Rookie Matt Bosher is booming his punts

FLOWERY BRANCH –  Falcons coach Mike Smith has been pleased with the progress of rookie punter Matt Bosher. (BTW, he wasn’t too happy with the blocked punt vs. Jax, but that wasn’t on Bosher).

“He’s really helped us in the field position battle,” Smith said. “When you win the field position battle, it usually leads to good things. It also can lead to winning the time of possession battle.”

Bosher, a sixth-round pick from Miami, got off to a bumpy start but has come on over the past six games. During those games, he’s averaged 45.9, 45.4., 33, 50.4, 50.5 and 40.8 yards. His season averages are a respectable 42.1 yards gross and 38.5 yards net.

“The special teams players have been getting down field and helping out on my punts by forcing a lot of fair catches and making tackles so my net average is good,” Bosher said.

Falcons special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong likes to utilize specialty punts in order to enhance the coverage. Bosher had to learn a lot about directional punting.

“If you can get a guy pinned down in the corner with most of your team over there covering him, he doesn’t have anywhere to run,” Bosher said. “We are just trying to give our coverage guys the best chance to make the best play.”

Bosher battled through his early season problems, averaging less than 40 yards per punt over his first five games. He credited Armstrong, long snapper Joe Zelenka and kicker Matt Bryant with helping him through that rough stretch.

“They kept me mentally strong and allowed me to find a groove and I started to play to my potential,” Bosher said.


(blogs.ajc.com)