After an inauspicious start to his Atlanta Falcons career, punter Matt Bosher has become quite the weapon for the 6-0 Atlanta Falcons, writes Daniel Cox on the team's official website.
Bosher was drafted in 2011 by the Falcons out of Miami (the only punter drafted by any team), and like many rookies was affected adversely when the lockout forced a shortened training camp and preseason. It showed, as Bosher struggled and fans questioned general manager Thomas Dimitroff's wisdom in using a draft pick on a punter.
This season, however, Bosher has been a big reason why the Falcons are among the best teams in the NFL in opponents' starting field position. After five weeks and before the team's win over the Oakland Raiders last weekend, Atlanta's opponents were starting their drives on average at the 23.3-yard line. Against Oakland, Bosher punted four times, two times landing the ball inside the Oakland 20 and twice on the Oakland 10. Falcons opponents have started inside their own 20-yard line 17 times this season.
Bosher has punted 27 times this season, with only 14 being returned. The Falcons are giving up only 7.3 yards per return, good for 10th in the NFL.