Lawrence Tynes said one notable skill of Steve Weatherford’s is similar to one of former Giants punter Jeff Feagles’.
“For [Weatherford] to be only in his fifth or sixth season and have the ability to paint the sideline like he’s done, it reminds me of Jeff,” Tynes, the Giants place-kicker, said of Weatherford’s directional punting. “He kind of reminds me of a younger Feagles.”
Weatherford, the Giants’ new punter this season, has had an impressive first six games. One reason to be impressed is because the Giants’ punting last season was disastrous, thanks, in part, to rookie Matt Dodge. The other reason is Weatherford came crosstown this season from the Jets, who now employ so-so T.J. Conley as their punter and, reportedly, worked out Dodge this week.
Weatherford enters tomorrow’s game against the Dolphins ranked fifth in the NFC with a 46.4 average (compared to Conley’s 43.5).
Though a punter’s average isn’t always the truest indicator of performance — it matters where on the field you’re punting from, whether you’re attempting to kick it out of bounds or going for straight distance, etc. — Weatherford’s directional work obviously has impressed Tynes. Unlike Dodge, Weatherford has been steady so far.
“Listen, whether or not you guys had trouble with your punter last year or not, I never want to be a headline. Good or bad,” Weatherford, now in his sixth season, said yesterday. “I just want to show up and be solid for the team.”
Weatherford made the Giants his top choice during free agency this summer, saying he felt it was time for me to move on from the Jets. Mike Westhoff, the Jets special teams coach, had said he “was disappointed in some of the poor performances that [Weatherford] had at the end of the year.”
The Jets are 4-3 this season and have played inconsistently. Weatherford hasn’t seen them much, but still speaks with Jets kicker Nick Folk.
“It’s frustrating, because I’d like to see [coach] Rex [Ryan] do well,” Weatherford said. “That was a great franchise. They were very good to me. I’d like to see them do better than what they’re doing right now, but I think they’ve got better football ahead of them.”
Weatherford raved about coach Tom Coughlin and is glad to be with the Giants.
“He’s treated me fantastic,” he said.
When Weahterford signed with the Giants, he praised Feagles.
“I think I’ve watched enough film of Jeff to make any of you guys [throw up], but I’m definitely prepared for the challenge,” he said.