Season Retrospective: Jon Ryan

by John Morgan on Jun 3, 2009 2:33 PM PDT

Overview: Seattle cut Ryan Plackemeier and signed Jon Ryan before week two. Ryan would punt for Seattle for the remainder of the season.

What went right: Ryan punted for the seventh highest average in the NFL, 45.6 yards per punt.

What went wrong: Ryan's average is a function of Seattle's weak offense and poor field position. His kicks were long but low, and Ryan's net yards per punt was 13^th in the league, 38.4. He forced very few fair catches, only eight, or about 10% of his 78 punts. That was the third worst rate in football. He had 22 punts end within the 20 and seven within the 10, both among the league worst. Accounting for all variables, weather, opponent ability and the rest of the punting team, but also counting Ryan Plackemeier in week 1, Seattle's punt team was worth one point above average.

Outlook: Ryan played in 16 games for the Green Bay Packers in 2007 and 2006, and those punting units were worth -3.7 and -4.9 points respectively. He never looked like more than a below average punter in 2008 and that's my expectation of him in 2009.

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I'm okay with that.

We won’t be punting much in ’09 ;)

The demise of the Broncos in '09 is our future. Pray hard.

by Nick Andron on Jun 3, 2009 2:43 PM PDT reply actions

Read as Jon Runyan.

Was tripping balls.

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Jun 3, 2009 3:16 PM PDT reply actions

Replacing Ryan kind of got lost in the QB, LT and Brian Russell talk

Did they bring in anyone to compete with him?

by Nate Dogg on Jun 3, 2009 5:11 PM PDT reply actions

There is currently not a single other punter on the roster

I guess they think they’re pretty set, though hopefully they bring someone in to compete during training camp. Ryan looks like a serviceable punter but that’s as good as it ever get. Nothing special with the potential to be harmful. I’d like to see someone else brought in.

by B.B.Finnegan on Jun 4, 2009 9:18 AM PDT up reply actions

It's now my duty as a Canadian

to fly the flag, proclaim Ryan the best thing to hit the ’Hawks since JP Darche, and go on my way.

by maimster on Jun 3, 2009 5:50 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

I hate Jon "Line Drive" Ryan

Replacing him would be somewhat awesome.

"Hey, guess what? Nobody cares who would win in a crazy fantasy fist-fight between Anne Frank and Lizzie Borden." The Monarch

by crushedoptimist on Jun 3, 2009 6:05 PM PDT reply actions

It's been all downhill after letting Feagles walk and cutting Kluwe

by lemonverbena on Jun 4, 2009 12:00 AM PDT reply actions

Not entirely.

Plackemeier had a pretty good rookie year.

Sam Bradford, future Seattle Seahawk.

by Carl Shinyama on Jun 4, 2009 12:59 AM PDT up reply actions

Don't forget Donnie Jones!

"Part, fools!
Put up your swords. You know not what you do."

by Fearless Frog on Jun 4, 2009 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Punting prowess

Holmgren wasn’t any good at identifying punting talent. I’d love to know Mora’s track record here.

Actually, I don’t need to know. Its only a bleeping punter. Unless the guy is the best in the league, there’s no reason to scuffle as long as he isn’t getting his punts blocked.

by Section 128 on Jun 4, 2009 8:37 AM PDT reply actions

Why oh why did Holmgren dump Plackers?

I seem to remember Plackemeier having one bad game in the rain where the wet football slipped out of his hands once or twice. He sucked that day but was immediately cut before he had the chance to redeem himself. I don’t think Ryan is the punter Plackers was, and I’d be happy to see Ryan replaced. Plackemeier was waived in April by the Bengals and I’ll bet he could come in and take Ryan’s job. If not him, I’d like to see someone try. Maybe its “only a punter” to some, but no would would argue that “its only field position”.

Ryan 222 career punts
+ 37.5 net avg
+ 26 inside the 20
- 3 blocked
- 35 touchbacks

Plackers 236 career punts
+ 42.2 net avg
+ 72 inside the 20
- 1 blocked
- 31 touchbacks

Holmgren should have just kept Plackemeier

by Stevo's on Jun 4, 2009 11:15 AM PDT reply actions

by Fearless Frog on Jun 4, 2009 7:45 PM PDT up reply actions

I thought Ryan got better as the season went on.

Am I wrong? I swear at the start he was terrible, but became somewhat decent as the season passed.

That said, punters are easy to bring in… should one become available.

by djafrot on Jun 4, 2009 4:19 PM PDT reply actions

It was probably the fatigue of a 4-12 season

As that wears on, who cares how the punter is doing. They should be easy, but for some reason punters, long snappers, just hasn’t been too easy for us recently.

by jacobstevens on Jun 5, 2009 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions