Falcons Draft Kicker/Punter Matt Bosher In Sixth Round Of NFL Draft

by Dave Choate on Apr 30, 2011 4:52 PM EDT in NFL Draft

My immediate reaction was what the hell!?

After some reflection, meditation and soul-searching, my reaction transformed into a more subdued what?

The only way this pick makes any sense at all is if Michael Koenen or Matt Bryant is leaving in free agency in 2011, and that's the assumption I'm going to operate for this post. Time to look at Matt Bosher based on his merits.

If Koenen is indeed gone, Bosher's an instant replacement. If he's a punter at the next level, he's a good one, averaging 41.6 yards per punt for his career and 44 per in 2010. From everything I can find, Bosher is a good directional punter with enough of a leg to get air under his kicks.

He's a career 84.7 percent field goal kicker with a reasonably strong leg and good accuracy. Apparently, he was announced as a kicker by the Falcons, so it's entirely possible that Bosher is going to be the team's new kicker in 2011. The fact that he can punt in a pinch severely limits Kroy Biermann's value as a punter in fantasy leagues.

Somehow, Thomas Dimitroff managed to draft a classic Falcon at punter. Bright guy, hard worker, positionally versatile and talented, Bosher seems like a lock to take over if and when Bryant/Koenen is gone.

You all know how badly I wanted Virgil Green, but this is likely to go down as a smart move. No matter what Trent Dilfer thinks of it.

Poll

Do you like Matt Bosher for the Falcons?

Yes, no matter what position he plays

119 votes

Only as a kicker

28 votes

Only as a punter

45 votes

Don't like him at all

46 votes

Bosh Hog!

44 votes

282 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 29 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I like it

by saipol on Apr 30, 2011 4:57 PM EDT reply actions

Keep in mind that the more expensive veterans we can replace with cheap rookies the more money we have to spend in Free Agency

I was kind of tired spending our Franchise Tag on our punter anyway.

by Leon07 on Apr 30, 2011 4:58 PM EDT reply actions

yep, exactly - every sign is pointing in the same direction here...

That we are going to be very active in both re-signing our own free agents and signing new ones.

by cheshire falcon on Apr 30, 2011 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't like it.

But I understand.

Unfortunately, the lockout messes with our ability to bring guys in and work them out. This is a safety net pick.

TD could have waited another round, but if this was his guy, it’s not that big of a reach.

I wonder what we do in the 7th. I want at least one OL project.

I am bi-winning. I win not only here but also there.

by Jman781 on Apr 30, 2011 4:59 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs

Also, kickers and punters are important. Hopefully, he’s good at whatever he does for us.

I am bi-winning. I win not only here but also there.

by Jman781 on Apr 30, 2011 5:00 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Yes!

Koenen had to know it was his time to go.

It’s awesome to have the versatility of having a punter with extensive FG experience. Is it possible they just announced him as a Kicker because he will handle the kick-off responsibilities?

by KMarch on Apr 30, 2011 5:02 PM EDT reply actions

Possible, or he might take over for Bryant

Open-ended question at this point.

by Dave Choate on Apr 30, 2011 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Likely depends on how accurate he is in OTAs.

Kid has a hell of a boot but needs to be a little more consistant

by Leon07 on Apr 30, 2011 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Should I buy

A Jones or Bosher jersey?

I am bi-winning. I win not only here but also there.

by Jman781 on Apr 30, 2011 5:04 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Bosher has the cooler name

That’s about the only thing to recommend him over Julio Jones.

by Dave Choate on Apr 30, 2011 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Jacquizz Bosher FTW

by Leon07 on Apr 30, 2011 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice.

I am bi-winning. I win not only here but also there.

by Jman781 on Apr 30, 2011 5:17 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Not crazy about the P/K pick

Not when we gave up so many other picks at various points. Maybe Virgil Green isn’t a scheme fit, but this seems like a waste.

I Jacquizzed myself when I read on my phone that we got him. He was a guy I would’ve taken in the 3rd round. He’s a PERFECT complement to Tursnelling.

Explosive indeed.

by Hawes on Apr 30, 2011 5:29 PM EDT reply actions

I hate Andrew Jackson the President

But like the OG. Was it Dilfer who said he might be the smartest person in Fresno?

I guess that’s a true compliment.

by Hawes on Apr 30, 2011 5:33 PM EDT reply actions

Good kicker short to intermediate range

But accuracy suffers at long range. Multiple punts blocked during his college career. Great in coverage so you’ll still have 11 guys trying to take down the returner.

by aces666high on Apr 30, 2011 5:36 PM EDT reply actions

They might think he can do both

Which would save a roster space.

by Mosugo on Apr 30, 2011 5:54 PM EDT reply actions

Like Mosugo said

I think they’re going to use him to kick field goals, punt, and kick off. That saves us a roster space, so maybe we could actually keep all of our receivers active, or have some extra depth on the o-line.

by orion12 on Apr 30, 2011 6:03 PM EDT reply actions

But really...

Couldn’t we have drafted Bosher with a 7th round pick? Seems a waste with some of the other players on the board that were gone by our last pick. I really don’t think Bosher would have been gone by our final pick.

by randomaxe on Apr 30, 2011 6:33 PM EDT reply actions

Sometimes we under estimate the value of ST

This past season San Diego had the #1 O and D but did not win their division or make the playoffs because of bad ST play.

by mwalex on Apr 30, 2011 6:36 PM EDT reply actions

I'm sorry

but there’s no way the Falcons aren’t going to carry a Kicker and a Punter on an active gameday roster. I just believe that Bosher is taking over all of Koenen’s duties. Bryant will still be the main FG kicker.

Are there any NFL teams that use just one kicking specialist?

by KMarch on Apr 30, 2011 6:36 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

No

But plenty of College teams do. If they think he can do it they might.

by Mosugo on Apr 30, 2011 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Look at the Les Snead interview on the official site

I think this is exactly what they intend to do. Maybe they keep Bryant for one more year until Bosher gets comfortable (or until they see what he’s got), but I think the writing’s on the wall for both him and Koenen.

by orion12 on Apr 30, 2011 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions

smart selection

He’s always open. He catches a lot of balls. He’s un-guardable, no matter how old he is

by WarWolf on Apr 30, 2011 7:39 PM EDT reply actions

I like this pick

How many times were we all screaming at our television sets of computer screens (I’m international, so I had to stream it a few times) that Koenen would only get the ball 32 yards down the field off a punt? I know I was not happy about it. This kid can kick.

On the other hand, Koenen might have been kicking short because our special teams were struggling in early 2010 in case you all don’t remember. Mr. Stovall and Lance Moore both exploited it. That being said…32 yards? Come on…at least push it to 38-40 range.

I’d rather have this guy than Koenen in fact.

Also, Koenen and Bryant have both been put on notice. Screw up, and the Falcons have a replacement.

by ndnpride8806 on Apr 30, 2011 9:27 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs

Rec'd because I did scream at my TV about Koenen's short punts last season.

Here’s the thing: I read that Koenen’s contract is up, and with the rule change regarding kickoffs, I doubt they want to pay Koenen what he’ll want to be paid. Also, since there is no free agency right now, I think they probably felt like they had to wrap this kid up while they could. I also heard that Bosher is a beast on special teams and tackles people like crazy, which is also good.

by Jeanna Thomas on Apr 30, 2011 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

Though I hope Bosher won’t be making too many tackles next year. He’s a solid hitter though from what we’ve seen on the tape.

by ndnpride8806 on May 2, 2011 1:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Well, we tried the whole P/K thing w/Koenen

It failed miserably. I’d prefer to keep two kickers on roster just in case the main K goes down in a game, you do have backup. But hell, if the kid can do it and we can keep another player on roster it was only strike one w/the Koenen experiment.

by aces666high on Apr 30, 2011 11:07 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs