hey everyone i been watching football for many years already since the early 90s and i have a question about something i am confused. I know that for punters, they can direct their punt towards the sideline, straight out of bounds or down the middle. I know that its smart to not punt to a dangerous punt returner. My question is if you direct a punt towards the sidelines, is the punt always going to be less in terms of yards?
For example, assuming a punter averages 45 yards per punt down the middle. However, if he was to punt the ball to the sidelines/out of bounds, what would be the loss of yards if he punts it that way? Is it possible for a punter to punt a ball 50 yards to the sidelines... i don't mean 50 yards where the ball keeps on bouncing but a punt where it bounches near the sidelines. I mean if a punter punts to a guy who averages 13 yards back on average which is dangerous, wouldn't kicking to the sidelines be better since kicking it to the returner would net 45-12=33 yards on average whereas kicking it out out bounds usually gets 35 yards at least? I mean putting it out of bounds/sidelines should be done almost everytime right? I mean even if the punt returner is not dangerous, they usually average 5-6 yards on return so it evens out right?
Anohter question i have is when a punter punts a ball out of bounds, how do refs know the spot where it should be? I see refs keep walking up and walking up and then take a while to stop and then its a 25 yard punt.
For example, assuming a punter averages 45 yards per punt down the middle. However, if he was to punt the ball to the sidelines/out of bounds, what would be the loss of yards if he punts it that way? Is it possible for a punter to punt a ball 50 yards to the sidelines... i don't mean 50 yards where the ball keeps on bouncing but a punt where it bounches near the sidelines. I mean if a punter punts to a guy who averages 13 yards back on average which is dangerous, wouldn't kicking to the sidelines be better since kicking it to the returner would net 45-12=33 yards on average whereas kicking it out out bounds usually gets 35 yards at least? I mean putting it out of bounds/sidelines should be done almost everytime right? I mean even if the punt returner is not dangerous, they usually average 5-6 yards on return so it evens out right?
Anohter question i have is when a punter punts a ball out of bounds, how do refs know the spot where it should be? I see refs keep walking up and walking up and then take a while to stop and then its a 25 yard punt.