Brad Maynard Close to Finishing With No Touchbacks

by Chris Pokorny on Dec 20, 2011 9:40 PM EST

Since taking over in Week 2, Brad Maynard has done an admirable job filling in for punter Reggie Hodges. Maynard's strategy this season has been to consistently push the ball toward the sideline (side note: I know that Patrick Peterson had a big return to help give Arizona the win, but our coverage ran by him). I noticed an interesting fact last week though, and it continued after this past Sunday's game: did you know that Maynard does not have a single touchback this season?

That's right -- not one of Maynard's punts has gone into the end zone. Part of that surely has to do with the fact that he doesn't have a lot of depth on his kicks, but he does have 27 punts inside the 20, which is good for 3rd best in the NFL. You would think that one of Maynard's punts would take a bad bounce and scoot into the end zone, but so far, that hasn't happened. Maynard is the only regular punter in the NFL this year without a touchback. To compare, Hodges had five touchbacks in 2010.

Maynard has two more games to go to accomplish a 15-game feat of recording no touchbacks (hoo-ray, right -_-?). If Hodges is recovered by next season though, I would anticipate him easily reclaiming the starting spot. For as good as Maynard has been at kicking team's short, when our offense needs to be dug out of a hole, we need a guy like Hodges who can minimize the damage by booming the ball down the field.

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so are you saying i should get a hodges jersey or a maynard jersey?

Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?

by pwndabear on Dec 20, 2011 9:42 PM EST reply actions

a maynard jersey

I’m not sure why, but this made me burst out laughing.

by macdowellm03 on Dec 20, 2011 10:46 PM EST up reply actions

Hard decisions are hard.

by Off-the-Chain on Dec 20, 2011 11:01 PM EST up reply actions

I can’t believe this guy was on a practice squad before we signed him. As good as Hodges is, and I do feel he was snubbed of a Pro-Bowl opportunity last year, I feel Maynard would be better suited for us next year. Pinning the other team so far in their own zone allows our already solid defense to be that much more effective.

Ndamukong Suh makes James Harrison look like a teletubby.

by Heavysoviet on Dec 20, 2011 11:07 PM EST reply actions

Maynard started for the Bears last year. We kicked the practice squad punter to the curb after his first game. Also, Maynard is much older than Hodges, wouldn’t want to keep him.

XBL - TheRabbit087. Get at me.

by SpecialBrownie on Dec 20, 2011 11:27 PM EST up reply actions

Punters aren’t like QB’s. Serviceable, yet replaceable.

Ndamukong Suh makes James Harrison look like a teletubby.

by Heavysoviet on Dec 20, 2011 11:38 PM EST up reply actions

Which is why we’ll replace Maynard back with Hodges. There’s no benefit to keeping Maynard over him.

XBL - TheRabbit087. Get at me.

by SpecialBrownie on Dec 21, 2011 2:25 AM EST up reply actions

Definitely bring Hodges back.

by Brownie's Year on Dec 21, 2011 2:28 AM EST up reply actions

Wouldn’t mind Hodges back, just prefer Maynard.

Ndamukong Suh makes James Harrison look like a teletubby.

by Heavysoviet on Dec 21, 2011 11:25 AM EST up reply actions

I also prefer Hodges, but Maynard was a good pick up for the year.

by Off-the-Chain on Dec 21, 2011 7:08 PM EST up reply actions

we should bring Hodges back the dude averages 67 YPC.

by PaduaDSP on Dec 21, 2011 12:22 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

so, you think we could trade Maynard for a QB who can throw the ball inside the 20?

by Mathgeek on Dec 20, 2011 11:41 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

If there’s anything the Browns have been good at, it’s acquiring really good talent at really unimportant positions (with apologies to Mooncamping).

Dawgs By Nature: Holy Joe Thomas we suck

by Adrock2099 on Dec 21, 2011 12:07 AM EST reply actions 4 recs

I bet the guy who squirts Gatorade into the players’ mouths is the best in the NFL.

by Off-the-Chain on Dec 21, 2011 12:25 AM EST up reply actions

Our ball boys go on to be Head Coaches.

Dawgs by Nature -- where Montario Hardesty, apparently, 'did some good things'.

by North Coast Flea on Dec 21, 2011 12:36 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs

MVP?

"There's a gleam men, there's a gleam!" Marty

by Red-Right-88 on Dec 21, 2011 7:50 AM EST reply actions

It’s sad that the most consistant guy on the team is the punter. :(

Madden 12 does not have bugs, it has dyslexia & tourettes.

by Groza on Dec 21, 2011 3:02 PM EST reply actions

Phil Dawson begs to differ.

Even Doug Dieken admits Joe Thomas is the real #73

by Doc's Kid on Dec 21, 2011 5:30 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Joe Thomas doesn’t beg.

Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?

by pwndabear on Dec 21, 2011 7:32 PM EST up reply actions

Joe Thomas isn’t consistent. Joe Thomas just is.

Even Doug Dieken admits Joe Thomas is the real #73

by Doc's Kid on Dec 21, 2011 8:11 PM EST up reply actions

Joe Thomas is consistently Joe Thomas

Dawgs by Nature -- where Montario Hardesty, apparently, 'did some good things'.

by North Coast Flea on Dec 21, 2011 8:44 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

I still miss Zastudil (Go Bobcats!) but I liked Hodges too.

"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened."
— Winston S. Churchill
I have the best wife - ever.

by JustBob on Dec 21, 2011 5:19 PM EST reply actions