Sam Koch, punter for the Baltimore Ravens is taking the NFL by storm with his innovations to the game. Coming into the league as a sixth round draft pick in 2006, Koch started for the Ravens but often finished towards the bottom of the league in terms of averages early on in his career.
Koch’s rejuvenation of his career has led to great success for both him in the Ravens, winning the Super Bowl in 2013 and placing top five in both gross and net average from 2012-2017. How did he do it? Attention to detail.
Through 11 games in the 2017 NFL season, Koch led the NFL with 37 punts inside the 20 yard-line, including 16 inside the 10. He even received a game ball against the Browns last year — a rarity for a punter — after he pinned Cleveland inside the 20 on four of his five kicks, three of which were downed within 5 yards of the goal line.
The attention to detail that Koch puts into his line of work has morphed him into one of the leagues most successful punters. His various styles of punting, which are tailored to limiting returns by opposing teams has led to a three yard increase in his net average (gross punt-return yards).
He does this by aiming towards the sideline and putting spin on the ball, making it hard for returners to judge where the ball will land. The sideline to Koch is almost like another defender. When he puts the ball almost out of bounds, the returner can do one of two things. Fair catch it, or run sideways to try and find some space, two options that don’t sound very successful for opposing teams.
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