New York Jets punter Austin McNamara has been a real weapon for Gang Green this season.
Having a punter who consistently flips the field is one of the most underrated advantages in today’s NFL. While that value can sometimes be overlooked by fans, that’s not the case for Jets head coach Aaron Glenn.
Speaking to reporters after Sunday’s win over the Falcons, Glenn emphasized just how important McNamara’s role has become.
“He [McNamara] is a weapon, and I call him a weapon. We call him our sniper,” said Glenn. “He has the ability to flip the field for us.”
On Sunday, McNamara launched six punts for an average of 49.3 yards, including a long of 55, with three pinning Atlanta inside its own 20-yard line.
Among punters with at least 35 attempts this season, McNamara owns the second-highest grade from Pro Football Focus (90.9). He also ranks fourth in net yards per punt (43.6), has the league’s lowest return rate (31.4%), and sits second in average hangtime at 4.75 seconds.
“I am just trying to do my part, help the team out, and put us in the best position possible to win,” McNamara told reporters on Monday.
Following Sunday’s excellent performance against the Falcons, the Jets’ special teams DVOA jumped from 9.5% to 11.3%, putting them on pace for the third-best mark in NFL history. The league record belongs to the 2002 New Orleans Saints at 11.8%.
Time after time, special teams have bailed out the Jets this year, with McNamara proving essential to every win they’ve scraped out.
