A replacement for Rocca?
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
A replacement for Rocca?
Bob Brookover
Sav Rocca probably shouldn't feel all that secure about his job right now.
The Eagles this afternoon signed punter Durant Brooks to a two-year deal, a potential signal that they are ready to replace Rocca, who has been the team's punter the last three seasons.
Brooks was a sixth-round draft choice by the Washington Redskins in 2008. He punted the first six games of his rookie season, averaging 39.6 yards on 26 punts, before being released. He also had nine punts inside the 20-yard line. After being released, he spent the remainder of the 2008 season on Green Bay's practice squad. He was also in training camp with the Packers last summer, but he did not make the team.
Brooks, a product of Georgia Tech, won the Ray Guy Award as the nation's best college punter in 2007. He has also been schooled on punting by Guy, the former Oakland Raiders punter who is considered by many to be the best to ever perform at the position. Brooks averaged 45.3 yards per punts during his college career, a record for an ACC punter. He also had an NCAA two-year record of 57 punts over 50 yards in his two seasons at Georgia Tech.
Rocca, who entered the league as a 33-year-old rookie after a career playing Australian Rules Football, has been wildly inconsistent during his three seasons as the Eagles' punter. His 42.4-yard gross average last season ranked 20th in the league and his 38.3-yard net average was 16th. Rocca was tied for ninth in the league with 26 punts inside the 20.
Comments (28)
Rocca would probably feel less secure if his numbers across the board weren't significantly better than Brooks.— drbob1- it must be a slow news day in philly sports— dhuszar159
- The Tonner's going to grab a Genny Cream Ale and call it a day.
- Brooks is not much of an upgrade, if any. Sav has a good leg, he is just way too inconsistent. IHis trial run is most likely over.— WWW.WEEMSWEAR.COM
- Rocca is not that bad. On the other hand, if you can replace the 16th best punter with someone who could be 5th best, it's not a bad idea. Maybe they'll carry both through camp and then pick one.— tacklinjoe
- Brooks countn't make the Redskins. This is an upgrade?— jimmyeagles
- If THIS is the best they can produce to "scare" Rocca.....nobody is impressed. I know that they have to expend all resources available in the draft to address the "D", so I can understand this is what they are doing now. But perhaps next year we could use a fourth rounder for someone really good.— TBear
- drbob1: So what? Rocca's numbers have not been great, especially with many more attempts. Rocca's maybe an average NFL punter. Remember when they brought David Akers in? His numbers were not great. That is the way it usually works with kickers/punters.— snakeman
- Benari Jewlers and their d@mn pop-up ads need to STOP on this site!— jibberjabber
- 2 YEARS???? Kind of a long contract for a try-out, isn't it? See ya later Sav, it's been mediocre.— flyerdup
Comment removed.- Why don't they put Sav at linebacker or safety? He can't be any worse than what the Eagles have.— AreaMan
- Evneryone talk about average but what if the guy is punting from the 50 as opposed to his own 25 where he can just boom it. Pundits, writers (i.e. Peter King) looooovvvvve Shane Lechler and say he is on the level with Ray Guy. Sure Lechler is good but he also has to kick it as far as possible every time because his team has no offense. He also kicks in good weather most of the time unlike most NFC east teams. Hang time is just as important. Sav can boom it and hit it high. He could be more accurate and consistent but I like the dude and think he will only get better with experience.— Mr Mister
- @snakeman: My point is that if they want to make Rocca 'fear for his job'; they can't just bring in any warm body; they've actually done this with Rocca every year he's been here, and every year Rocca gets the job, because the other guy didn't come close to beating him out. If they want to replace him, sign a guy that's been in the league and had better numbers than Rocca, or draft a punter. This Brooks guy punted in our division in '08, everyone saw him, he can't punt.— drbob1
- Another holder for Akers to get used to? This can't be good.— ItalianSausage
How important is a punter? Most people think punters are interchangeable - one is as good as another. A great punt never puts points on the board - or maybe it does. Years ago George Allen was the coach of the Redskins. He was the first coach to really emphacize special teams. He won a lot of games because his special teams gave the Redskins a real advantage. During an interview one day he said "If you down a punt inside the opponent's 15 yard line your team will be the next to score 80% of the time. But if they get the ball at their 20 or beyond then it's 50/50." Think about how a football game often goes. The Eagles make a first down or two, the drive bogs down about midfield. This is a perfect spot to pin the opponents inside their 10 or 15. And it all depends on the punter. Get a guy who knows how to kick a wedge shot with hang time that stops where it hits and you've got yourself a real offensive weapon. The punter won't put any points on the board by himself but he can have a big part in helping both the defense and the offense by winning the field position battle. In a close game this can be the difference. I had great hope for Rocca when the Eagles signed him. But I've seen way too many touchbacks with the ball bouncing straight into the end zone. Too often a great punt is followed a little later by a line drive that creates a great runback. Rocca has no consistency. Will Brooks be better? Who knows? Will he be as reliable a holder for Akers as Rocca has been? Probably. Bring 'em both to training camp and let's see. And don't sweat the two year deal. It's not guaranteed. If the Eagles cut Brooks then the two year contract means nothing.- Do Eagles fan have to complain about everything? This guy was the BEST in the nation in 2007! Why not give him a shot. Sav stinks!— scars73
- Can't figure out how Rocca ever made the team.— hawk18
- How can this kid be some great in college and stink it up in the NFL? He's a freakin punter, there's NO difference between the two levels. 1. Catch ball 2. Kick ball. Same thing at every level, so why did he do so bad!?— MVKrum
The new special teams coordinator has been reviewing the film and Rocca is out.— potus- "The Eagles this afternoon signed punter Durant Brooks to a two-year deal, a potential signal that they are ready to replace Rocca, who has been the team's punter the last three seasons." Seriously? How long have you been covering football? You can't be this clueless. Teams always sign a second punter and second kicker before training camp. They want a little competition and mostly someone else to share reps so they don't overwork and injure their primary kicker or punter. You never know what can happen but if they were intending to replace Rocca, they'd get an experienced punter, not a guy like this.— JimG
- someone, almost any punter who performed above average in college, has to be an upgrade on rocca. rocca is not an NFL punter. great football player in austrailia though.— JACK V
- Anyone think to call the Eagles and actually get a comment fom the coach? Ooops! That might be called reporting!— NickEeee
Sav has rarely had a game where he has not had at least one crappy kick. He is not horrible, but if they can upgrade the position on the cheap (and you know the kid came cheap) why not try it?- It seemed to me that Sav didn't kick well in cold weather. Maybe the ball was frozen.— phillyguy36
This does not mean Sav is going anywhere. Sounds like a camp 'leg' maybe more, probably not. Welcome Mr. Jauron, your work is cut out for you...you'll get it done!-johnnyu- Who cares about punters. Get quality D in the draft! and trade for replacements for the Andrews sisters.— goeagles87
- This happens every year, and every year the new guy doesn't make the cut. I have a hard time believing Sav is in any real danger.— Hexfoliation
1
Popular Posts
About this blog
Birds' Eye View is the Inquirer's blog covering all things Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL.
Jeff McLane
Inquirer Staff Writer
Zach Berman
Inquirer Staff Writer
Classifieds:
Site Services:
Partners:
Powered By:
