The regular punter for the Chicago Bears, Adam Podlesh, suffered a severe injury to his hip flexor. Matt Dodge has been signed on to replace him, after playing for the NY Giants in 2010. He was not offered a renewal. As a rookie, he averaged 44.8 yards per punt.
As a rookie, he set records over and over. He kicked 80 punts in 2007, for a total of 3,307 yards. He averaged 41.7 yards per punt for that year. Another record was sent in 2008 when he averaged 43.9 yards per punt. Other records were set by him that year as well, such as kicking 20 punts that made it inside the 20-yard line. He also make the longest punt (73 yards) and the greatest number of yards, at 296.
At Appalachian State, as a freshmen, he began his streak for making records. He saw action in all twelve of their games, punting 41 times for 1,626 yards total. He averaged 39.7 yards per punt. For one seven punt streak, he totaled 293 yards, three of which were inside the 20-yard line. Two different times during the year he punted 55 yards. During most of his games, he had either 5, 6, or 7 punts fore each game. In a three game total, he punted six or more punts for a total of 229 yards.
Personally, he is twenty-five years old, weighs 220 pounds, and is a record-setting punter. He played in high school and college. He has set many records for punting, but one mistake may have been the turning point toward a down slide for him. Hopefully not, since football, as any game, has winners and losers. Matt is a punter. In football, you have the offense, defense, and the special team that does the kicking. He is one of the special team.
After all his college playing he was ready for the NFL. He was picked in the seventh round, and did well. His miscalculation that didn't get the ball out of bounds turned the tide. He was not renewed, and is now a free agent. He has played some, but remains as a free agent. It remains to be seen what his new position might bring for him.
Tom Coughlin, coach for the Giants, said it was extremely hard to cut Dodge and to have to tell him about it. It went well, according to him. He complimented the growth and maturity he had seen that year, however, and expects that, with his strong legs, the strongest, Coughlin says, Matt will become a fantastic punter.
Coughlin further went on to state that each and every player was good. Summer camp is the best of the best, and when it comes time to draft, the decision is extremely hard. All players have high expectations, because they are taught to reach high. But, someone has to be weeded out. That is sad, he says, because they are all good.
There is not many times in life when a whole history of exceptional successes is overshadowed by one mistake of a few seconds. Though the history for Matt Dodge was superb, having records set in almost every game, and certainly every season, this one mistake has cost him dearly. It is hoped that he will make a comeback in spite of it.
As a rookie, he set records over and over. He kicked 80 punts in 2007, for a total of 3,307 yards. He averaged 41.7 yards per punt for that year. Another record was sent in 2008 when he averaged 43.9 yards per punt. Other records were set by him that year as well, such as kicking 20 punts that made it inside the 20-yard line. He also make the longest punt (73 yards) and the greatest number of yards, at 296.
At Appalachian State, as a freshmen, he began his streak for making records. He saw action in all twelve of their games, punting 41 times for 1,626 yards total. He averaged 39.7 yards per punt. For one seven punt streak, he totaled 293 yards, three of which were inside the 20-yard line. Two different times during the year he punted 55 yards. During most of his games, he had either 5, 6, or 7 punts fore each game. In a three game total, he punted six or more punts for a total of 229 yards.
Personally, he is twenty-five years old, weighs 220 pounds, and is a record-setting punter. He played in high school and college. He has set many records for punting, but one mistake may have been the turning point toward a down slide for him. Hopefully not, since football, as any game, has winners and losers. Matt is a punter. In football, you have the offense, defense, and the special team that does the kicking. He is one of the special team.
After all his college playing he was ready for the NFL. He was picked in the seventh round, and did well. His miscalculation that didn't get the ball out of bounds turned the tide. He was not renewed, and is now a free agent. He has played some, but remains as a free agent. It remains to be seen what his new position might bring for him.
Tom Coughlin, coach for the Giants, said it was extremely hard to cut Dodge and to have to tell him about it. It went well, according to him. He complimented the growth and maturity he had seen that year, however, and expects that, with his strong legs, the strongest, Coughlin says, Matt will become a fantastic punter.
Coughlin further went on to state that each and every player was good. Summer camp is the best of the best, and when it comes time to draft, the decision is extremely hard. All players have high expectations, because they are taught to reach high. But, someone has to be weeded out. That is sad, he says, because they are all good.
There is not many times in life when a whole history of exceptional successes is overshadowed by one mistake of a few seconds. Though the history for Matt Dodge was superb, having records set in almost every game, and certainly every season, this one mistake has cost him dearly. It is hoped that he will make a comeback in spite of it.
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