Replies to post #494988 on Tornado Alley (PROG)

[blackhawks]

5. We got a pretty good look at why the Bears said Tory Taylor — the punter — could be a weapon when they drafted him in the fourth round (No. 122 overall).


Bears punter Tory Taylor in action against the Rams in the first quarter on Sept. 29, 2024, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

He was the second-highest drafted punter since the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Bryan Anger in the third round in 2012. Only Mitch Wishnowsky of the San Francisco 49ers (No. 110 in 2019) has been chosen higher since.

Taylor unloaded a beautiful 66-yard spiral in the fourth quarter that rolled out of bounds to pin the Rams on their own 8-yard line with 8:47 remaining in the game. It was into a steady 16 mph wind, too. Also impressive: this is what Iowa Hawkeyes special teams coordinator LeVar Woods told me back at the Senior Bowl that Taylor needed to get better at — nailing spirals.

It’s easy to ask why the Bears didn’t consider taking a lottery ticket on an offensive lineman or a pass rusher at that point in the draft. That’s a wait-and-see pick. Now, the Bears have a rookie punter who looks to be developing into one of the best at his craft.

“Sometimes I think people get a little bit scared kicking into the wind but I don’t really mind it,” Taylor said. “Because if you hit the right ball, you can actually use the wind to improve your hang time.

“It was really one of those things, last week, it was pretty (crap) to be honest. It wasn’t good enough. I had the chance to help the team last week and I didn’t. Just wanted to go in the game and be myself and really fortunate enough to have (special teams coordinator Richard Hightower) and all the rest of the specialists look out for me as well.”

Later, Taylor uncorked a booming high punt with the Bears kicking from the Rams’ 43-yard line. It hung up so long that personal protector Jonathan Owens was able to cover it at the 8-yard line after a perfect setup and bounce, which is something Poles marveled at when watching Taylor perform at the Senior Bowl.


Bears punter Tory Taylor on the sideline against the Rams on Sept. 29, 2024, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

“The way he kicked today was truly special, especially with the wind in there,” long snapper Scott Daly said. “Just realize how tough it is. Each punt is a little bit different. I think he wanted to work on the rotation and the spin to where he can really control it and cut through that wind and that’s what he did to really drive that ball. He did an awesome job.”

Owens, a veteran special teams player, was in amazement afterward.

“Man, incredible,” he said. “He puts some English on it. Makes it die. Backspin. Really it’s more side spin because it just kind of dies when it hits the ground. I don’t know what he does but keep doing it. That’s setting up field position for our defense right there. Amazing.”

[blackhawks]

Looks like the writers got the message from Taylor in their early interviews of him; don't play up the Aussie angle.

5. We got a pretty good look at why the Bears said Tory Taylor — the punter — could be a weapon when they drafted him in the fourth round (No. 122 overall).


Bears punter Tory Taylor in action against the Rams in the first quarter on Sept. 29, 2024, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

He was the second-highest drafted punter since the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Bryan Anger in the third round in 2012. Only Mitch Wishnowsky of the San Francisco 49ers (No. 110 in 2019) has been chosen higher since.

Taylor unloaded a beautiful 66-yard spiral in the fourth quarter that rolled out of bounds to pin the Rams on their own 8-yard line with 8:47 remaining in the game. It was into a steady 16 mph wind, too. Also impressive: this is what Iowa Hawkeyes special teams coordinator LeVar Woods told me back at the Senior Bowl that Taylor needed to get better at — nailing spirals.

It’s easy to ask why the Bears didn’t consider taking a lottery ticket on an offensive lineman or a pass rusher at that point in the draft. That’s a wait-and-see pick. Now, the Bears have a rookie punter who looks to be developing into one of the best at his craft.

“Sometimes I think people get a little bit scared kicking into the wind but I don’t really mind it,” Taylor said. “Because if you hit the right ball, you can actually use the wind to improve your hang time.

“It was really one of those things, last week, it was pretty (crap) to be honest. It wasn’t good enough. I had the chance to help the team last week and I didn’t. Just wanted to go in the game and be myself and really fortunate enough to have (special teams coordinator Richard Hightower) and all the rest of the specialists look out for me as well.”

Later, Taylor uncorked a booming high punt with the Bears kicking from the Rams’ 43-yard line. It hung up so long that personal protector Jonathan Owens was able to cover it at the 8-yard line after a perfect setup and bounce, which is something Poles marveled at when watching Taylor perform at the Senior Bowl.


Bears punter Tory Taylor on the sideline against the Rams on Sept. 29, 2024, at Soldier Field. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)

“The way he kicked today was truly special, especially with the wind in there,” long snapper Scott Daly said. “Just realize how tough it is. Each punt is a little bit different. I think he wanted to work on the rotation and the spin to where he can really control it and cut through that wind and that’s what he did to really drive that ball. He did an awesome job.”

Owens, a veteran special teams player, was in amazement afterward.

“Man, incredible,” he said. “He puts some English on it. Makes it die. Backspin. Really it’s more side spin because it just kind of dies when it hits the ground. I don’t know what he does but keep doing it. That’s setting up field position for our defense right there. Amazing.”

[janice shell]

Guessing he likely does see much of himself in her, and that's at least a good part of the reason he is keen to have others watch it.

I really don't think so, since in the end Norma Desmond can't get the attention she so desperately needs, and goes completely nuts.