Hunter Axed

DO you not think that they believe (as I do) Hunter is NOT the punter and with a handful of essentially meaningless games left that a better time could not be chosen to evaluate some other possible answers at this and some other positions for next year?

Seek now what you will need for the morrow........
-Benjamin Franklin

Actually, I believe that the Skins were perfectly satisfied with Hunter all along. If they were not, then at 4-3 - - with visions of the playoffs dancing in their heads - - they would have taken a look at an upgrade. There are always unemployed punters looking for NFL work; it isn't as if they needed to hire an executive search firm.

At 4-3, an upgrade to any position that you think is deficient makes sense in the context of a season full of meaning (potentially). The Skins made no such move.

At 5-8 and mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, changing your punter to look at new talent is like deciding whether or not to have dessert on the Titanic on that fateful night. It does not matter - - but for those around you it looks as if you are focused on what is in front of you.

I don't think Hunter Smith is a vital cog in the Redskins revival as a franchise by any means. Whether he stays or goes is irrelevant to 2011 - - and like it or not, 2010 has no importance anymore. At the same time, this move is nothing more than scapegoating and public relations nonsense. Even if his replacement is 8 yards better on average per punt - - that is a HUGE upgrade - - it will matter not even a whit.

I am not sure if you are suggesting that a good P game has little advantage over a poor punting game? I do not think that is the case. AND changing the punter in this late part of the season has no meaning for this season, but obviously could have significant meaning in the field position game for next season. It is a great time to audition any potential.....weapons in game situations under fire (rather than training camp scenario).
Additionally I find impossible to believe that our current FO staff would endorse such a childish and thinly veiled move as to hand over the punters head as penance for a loss. H the P is a problem and losing him is a good thing. Find out if someone else can play in "game situations"....now.

I love Hunter the Punter, but I've got no problem with cutting him. He wasn't having a good year and at almost 40 years old he probably won't get much better. Plus you already know what you have in him and it's not like there's high demand for him.

With the team out of playoff contention, why not bring in a young guy see if he can be a factor not only as a punter but also maybe as a holder, and whether the overall kicking unit can benefit.

This is a no harm move

SS ,I will disagree here to me it sends the wrong message .....now had you cut the kicker that would hae been a message but the holder who had a high snap and a wet ball , yet you let Haynesworth get away with his BS alll year? This is like firing Shanahan for the screw up at the end of the first half that cost the Skins 4 points ,now if it happens alot ...ok I see the point.

Gano = 2 missed field goals ...6 points lost

Shanahan = bad time management ....4 points lost

Smith= miss handled a snap for xrta point...1 point

.....................and you cut Smith,sorry I don't get it?

If I am not mistaking, I think they cut him because of his punts and mechanics were not to their liking.

Mike Shanahan Explains The Release Of Hunter Smith (http://blog.redskins.com/2010/12/15/shanahan-explains-the-release-of-hunter-smith/)

Its like a golfer firing his caddy because he keeps shanking his tee shot in the woods.

Not really, we just cut the guy doing the shanking.


I think we just have a special place in our hearts for Hunter the Punter from his TDs he scored in an otherwise debacle of a season. He was one of the few bright spots.

Sure he can run and pass, but he can't punt or hold...goodbye.

The funny thing is, when we cut Sushiam last year he was the scapegoat and the guy we brought in was Gano, "to give another guy a look." He has gone on to lead the NFL in missed field goals. Fail.

Hopefully we have better luck with this guy, but probably not.

With mounting holes of talent in this team, Id like us to address the kicking/punting game finally. With the endless resource of money we pay for worthless talent in the past and present (albert), why not put this into special teams with a solid kicker and punter? Id think it would help the situation. It would be nice to have at least one area this team solid.

The funny thing is, when we cut Sushiam last year he was the scapegoat and the guy we brought in was Gano, "to give another guy a look." He has gone on to lead the NFL in missed field goals. Fail.

Hopefully we have better luck with this guy, but probably not.

With mounting holes of talent in this team, Id like us to address the kicking/punting game finally. With the endless resource of money we pay for worthless talent in the past and present (albert), why not put this into special teams with a solid kicker and punter? Id think it would help the situation. It would be nice to have at least one area this team solid.

I know every hole is important to fill and make better if we can, but I feel like as long as the OLine, DLine, are glaring needs, as well as pretty much every other position except TE, we need to work on those first. Think about how many plays a game your offense and defensive players are on the field versus Teams. Yes, Teams is important, but there's no point in having top players there if you have shit lines and nothing good going for most of your other positions.

I know every hole is important to fill and make better if we can, but I feel like as long as the OLine, DLine, are glaring needs, as well as pretty much every other position except TE, we need to work on those first. Think about how many plays a game your offense and defensive players are on the field versus Teams. Yes, Teams is important, but there's no point in having top players there if you have shit lines and nothing good going for most of your other positions.

Yeah, im not saying this is the priority over O or D lines, but look at the wasted expenses...a good kicker and punter in free agency are not that expensive. Your bang for your buck is better and worrying about fitting in to your system is not an issue.

It would be nice not to having a constant revolving door at the Punter/Kicker positions.

I am not sure if you are suggesting that a good P game has little advantage over a poor punting game? I do not think that is the case. AND changing the punter in this late part of the season has no meaning for this season, but obviously could have significant meaning in the field position game for next season. It is a great time to audition any potential.....weapons in game situations under fire (rather than training camp scenario).
Additionally I find impossible to believe that our current FO staff would endorse such a childish and thinly veiled move as to hand over the punters head as penance for a loss. H the P is a problem and losing him is a good thing. Find out if someone else can play in "game situations"....now.

Of course a good punting game is better than a poor punting game. So, how come when the Skins were over .500 and looking at the playoffs - - remember, we had a thread here on just how the Skins would win the NFC East - - improving the punting game was not so important?

There are lots of other deficiencies on the 2010 squad. How many of them are also going to be jettisoned in the next couple of weeks to audtion new talent in game situations under fire (rather than in training camp scenarios)? Don't worry about needing the fingers on two hands to count those instances.

If you do not think that the Redskins organization is capable of scapegoating someone on the roster after a serious on-field blunder, you have not been paying attention either to the current owner of the team or to the current head coach.

When the 2010 season was still relevant, the team (coaches, FO and owner) had no problems with Hunter's punting, Gano's missing, Haynesworth's malingering etc. but once the season circled the drain and fans got very angry, then the team (coaches, FO and owner) "took action" to remedy things they said they recognized all along.

Sorry, I'm not shopping at that store...

If I am not mistaking, I think they cut him because of his punts and mechanics were not to their liking.

Mike Shanahan Explains The Release Of Hunter Smith (http://blog.redskins.com/2010/12/15/shanahan-explains-the-release-of-hunter-smith/)

Oh I know that is what is being said but I'm not buying it,come on 3 games left and this is what you think will send a meesage?