"Pinning a team inside the 20 yard line is a huge play during a football game. The others teams probability to score is significantly less when they are backed up inside their own 20 yard line. Not only is it necessary to get a good punt but it is also important for the punt coverage to stop the ball from going into the end zone. Also, it is important to make sure the returner gets tackled when he catches the ball so he doesn't return it past the 20 yard line," NDC punter Dominic Buttazzoni explained.
Teammate and former NDC punter Tanner Harding expanded on the importance of the pin punt:
"I mostly watch the punt, but after I see the ball punted I tend to watch the gunners. I love a good pin punt that is downed by the gunner inside the ten yard line. It is a huge game changer for our team. A good punt not only flips the field it puts our defense in a great position. Not only does it help our defense, but it serves as a huge momentum swing for our sidelines and our fans."
Dominic Buttazzoni has been laser focused on pin punting this season. Two punts in particular have been huge. In the opener he had a massive 80 yard punt against Ashland. Just this past Saturday against Slippery Rock, he kicked one 71 yards. Talk about performance at a high level under pressure...........
Buttazzoni told me that he believes the biggest thing that people don't understand about punting in college is that it takes a lot of self confidence to perform at a high level. Also, I must have a lot of confidence in the other 10 guys on the field with me to protect the punt and tackle the returner," he said. Of course that self confidence comes from practice and hard work. Buttazzoni is known for his work ethic. "One trait that I have gotten from my parents is to be hardworking and give maximum effort in all aspects of my life. My parents are very hardworking and I am the same way because of them," he explained.
"People always tell me that I punt too many balls during the week, I would say I punt roughly 25-40 balls a day during practice," Buttazzoni mentioned.
But he has also learned to be more selective in his practice methods. Used to be if he had a bad punt period, he would go punt five racks of balls. That was counter productive. When you kick or punt when you're mad you just compile bad kicks and you end up doing more harm than good.
"So now it's not so much about him punting too many balls as it is about him not punting when he's mad," Harding explained. "If he asks me to try to key in to see if I can help in anyway, I do. We worked together a ton on pin punting this offseason and it has certainly shown this year," Harding continued.
Teammate and Long snapper Zach Frye talked about everybody doing their jobs:
"You hear all of the time that you have one job, but it's not that simple because we all rely on each other in doing our jobs. We also are in high leverage situations most of the time so if we don't do our job it could lead to a bad outcome. This is something about special teams that people have a hard time understanding because of how mess ups aren't seen like this on offense and defense during the game."
Harding also chimed in on how important it is for everyone to do their job to ensure a good punt:
" Everyone has to do their job blocking so that Dom doesn't have to rush his punt. Special teams coach (CJ Robertson) plays a vital role in the operation too. He essentially puts us in position to make us look good. Coach Rob does a great job of scheming up our opponents so that we can have success on special teams."
The coaching staff at NDC is unique to most players and Buttazzoni is no different. He told me that "The coaching staff reached out to me and invited me on a Game Day visit in 2017. On my visit I fell in love with the atmosphere that is created around the football team. The coaches treated me like family and were constantly in touch with me until my commitment. I think Coach Mental and the rest of the coaching staff are unique because of how much they care for their players. They treat everyone of us like family and they are always available if I need something football related or personal."
It wasn't until his senior year at Padua Fransiscan High School that Buttazzoni started punting. He told me that he never really practiced punting until the summer going into his senior year because he knew it would help him when it came time to play in college if he was able to kick and punt.
Buttazzoni is a Browns fan, so it comes as no surprise as to who he models his game after, if anyone. "There isn't a punter that I model my craft after, but I really enjoy watching the Browns punter Jamie Gillan because I am a fan of the team and he has a great personality," Buttazzoni explained.
The punt has always been an underrated part of a football game.......until Buttazzoni.
The Falcons fans will be looking to Buttazzoni for more high octane, game changing, pin punting to keep momentum on their side in the DII Super Region One Semifinal when the third seeded Falcons take on the second seeded Shepherd Rams at Rams Stadium tomorrow (Saturday) at Noon. The winner will advance to next week's regional final against the winner of the other region one semifinal between top seeded Kutztown and fourth seeded University of New Haven.
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