5 surprising positives from the Panthers victory vs. Saints in Week 3
By Luke Gray
Carolina Panthers P Johnny Hekker lives up to his title
This isn’t really a surprise, but it’s important to show the special teams guys some love. In all the quarterback conversation during the offseason, the move to sign punter Johnny Hekker on a three-year deal went somewhat under the radar, but it was a much-needed signing nonetheless.
Hekker is a six-time All-Pro selection and a part of the NFL’s All-Decade team. But the veteran was a surprise casualty for the Los Angeles Rams after their Super Bowl win, and after signing a three-year, $7.6 million deal with the Panthers he already proving to be such a shrewd acquisition.
Throughout recent memory, the Panthers have struggled to punt the football. Whether that be in terms of leg strength or field position.
With Hekker punting, we’ve seen the benefit of having a high-level punter. In Week 3 he nailed six punts for 281 yards with an average of just under 47 yards per punt.
Most importantly for the Panthers, four of Hekker’s six punts landed inside the 20-yard line, backing up the New Orleans Saints offense deep in their territory – something which proved invaluable.
Hekker’s last punt was arguably his most impressive. With time running out and the Panthers punting on the Saints’ 45-yard line, he sent a perfect effort down deep into New Orleans territory which was down by Stantley Thomas-Oliver III on the one-yard line.