Bills sign Matt Haack

[dave mcbride]

47 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

He isn't going to boom the bleep out of it. That isn't who he is. He doesn't have a massive leg. But he is an experienced punter who understands the value of hang time, has experience with this crew - in terms of Reid and Tyler - important both for punting and holding, and has played in playoff games. Given where we are he was the best, most sensible, option. If he can get his punts off, not have a block and not leave any crazy short fields that is the best outcome. The risks associated with every other option floated are greater IMO.

https://micahhyde.com/my-story/

 

"In Micah’s junior year, he earned northern Ohio first-team honors as a quarterback, defensive back, and place kicker. In addition, he was named honorable mention as a punter." 

Edited January 17 by dave mcbride

[Buffalo_Stampede]

3 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

https://micahhyde.com/my-story/

 

"In Micah’s junior year, he earned northern Ohio first-team honors as a quarterback, defensive back, and place kicker. In addition, he was named honorable mention as a punter." 

I believe he’s our emergency everything. Punter, kicker, holder, CB, and QB.

[BigDingus]

Kudos to the posters who called it yesterday in the Ariza thread!

[Dan Darragh]

Matt Haack since Monday night:

[jlgarsh]

Fournette may well be back then if they win. Who knows

[WinterSoldier17]

I agree l, he’s probably the best option that’s out there. I like it.

[Rigotz]

42 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

Giant downgrade

 

I know, they should have targeted one of the several all-pro Punters available in week 18, who also have holding experience with Bass.

[DuckyBoys]

we aren't punting

[Nextmanup]

2 hours ago, DJB said:

Veteran option that knows the team and most importantly hold for Bass.

 

Smart decision. 
 

For those complaining he’s not a great punter, well if we are punting lots we aren’t winning the game anyways

For me this is a total non-starter.  He'll do fine.  The game won't come down to this issue, at all.

 

As you point out, his chemistry holding for Bass is way more important than whatever he nets on punts.

 

 

 

 

[YattaOkasan]

2 hours ago, Bigvinny said:

 

If Martin is out for the rest of the playoffs (which feels right), would you consider IR cause we only get 2 PS callups.  With LB and CB depth stretched (WR a bit too) would we wanna save the call ups for those?  If martin is back after a week this doesnt matter.

1 hour ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

I believe he’s our emergency everything. Punter, kicker, holder, CB, and QB.

I hear McD has him as his emergency contact too.

[Drew21PA]

3 hours ago, HappyDays said:

Sam Martin will likely not be available this weekend. Haack is probably the best option to get us through a game.

So if he can’t go - and the bills get a ring

 

does he not get one because he was out?  Or do the guys on IR get a ring too?

[That's No Moon]

1 minute ago, Drew21PA said:

So if he can’t go - and the bills get a ring

 

does he not get one because he was out?  Or do the guys on IR get a ring too?

Team decides who gets one and who doesn't. I'd guess they'd give him one.

[wppete]

3 hours ago, Bigvinny said:

Yep, he knows how to hold for Bass.

This is the important part. He is a good punter but holding is crucial.

[Irv]

What?  No John Kidd?  

[Drew21PA]

5 minutes ago, That's No Moon said:

Team decides who gets one and who doesn't. I'd guess they'd give him one.

Wasn’t sure if it was like baseball 

[frostbitmic]

To those that called this over Punt God ... well done ... Lets call him a holder because he won't need to punt.

[Beck Water]

3 hours ago, boyst said:

was Haushka now available?

 

Hauschka was a field goal kicker, never punted in the league as far as I know.

[Bangarang]

Let’s just score every drive so he doesn’t have to punt

[Irv]

Paul Maguire still unsigned.  

[Blackbeard]

Best move available.

 

We need a lot of offense and a LOT of JA.  Less punting.

[DCofNC]

Really hope he’s not actually playing, dude is sooooooo slow to punt, can’t afford a block.

[Beck Water]

 

Confirming Haack will be a practice squad signing.

 

14 minutes ago, DCofNC said:

Really hope he’s not actually playing, dude is sooooooo slow to punt, can’t afford a block.

 

Another "No Punt Game" would be fine with me.

Edited January 17 by Beck Water

[TheBrownBear]

Bass had his career season (2021) with Haack as his holder.

[SydneyBillsFan]

4 hours ago, Bigvinny said:

Yep, he knows how to hold for Bass.

 

I can reveal his incentive-laden match payment breakdown courtesy of Beane:

 

Punting - $1.75

Kick holding bonus on successful tries - $50,000.00

[34-78-83]

On a team with a good offense that more often will be punting closer to midfield, a punter that can get you Inside the 20/ inside the 10 numbers is what you want, not avg or net avg even. With that said, that's where Martin has been really killing it for the last 5 weeks. Haack? We shall see, but best option out there, especially due to the familiarity and proven holding consistency.

[stinky finger]

4 hours ago, Bigvinny said:

Yep, he knows how to hold for Bass.

This may be true, but he’s no Entwhistle. 😁

[Blank Stare]

2 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

So who is the punter you wanted them to sign?

Good question. Obviously, pickings are slim this time of year, but I may have considered Andy Lee or a recently retired Brett Kern. Both are old and washed, but have far more bonafides than Haack. If all we are concerned with is holding they should be more than capable, while also offering a slightly better upside in the actual punting department. Either are someone we can trust with big game experience. 
 

If we were looking for a slightly younger guy who has experience kicking in other cold markets like GB or CHI, maybe consider Pat O’Donnell. Probably not a helluva lot better than Haack, but, hell, we already have seen Haack kick here with mixed results. 
 

If you’re looking for the wild card, then, as others have suggested, you could bring back Araiza. While there is tremendous potential there, I understand why they didn’t go this direction. They know him, but it’s been a while and not the best timing to get him reacclimated. More of an offseason consideration than now. 
 

I’m not saying any of the above are ace ideas. Not many of those in January, but I was happy to move on from Haack the first time. I’m hoping Martin is active as best case. Again, I’m like you said in a previous post - hopefully we never punt in this game because we are scoring regularly. In which case, Haack’s holding skills will be on full display and clearly the safest route. In the event he’s punting deep in our end, I’m concerned with a block or duck leading to easy points, both of which he’s had concerns with in the past. 

[Beck Water]

13 minutes ago, 34-78-83 said:

On a team with a good offense that more often will be punting closer to midfield, a punter that can get you Inside the 20/ inside the 10 numbers is what you want, not avg or net avg even. With that said, that's where Martin has been really killing it for the last 5 weeks. Haack? We shall see, but best option out there, especially due to the familiarity and proven holding consistency.

 

The problem with Haack, if I recall correctly, was not his punting distance.  It's that he seems to have this unusually long windup that resulted in some punts being blocked or scarily close to blocked.  Then he would squib some.  So if he punted 5 times, 4 of them might travel a respectable 40 yds and one of them only 28.

 

It was like Forrest Gump's box of Chocolates, you never knew what you were gonna get

[PetermansRedemption]

While I would have liked Araiza, I’m not sure having his first game action be in the playoffs would have been wise. Don’t mind the Hack signing at all. He will be serviceable enough. 

[Beck Water]

10 minutes ago, Blank Stare said:

Good question. Obviously, pickings are slim this time of year, but I may have considered Andy Lee or a recently retired Brett Kern. Both are old and washed, but have far more bonafides than Haack. If all we are concerned with is holding they should be more than capable, while also offering a slightly better upside in the actual punting department. Either are someone we can trust with big game experience. 
 

If we were looking for a slightly younger guy who has experience kicking in other cold markets like GB or CHI, maybe consider Pat O’Donnell. Probably not a helluva lot better than Haack, but, hell, we already have seen Haack kick here with mixed results.

 

Good post.

 

FWIW, Brett Kern had an average NYP of 36.6 his last year with Philly.  That's 10 punts over 4 games in 2022.  Andy Lee is freakin' 40 but that was his NYP average his last year with 'Zona.

 

I think I'd rather Pat O'Donnell than either.  For one thing, he was still bopping around the league this season after being cut by GB at the end of training camp, so evidently he still wants to play.   On the Falcons practice squad in Oct. then on and off their roster in December.  For another, while his NYP average is lower at 38 he did it outside in windy cold weather with Chicago and GB.

 

But I'm not opposed to bringing back Haack.  He does have that "familiar holder for Bass" thing going for him.

Edited January 17 by Beck Water

[The Jokeman]

Called it. I'm good with this yet with him on the PS means we think Martin will be back at some point. As we could've IR'd Martin and added Haack to the active roster.

Edited January 17 by The Jokeman

[Beck Water]

5 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

Called it. I'm good with this yet with him on the PS means we think Martin will be back at some point. sAs we could've IR' and Martin and added Haack to the active roster.

 

Question: how does IR work during the playoffs?  I mean there's only 3 games max left so if we IR someone, does that mean he's gone?

[The Jokeman]

Just now, Beck Water said:

 

Question: how does IR work during the playoffs?  I mean there's only 3 games max left so if we IR someone, does that mean he's gone?

That's the way I see it.

[rusty shackleford]

[Blank Stare]

5 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

 

Good post.

 

FWIW, Brett Kern had an average NYP of 36.6 his last year with Philly.  That's 10 punts over 4 games in 2022.  Andy Lee is freakin' 40 but that was his NYP average his last year with 'Zona.

 

I think I'd rather Pat O'Donnell than either.  For one thing, he was still bopping around the league this season after being cut by GB at the end of training camp, so evidently he still wants to play.   On the Falcons practice squad in Oct. then on and off their roster in December.  For another, while his NYP average is lower at 38 he did it outside in windy cold weather with Chicago and GB.

 

But I'm not opposed to bringing back Haack.  He does have that "familiar holder for Bass" thing going for him.

Thanks. Another guy I considered was Joe Doyle, but, while he is young with upside, he’s coming in even below Araiza for me if they wanted to go the ”young guy” route (which clearly they didn’t). Doyle is a complete unknown. At least with Araiza there is some familiarity since he was drafted here, been through an offseason working with Bass, and he won the job in camp before his release. 

[Beck Water]

8 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

Called it. I'm good with this yet with him on the PS means we think Martin will be back at some point. As we could've IR'd Martin and added Haack to the active roster.

 

The challenge of Haack on the PS is the "two elevations per game" rule.

 

If Davis is unlikely to be back (DNP today, per @HappyDays source Grade 2 PCL tear and out for Division round), we really need to elevate a WR.

With Dodson, Spector, and Bernard all injured, even if 2 of them can play, elevating AJ Klein seems like a no-brainer.

 

So we have to cut someone to bring Haack onto the roster.  Then who do we cut?  And do Waiver rules still apply?

[Bob Jones]

4 hours ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

Agree. Closest guy to knowing our system and Bass trusts him.

What, have some holders pulled tha ball away from Bass ala Lucy from Charlie Brown? LOL

 

As a kicker, all you can do is: hope the snap is good, hope the holder fields the snap cleanly, and hope he puts the ball down immediately. Spinning the ball so the laces are facing the goalposts is nice, but not necessary.

 

I don’t really see it as "trust", but just expecting the snapper and holder to be competent at what they do. Sort of the same thing a QB expects of his snapper when in shotgun formation. I'm guessing all league QBs "trust" their centers, but guess what, occasionally those centers make a bad snap on a shotgun formation. For FGs, of course, timing is involved, but that's mostly on the kicker, as there is a certain point where he starts his move toward the ball.

[RyanC883]

 

hopefully just here for practice with punt coverage/returns and/or FG holding.  

 

Using him in a game is less than ideal.  Then again, so is having to punt.  

[Bookie Man]

Between Bass with the yips and Haack's delayed punts... I don't feel great about a game that could be very close.

[The Jokeman]

13 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

 

The challenge of Haack on the PS is the "two elevations per game" rule.

 

If Davis is unlikely to be back (DNP today, per @HappyDays source Grade 2 PCL tear and out for Division round), we really need to elevate a WR.

With Dodson, Spector, and Bernard all injured, even if 2 of them can play, elevating AJ Klein seems like a no-brainer.

 

So we have to cut someone to bring Haack onto the roster.  Then who do we cut?  And do Waiver rules still apply?

I'd IR Martin and make Haack active so can use PS call up on a more vital position like LB or CB or WR.