Ryan Poles knew what he wanted to do after the 1st round of the 2024 draft. As the Chicago Bears’ next pick loomed in the 3rd, he had a roadmap for how things could play out. He’d take Yale tackle Kiran Amegadjie, and then the hope was he could grab Iowa punter Tory Taylor in the 4th. If things fell that way, he’d work to trade back into the draft to grab Kansas pass rusher Austin Booker. Sure enough, the board fell exactly as he’d hoped. However, that didn’t stop the outside criticism from falling on him.
Most of it centered on the Taylor selection. People tend to scoff whenever teams draft specialists, particularly in higher rounds. Taking a punter in the 4th when they could’ve grabbed another offensive lineman or that elusive pass rusher was malpractice. However, Poles is getting the last laugh. Taylor was a critical part of the Bears’ recent victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Not only did he average 55.4 yards per punt, but he also downed three of them inside the 10-yard line. It was a masterful performance. Yet the best part was probably Taylor’s comments afterward, almost chuckling at people who are scared of kicking at Soldier Field.
“Sometimes I think people get a little bit scared kicking into the wind but I don’t really mind it. 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.”
Tory Taylor sees the game differently.
Most punters who came to Chicago often grumbled about the wind and other elements. Taylor, on the other hand, immediately started thinking of ways he could use them to his advantage. Having played at Iowa for four years, he is no stranger to kicking in less-than-ideal conditions. It has only been a month and he seems to have already mastered the challenges Soldier Field has to offer. His 47.2 yards per punt is a big improvement over Trenton Gill last year, and he has nine kicks downed inside the opposing 20, tied for fifth-best in the league.
This is another reminder that punters exist for a reason. The common saying is everybody hates a punter (or kicker) until you need a good one. Chicago recognized they needed a good one if they were going to maximize the potential of their defense and give the offense shorter fields. Tory Taylor was a solution they couldn’t pass up. The fact other teams called the Bears after the pick to complain should tell you a lot. The kid is exceptional at what he does.
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Love this kid.
England used to send their worst prisoners and other undesirables to Australia. Many of them were sent to fight the Aboriginals. The benefits of colonialism and occupation by the British on a global basis are everywhere. Tory might be able to receive UK dual or treble citizenship with his possible background. I know he played and still likes soccer and rugby. He could become a truly global athlete at some point in his life.
Need this chant during every punt!
Why Erik, does your “roadmap” of the 2024 NFL Draft fail to mrention GM Ryan Poles’ “perpetual rookie” GM moves? In addition to drafting (with pick #75) the still “incapacitated” OT, Kiran Amegadjie in the 3rd-round, Poles also squandered the 5th and 4th round picks, # 144 and #110, in the March 4th and 15th trades. The #144 pick (5th round) was sent to Buffalo for Ryan Poles’ male crush C/G, Ryan Bates (currently on IR). Ryan Bates almost certainly, would have been cut by the Bills in the next days’ cap reduction purge (for the NFL’s approaching new league… Read more »
Exceptionalism is great until it produces an undesired or an undesirable outcome. Examples: 10 second hang time hitting a flock of birds or outkicking your punt coverage by 20yds to Deven Hester. Both have happened. What bothers me again, not knowing: Tory’s shoe size, whether he can kick with his other leg if forced to run with the ball to his left, how many punts of his have been blocked, how many tackles have he been forced to make, can he throw on a fake punt, could he kick an extra point, and can he drop kick? Real Bears fans… Read more »