAST year. He actually trumped that with 4 punts inside the 10 yard line vrs them this year.

At some point, Savage needed to get these high priced FA commitments cleared medically and fitness-wise before he overpaid dearly for the Joe Andruzzis, Dave Zastudils, Antwaan Peeks, Jason Fisks, Ted Washingtons and Shaun Rogers.

When Savage first showed up and I listened to his first press conference, I was ALL IN on "The main reason I'm here is to build this team up through the draft." He did just the opposite by tradign away significnt portions of our 2008 and 2009 drafts.

I'll be the first to admit, I was excited about Bentley coming here so much so that I made the 4 hour drive from Rochester, NY to Berea for training camp at the time. We were very excited to see what he looked like in the first day of double sessions. By the time we arrived in Berea for lunch, Bentley's season was over from a practice they wore shorts in. I REALIZE I can't blame Savage for that freak incident. Unofortunately, we had to audition 3-4 guys before we decided to go after the Philly demoted Hank Fraley in 1 more overpayment adventure.

ANOTHER thing that was very head scratchy was Savage would go after a FA he deemed decent so I was like cool. Okay, we need experience and we won't have to overpay this FA. And then I saw what Kevin Shaffer and gary baxter received in outrageous contract overcommitment per talent level. Worth noting, my best friend is a Bears' fan that told me Kevin Shaffer's promotion to the starting line-up only lasted 60 minutes worth of the NY Giants sacking Cutler 10 times and a sum of a QB concussion. There's a reason Michael Vick had to lace up his track shoes in ATL on game day.

And the guy that was here to imrpove our draft neverr produced 1 oline starter beyond a 3rd overall pick of a draft. I mean WHO on earth looks to upgrade their oline with ANYONE from the University of Indiana? Savage took a guy labelled soft than Charmin by the name of Isaac Sowells. My God, you can find something better than that at a college fraternity party somewhere in America.

Long story short, I like the way we're purging the roster and competing for 60 minutes while it's beign done. It's pretty obvious we could use playmakers at WR and 1 more at corner and Safety; but we are getting there. Don't believe me, look at the Savage product in 2008 regardless of excuses some want to give him.

It's important to understand Mangini and this crew is going to make mistakes along the way just as BB did when he was here. However, I've read far too many people that don't want to give him an ounce of credit for effectively problem solving with additions like Benard, Roth, Hodges, Bowens, Trusnik and Moore in 2009. This year's draft looks better the more and more guys get chances to play through their youthful learning curves.

Those people that like cosmetics will look at the yardage comparison between McCoy and Brees instead of the wiser decisions made. As good as New Orleans defense was defending our passing game. Silent heros were our punter and turnover free rookie QB. Meanwhile, SOMEBODY has to get credit for the coaching job yesterday. Defensively, STs and offensive game management. I don't think this staff is nearly as bad as they get accused of considering what they've inherited, along with the injuries to various high dollar cap commitments. I never hear them bellyaching or looking for excuses. They just keep getting the players to compete for 60 minutes in all but 1 outing.
- Tom F.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Solon16

Hodges is 71 years old! He has been in the league he has got to be in his 40's...Zasty aint goin nowhere

Interesting point considering Zastudil turns 32 years old tomorrow while Hodges is 28 years old. Which guy keeps getting injured in each of the last 3 years again? And which guy was healthy enough to run for 65 yards yesterday?

Reginald Aaron "Reggie" Hodges (born January 26, 1982 in ‹See Tfd›Champaign, Illinois) is an American football punter for the Cleveland Browns

David Michael Zastudil (born October 26, 1978 in Bay Village, Ohio) is an American football punter who currently plays for the Cleveland Browns

Believe me when I tell you I've heard all there was to hear about the wide world of lovely via Dave Zastudil. I've seen little more than a punter who can't stay healthy for 3 years so what's up with decalrign him the better investment in this debate? The guy is on IR again so I'd rather us resort to healthier capanomics on guys who can actually play on Sundays. That stat of 9 punts inside the 10 yard line leadign the league was followed up with pinning the Saints at the 11 yard line yesterday.

Extending the field of play for the opponent is what made the ergonomics of winning quite a bit more doable yesterday.

- Tom F.

[Solon16]

Here's what I liked about Savage...He Identified exactly what we needed to address on the football team...success's if you can call them that(at the time) were MLB,CB, Center LG, LT Qb,Rb,WR,OLB,S...he could see IMO what we desperately needed. And he pulled the fucking trigger and went out and wheeled and dealed for them.

What I didn't like.... He was dreadful talent evaluator, was a egotistical media whore. His moves looked great in 2007...after that reality set in!

[mario]

I say we trade Zastidul for a WR. Or 1st and 3rd. LOL

Hodges is playing very well. You can't take a mans job who punts inside the 10, and runs for what must have been over 60 yards. Probably at 4.5 speed! He even put a juke on a defender and I was waiting for a stiff arm!

[Solon16]

Originally Posted by Flugel

Interesting point considering Zastudil turns 32 years old tomorrow while Hodges is 28 years old. Which guy keeps getting injured in each of the last 3 years again? And which guy was healthy enough to run for 65 yards yesterday?

Reginald Aaron "Reggie" Hodges (born January 26, 1982 in ‹See Tfd›Champaign, Illinois) is an American football punter for the Cleveland Browns

David Michael Zastudil (born October 26, 1978 in Bay Village, Ohio) is an American football punter who currently plays for the Cleveland Browns

Believe me when I tell you I've heard all there was to hear about the wide world of lovely via Dave Zastudil. I've seen little more than a punter who can't stay healthy for 3 years so what's up with decalrign him the better investment in this debate? The guy is on IR again so I'd rather us resort to healthier capanomics on guys who can actually play on Sundays. That stat of 9 punts inside the 10 yard line leadign the league was followed up with pinning the Saints at the 11 yard line yesterday.

Extending the field of play for the opponent is what made the ergonomics of winning quite a bit more doable yesterday.

- Tom F.

Good stuff flugs...I thought reggie hodges was the same guy Miami drafted in the seventies....was thinking reggie roby...nevermind :P

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

Keeping Hodges on is a no-brainer. While I was up in chat during the game yesterday, I mentioned digging up the old Reggie Hodges hate thread to laugh at all the people who trashed the guy. I'm sure it was mainly the usual suspects.