Here's why Bill Belichick sounds obsessed with Rams punter Johnny Hekker

[patriotswire.usatoday.com]

You’d think Johnny Hekker was the Tom Brady of punters. Hekker’s in the discussion as GOAT among punters, according to Bill Belichick.

Belichick’s appreciation for the Los Angeles Rams punter overflowed on Wednesday. The New England Patriots head coach touted the punter for a large portion of Wednesday’s press conference.

“Hekker is a tremendous weapon,” Belichick said. “He’s as good a player as I’ve ever seen at that position. He’s a really tremendous weapon in his ability to punt the ball inside the 20, directional kick it. He’s involved in fakes, can throw, can run.”

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Who is Hekker? He’s a 6-foot-5, 26-year-old punter, who leads the NFL in punting yards. He also leads the NFL in punts within the 20-yard line with 35. The next closest punter is Jeff Jocke with 28. Hekker has clearly made the most of his opportunities — even if his production comes, in some ways, due to the Rams’ poor offense.

But Hekker is also “like a quarterback,” Belichick said.

Hekker has a quarterback rating of 126.7. Over five years in the NFL, the former high school quarterbacks is 6 of 10 on his career for 60 yards and a touchdown.


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**FAKE PUNT ALERT**

Johnny Hekker is a punter
Punters aren't supposed to scramble and sling 20-yard passes #STLvsGB
1:38 PM - 11 Oct 2015
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The punter converted two fake punts against the San Francisco 49ers in 2012. In the Pro Bowl after last season, Hekker threw a comeback route to convert the fake punt. Via InsideThePylon.com, Hekker has demonstrated mobility and solid vision when looking for receivers downfield. So maybe he is the Brady of punters.


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.@JHekker out here throwing lasers.

Yes, @RamsNFL punter Johnny Hekker. #ProBowl
6:10 PM - 31 Jan 2016
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Belichick was asked if he put the punter in the same category of some of the past punters Belichick has touted like Ray Guy, Thomas Morstead, Sean Landeta and Dave Jennings.

“I’m not taking anything away from them. They are all great players,” Belichick said. “This guy [Hekker] is a weapon. He’s not a good player. He’s a weapon.”

That said, Belichick hopes he sees the punter on the field

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“Yeah, just got to make sure we get the ball,” Belichick said. “The other part of the problem is just catching the ball. We’ve seen multiple guys — because he kicks it so far and he makes the returner move for it. They mishandle it, or it hits the ground, and it goes for another 20 yards. It’s a tough ball to catch, because you’re not just shagging flies out there. You’ve got to run. He’s kicking it over your head. The ball-handling is tough for the returner, too.”

Belichick added: “He’s had several punts this year where they can’t get to the ball. Fifty [yards] becomes 70. Forty-five [yards] becomes 65. It just changes field position in one play. You think you’re going to get the ball in good field position, and you’re at the 15-yard line.”

“But yeah, to your point, I hope he gets good work out there.”

So Hekker may be one of the best players on the Rams team — even if no one really cares about punters. Belichick’s appreciation and obsession over the punter’s skills are justified. And Belichick loves special teams — he can talk all day about special teams. Hekker was the perfect invitation to do so.

That said, there’s likely another reason Belichick is fixated upon Hekker. The Patriots coach would prefer to discuss the punter, because that’s relatively harmless chatter. He’s draining the clock on the press conference by talking about scintillating topics like a Pro Bowl punter. So while Belichick’s surely a huge fan of Hekker’s skill set, he’s also probably a huge fan of how easy it is to waste away a press conference when remembering some of the best punters in the league.

But no doubt, Hekker brought the football nerd out of Belichick. The Patriots recognizes greatness in the game — especially on special teams.