NFL Draft 2013: Specialist Rankings

Jan 9, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; LSU Tigers punter Brad Wing (38) punts during the 2012 BCS National Championship game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

The specialists. The red-headed stepchildren of the football world. Everyone like to rag on them, until the kicker is needed to hit a last second FG to win the game.   Honestly though, I almost didn’t post these because I didn’t think anyone would care.

The Seahawks have no need for a punter. John Ryan is one of the best in the business, and isn’t going anywhere.

Kicker on the other hand, could be somewhere the Seahawks are looking for a change. Both Steven Hauschka and his injury replacement Ryan Longwell are free agents.

Hauschka isn’t an elite kicker by any means. He’s consistent from inside 45 yards, but not so much from beyond that range. His FG kicks do come out low on occasion  and his kickoffs don’t consistently get deep.

All of that is a bit of splitting hairs though. The truth is that the Seahawk coverage unit was very good, so kickoff depth wasn’t a problem. As for the problems with long kicks, I’m of the belief that if you’re requiring your kicker make a lot og 50+ yard FGs in order to win, then your team has other problems that need dealt with first.

Punters

RankPlayerPosP RankSchoolHeightWeight*Brad WingP1LSU6/2205Quinn SharpP2Oklahoma St.6/1189Jeff LockeP3UCLA6/1209Ryan AllenP4Louisiana Tech6/1229

Kickers

RankPlayerPosP RankSchoolHeightWeightDustin HopkinsK1Florida State6/2193Caleb SturgisK2Florida5/10188Brett MaherK3Nebraska6/1186

Long Snappers

Notice the lack of a list. Who drafts a long snapper? seriously…