Rd 6, Pick 180 (1): Punter Matt Araiza, San Diego State

[NEBranch]

Could've went into hiding.  Nice to stay classy.

[GolfandBills]

56 minutes ago, BuffaloBill said:

18 pages for a 6th round punter … amazing

Shocked it’s not much higher.. 23 pages of people crying over a 3rd round linebacker is pretty impressive 

[The Dean]

19 minutes ago, MAJBobby said:

BU = Backup

 

That's why they are BACKUPS. They don't get to practice all day, every day, with the LS and the PK. Count on this, if Arazia can't learn to hold to a satisfactory degree, they will use another PS player, or he will be gone. You don't mess with the FG game on this team. IMO of course

Think about this, as bad as Bojo was at holding, he was always the holder. NEVER the backup QB, for the Bills. 

[MAJBobby]

1 minute ago, The Dean said:

 

That's why they are BACKUPS. They don't get to practice all day, every day, with the LS and the PK. Count on this, if Arazia can't learn to hold to a satisfactory degree, they will use another PS player, or he will be gone. You don't mess with the FG game on this team. IMO of course

Think about this, as bad as Bojo was at holding, he was always the holder. NEVER the backup QB, for the Bills. 

Haack is gone. Arazia will make the team. 
 

he either holds or he doesn’t. Just that easy. 

[SydneyBillsFan]

5 hours ago, Riverboat Ritchie said:

Great pic.  Hopefully he doesn’t see the field much but could be generational punter. (Hopefully). 

 

You'll be seeing him multiple times each game holding for PAT's.

 

Laces out please Matt!

[BringBackFergy]

This pick is questionable. Look at the schools he went up against: Hawaii, Air Force? No Big 12 or SEC competition. Not promising. 

[boater]

8 minutes ago, BringBackFergy said:

This pick is questionable. Look at the schools he went up against: Hawaii, Air Force? No Big 12 or SEC competition. Not promising. 

OTH... As a punter, your punts are mostly against the field, more so than the other teams players.

 

I'm thinking SIXTH round is a real value here.

[without a drought]

Can he become... The Laces Out God ?

 

 

Will he still be be considered  the Punt God if the Bills only punt 20 times ?

 

 

 

Stay tuned.

 

 

 

 

Man, I can talk punter all day...and holder, any time,  any place. This **** is riveting. 

[ArtVandalay]

If this dude gets cut before the start of the year I can't wait to see this place lol...

 

I thought people suggesting a mid round pick for a punter on a team like this were just silly.  But end of draft,  6th round, sign me up. Excellent pick. 

[The Dean]

1 hour ago, MAJBobby said:

Haack is gone. Arazia will make the team. 
 

he either holds or he doesn’t. Just that easy. 

 

I'd be shocked if he didn't make the team. But don't expect a QB to be holding for this team.  

 

And remember, there are more available punters than Haack and Arazia. Just saying.

 

And the Bills have already ditched a better punter than they kept. One of the reasons was likely his inability to be consistent with his holds. 

[Ralonzo]

3 hours ago, syhuang said:

to be fair, the first one was a partial block and the ball still travelled 27 yards (forward)

 

Haack had several of his punts against the Jets partially blocked by nitrogen molecules.

[Roundybout]

4 minutes ago, Ralonzo said:

 

Haack had several of his punts against the Jets partially blocked by nitrogen molecules.

 

I've never heard boos at the stadium as loud as when he shanked his third punt. 

[Ralonzo]

2 hours ago, YoloinOhio said:

 

 

Could this pick actually encourage the Bills to punt on 3rd down?

[Royale with Cheese]

3 minutes ago, Ralonzo said:

 

Could this pick actually encourage the Bills to punt on 3rd down?

I would say to intentionally take safeties.

[TheyCallMeAndy]

31 minutes ago, Ralonzo said:

 

Could this pick actually encourage the Bills to punt on 3rd down?

No, this pick was for the training camp crowds.

 

I remember the “ooooooh” and “ahhhh” when Brian Moorman would do punt drills.

[Doc]

Just now, TheyCallMeAndy said:

No, this pick was for the training camp crowds.

 

I remember the “ooooooh” and “ahhhh” when Brian Moorman would do punt drills.

 

You just got me excited for camp.  Missed it (being in Rochester) the past 2 years.

[TheyCallMeAndy]

2 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

You just got me excited for camp.  Missed it (being in Rochester) the past 2 years.

We are about to get a punt vs pass competition in TC 🤤 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

42 minutes ago, The Dean said:

 

I'd be shocked if he didn't make the team. But don't expect a QB to be holding for this team.  

 

And remember, there are more available punters than Haack and Arazia. Just saying.

 

And the Bills have already ditched a better punter than they kept. One of the reasons was likely his inability to be consistent with his holds. 

Agree. A bunch of people on here have been “disagreeing” with my statements that Araiza is going to have to be a good holder to win the job. 
 

I don’t understand what is so controversial about that. As you said, they let Bojo walk for a worse punter/better holder. Then GB just did the same thing with Bojo.

 

I am hoping Araiza is fine as a holder, and this won’t be an issue. But he is going to have to do it, and not mess Bass up, or else he won’t be making the team. 

[TheyCallMeAndy]

7 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

Agree. A bunch of people on here have been “disagreeing” with my statements that Araiza is going to have to be a good holder to win the job. 
 

I don’t understand what is so controversial about that. As you said, they let Bojo walk for a worse punter/better holder. Then GB just did the same thing with Bojo.

 

I am hoping Araiza is fine as a holder, and this won’t be an issue. But he is going to have to do it, and not mess Bass up, or else he won’t be making the team. 

I’m sure he’s been working on it, but Haack will need to flat out beat him for Matty Punt to not make this roster.

[The Dean]

10 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

Agree. A bunch of people on here have been “disagreeing” with my statements that Araiza is going to have to be a good holder to win the job. 
 

I don’t understand what is so controversial about that. As you said, they let Bojo walk for a worse punter/better holder. Then GB just did the same thing with Bojo.

 

I am hoping Araiza is fine as a holder, and this won’t be an issue. But he is going to have to do it, and not mess Bass up, or else he won’t be making the team. 

 

I agree, for the most part. But I won't go so far as to say he'll be cut if he isn't a good holder. For one reason, they kept Bojo for a time despite the fact he wasn't good at holding. And he was inconsistent as a punter. Eventually he was let go. So, perhaps unless he totally sucks, I'm guessing the new Matt gets the job. Both jobs, I should say.

 

But what if he is horrendous at it?  I do not expect this. He seems very eager to learn and excel. This is just a little thought exercise. What would they do?

 

I'm thinking, if he really shows his stuff punting this offseason, he's making the team. So maybe they get creative with the holder. I doubt it. But if they do, I highly doubt it will be a QB. And if if he can't figure it out, and isn't killing it with the punting, then what?

Edited May 1, 2022 by The Dean