Definately true.. However, the field position game can be very crucial. Having a punter that can make the oppositions average start inside of their 30 is very nice to have.

 

But, is field position as important if that team doesn't have a good place kicker...it's important in college and the NFL largely because if a team gets the ball on the 40, they only have about 30 yards to go to be in good scoring range. That's not the case in high school...most teams have to be very, very close before they will even consider kicking a field goal, so the field position isn't as big a factor in high school, IMO.

 

Don't get me wrong, it's important. Just not as important on the high school level as it is in the upper levels.

 

In high school, having a guy who could consistently knock a 40-45 yard FG through the uprights would be more valuable than a guy who could punt the ball out of the stadium, IMO.

I will say placekicker...as ours Tommy McNutt, one of the best if not the best junior place kicker in the state, has already had one game winning FG off 45-yards in the final seconds to beat Hopkinsville and has over a 90% Touchback ratio the last four weeks not one of his kickoffs have been returnable and playing teams with top notch speed returning the kicks having that type of weapon to me is more important than having a good punter. The Cards are lucky enough to have both with senior punter Aaron Williams a very good punter the last three years.

 

 

Good point...we should also note that a good kicker can have a big impact on the opponents field position. Not only does he often make them start on their own 20, but his ability to make field goals will create more opportunities to kick off and make them start on the 20.