If there’s one thing the Las Vegas Raiders don’t need to worry about in the near future, it’s their special teams. The Silver and Black are set for a long time in this department, and a large part of that is because of their punter, AJ Cole.
Accolades and Stats
Cole had a sensational year for the Raiders and became something of a fan favorite, something few punters can say about themselves. Cole deserved that honor. Another honor he deserved is the PFWA All-NFL team. He also won the same award, but for the AFC, of course. To add to that, Cole was also named to the AP All-Pro team.
Cole had an excellent season numbers-wise as well. He led the league in average yards per punt, at a whopping 50. Cole was also sixth in the league in punting yards, totaling 3,202. It is worth noting that Cole had just 64 punts on the year. In comparison, some of the players above him had punted 83, 88, 78, and 74 times.
Since Cole’s average yards per punt was the highest in the league, it’s fair to say that he would have been a bit higher than sixth in yards if he was able to punt as often as the players ahead of him.
The Value of a Punter
A team never wants to see their punter on the field. Feeling confident after your team goes out is an unexpected feeling, but it’s one Raiders’ fans felt when Cole came on the field last year. Also, it helps when your punter can create turnovers like this one:
AJ Cole punts it, and then forces the fumble 🤯
(via @Raiders)pic.twitter.com/pgV0A3g0dt
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 15, 2021
When Cole steps on the field, he’s an instant game changer. His ultra-strong leg can flip the field position at any moment, and he’s used to seeing his punts downed inside the red zone as well.
#ProBowlVote AJ Cole
Leading the league in Net Punt and taking over games like he did here against Miami… come on #RaiderNation gotta get 6 in the Pro Bowl this year pic.twitter.com/IkHQ6LaKaD
— Alec Ingold (@AI_XLV) December 10, 2021
In the video above, Cole kicks the ball from his own 15-yard line. The returner catches it around his own 20 and gets to about the 30. That punt went about 65 yards, and with the return, the net yards ended around 55. Punts like those are huge, and they completely flip the field.
The Raiders Have Their Punter of the Future
Ultimately, the headline above says it all. Cole’s 2021 season was nothing short of spectacular. He proved to be a game-changer and a momentum shifter for Las Vegas. While no team ever wants to see their punter on the field, at least the Raiders know they have a good one.
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*Top Photo: Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun