On a Roll: Hodges Hits 95-Yard Punt in P.M.
Published: Sat, August 1, 2009 - 5:45pm ET
By Randy Lange
Lange is editor-in-chief of newyorkjets.com. He covered the Jets for 13 years for The Record of Hackensack, N.J.
File Under: Leon Washington, Ben Graham, Reggie Hodges, Jim Leonhard, T.J. Conley, Steve O'Neal
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08/01 — Shades of Steve O’Neal and Ben Graham.
The Jets held their fourth practice of training camp this afternoon, and their first special-teams-only session at Cortland Stadium. And punter Reggie Hodges took full advantage of a fair tailwind and a favorable bounce to unleash a 95-yard punt.
With the line of scrimmage at his 2 and kicking from in front of the end line, Hodges launched a rocket. The ball went 70 yards in the air, and because of a great angle, Jim Leonhard couldn’t field it before the ball hit and skipped on toward the opposite goal line, where Leon Washington, fielding punts along with Leonhard, scooped it up at the 3.
This of course was the same modus operandi for O’Neal when he rocketed his still-NFL-record 98-yard punt at Mile High Stadium in 1969. And Graham did likewise for an 86-yard punt at last year’s Green & White Game at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium.
Hodges was kicking against punt-rush pressure, but needless to say, these weren’t game conditions. But you’d have to say Hodges won this particular practice over T.J. Conley, yet not because Conley had a bad day. In fact, the Idaho rookie hit a 68-yarder and a pair of 59-yarders, all with very good hang time.
But Hodges had an impressive run when the punt team began snapping from its own 20. He opened with a pair of 5.0-plus hang times, then thumped 61- and 58-yarders, followed by his 95-yard monster. And he finished with a plus-territory punt that was downed at the 2.
Washington had an interesting interlude where he muffed two punts in a short span. The fans in attendance didn’t react to the first muff, but the second (also on a Hodges punt) raised a groan from the stands. On the next return, Leon fielded the ball cleanly and, with no one covering on the play, immediately spun around and backpedaled up the field a few yards. The fans applauded. All in good fun, and as we all know, head coach Rex Ryan likes a little fun at his practices.
About half the Jets roster participated in this under-an-hour workout while the rest of the team hit the weights and got in some maintenance running. Included in the ST group was Danny Woodhead, who was held out of the morning practice after Ryan said he took a blow to the head.
But Woodhead, rather than sporting his usual white No. 22 jersey, wore a red No. 8. Red usually is for quarterbacks and always signifies “Do Not Hit.” Indeed, Woodhead did run in the drills but was not hit.
Sunday, it’s back to a full two-a-day schedule, with practices scheduled to start at 8:15 a.m. and 4 p.m. Ryan raised the hope that the Jets might work on the field that is currently being resodded, on the other side of the stadium’s main bleachers.
Fans Respond
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Randy Lange Said:
"jason, TE Richard Owens and FB Brock Christopher are also on the LS depth chart, but James Dearth is the champ until dethroned."
Ira Said:
Sat, August 1, 2009 - 7:35pm ET"Randy, It was ggod to see Woodhead back out this afternoon. I thought Conley ahd that 70 yarder but i didn't realize Hodges' traveled 95. Maybe we will be surprised and one of these guys wll win the job.GO JETS!!!!"
MrJetGreen Said:
Sat, August 1, 2009 - 9:48pm ET"There is no doubt that we will need a a top notch punter to get the invitation to the "White House". I here all this concern about wide receivers but the fact is wide receivers are fine we just need to be sure we have a top notch punter. I hope he is on the roster......."
Randy Lange Said:
"David Harris looks smooth in the new defense and in great shape. We expect to have him on an edition of Jets Radio on newyorkjets.com soon."
Michael Said:
Sat, August 1, 2009 - 11:07pm ET"hey did a fight happen between eliss and woody and was there any punching or pushes because i heard eliss threw a punch"
Randy Lange Said:
"Michael, Shaun Ellis and Damien Woody got into a brief shoving match at the end of Lito Sheppard's return of Jim Leonhard's first interception in the morning practice. No punches were thrown."
jclongisland Said:
Sun, August 2, 2009 - 12:16am ET"Can someone explain why they didn't stay in Hofstra for this training camp. And instead went 200 miles away to Cortland, which by the way is just now resodding the fields. Hello, why wasn't this completed before they got there."
Ray Said:
Sun, August 2, 2009 - 10:19am ET"jclongisland, I happened to talk to one of the workers for CSU who said the resodding has been hampered by the weather this summer. They have had so much rain that the sod is slow to take. But the Jets play on field turf anyway, so playing on grass isn't that big a deal."
jetsfansince68 Said:
Sun, August 2, 2009 - 7:26pm ET"Whats the story with Mike Nugent?"
Randy Lange Said:
"How do you mean, jetsfansince68? Nugent is with the Buccaneers now. We should be seeing him again when the Jets play at Tampa Bay on Dec. 13."
sullyLI Said:
Sun, August 2, 2009 - 9:55pm ET"just got back. It's a trip. took 7hrs on Friday on 80-380-81. Took another 7 to get home on 17. Town looks great, players parking lot is by Nuebirg dinning hall. "
tom J E T S Said:
Mon, August 3, 2009 - 12:08am ET"hey, season ticket holders. stop the tailgating earlier and get in the stadium and make some noise. the place is silent when the network comes on the air !!"
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jason Said:
Sat, August 1, 2009 - 7:35pm ET"Randy, how is the long snapping duties shaping up. Is anyone going to be able to contend with Dearth this year. I really enjoy having the security of Dearth in there for those snaps."
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