In a match that featured many deserving candidates, “Most impressive” Performance improvements can easily cause important initiatives to be overlooked without warning. On Sunday, many, including myself, missed out on one of the most important accomplishments, the Bucks’ 27-17 victory over the Bears, which featured Bucks punter Jake Camarda.
Camarda’s statistical performance on this day was impeccable. Those who watch Camarda regularly may not have noticed his great game because he didn’t have superhuman feats like last year.
Even if it doesn’t count
Jake Camarda’s punt is one of the most impressive plays I’ve ever seen, lol.— Will Blackmon 🍷 (@WillBlackmon) January 2, 2023
Or did you do it?
Jake Camarda was sensational on the punt.
Jake Camarda wears several hats as part of the Bucs special teams unit. His most obvious job is as a punter. He punted four times for 211 yards against the Bears on Sunday, which translates to 52.8 yards per punt. Camarda also ensured that three of his punts ended inside the 20-yard line, and the fourth ended in the end zone for a touchback.
Bucks P Jake Camarda – Photo Credit: USA Today
Those punts were crucial to the Bucs defeating the Bears in the battle for field position that day. Tampa Bay’s average starting position on this day was its own 28-yard line. The Bears’ average starting position was their own 22-yard line. But you can truly feel Camarda’s influence as a punter, especially if you take a closer look at the punts.
His first punt of the second half was absolute. bomb A 72-yard punt from the Bucs’ own 28-yard line into the end zone resulted in a touchback and the Bears started at their own 20. He followed that up with three consecutive punts late in the third quarter. Field position was a real nightmare for the Bears.
Camarda’s second punt was from the Bucs’ own 29-yard line and bounced wide of the Chicago 16. The Bears were unable to do anything on the ensuing drive and had to go 84 yards to score a touchdown. Instead, they decided to punt after a three-and-out.
Camarda took a soft shot on the next drive, forcing Bears punt returner Trent Taylor to call for a fair catch at his own 10-yard line. The Bears would score a touchdown on the ensuing drive, but it took nearly four minutes to get the touchdown, largely because the punter and punt coverage team had to travel 90 yards. had to spend.
Camarda’s final punt of the day was the shortest, but perhaps the best. Punting from the Bears’ 44-yard line, he had to soften his approach. The Bucs selected the former Georgia Bulldog not only because he has a cannonball in his legs, but also because he can be used in situations where he has to take significant distance from punts to maximize his output. It’s also because it’s excellent.
Camarda did not disappoint, thanks to English allowing the kick to hit the ground with backspin and bring the effort down to within 10 points. So the kick didn’t continue bouncing forward into the end zone. Gunner Derek Pitts Jr. helped cover a punt down at the Bears 7-yard line. On the next drive, an excellent special teams effort by Camarda and the Bucs’ coverage unit allowed Bears quarterback Justin Fields to retreat into his own end zone and throw a pick-six to Shaq Barrett, who attempted a screen. The match was sealed. Courtesy of the Bucks.
Camarda had the best performance of all punters in the NFL by punting to open the season. Expected points added for each punt.
Jake Camarda’s heads-up effort
In case you didn’t know, Camarda is one of the most athletic punters in the NFL. During the 2022 NFL Draft process, he chose to run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine because he knew the stopwatch would light up. He did not disappoint.
Georgia punter Jake Camarda’s official 40 time at the NFL Combine was 4.56. That’s faster than his 9 running backs and his 9 wide receivers 😳😳😳pic.twitter.com/nYQZqVvB6N
— Footballism (@FootbaIIism) March 7, 2022
The Bucs punter had Chase McLaughlin’s kick attempt blocked early in the second quarter and needed every ounce of his speed to rescue the Bears’ wannabe scoop-and-score. That was an absolute hero play from Camarda.
If Camarda didn’t have a) the mental strength to take off to recover a blocked kick, and b) the speed to get past Bears cornerback Jaylon Jones and actually corral the ball as it bounced, this The play likely ended in six points for the visiting Bears. Instead, Chicago lost 14 yards on their next possession and ended up punting the ball themselves.
While this play wasn’t as shocking or impressive as Shaq Barrett’s game-winning interception with a touchdown, it was still a pretty big play of the day for Tampa Bay.
