Cory's Corner: JK Scott Is My MVP
If I were to hand out an MVP for the Packers at the quarter pole of the season, I wouldn't need much time to mull it over.
Give me JK Scott.
Many are probably scratching your heads. Yes, you read that right. A punter deserves MVP honors through four games. The offense has only showed flashes of greatness, and the defense looks overmatched in stopping the run.
Scott has been the one reliable constant on this team. "Our punter's kicking the hell out of the ball right now," said Aaron Rodgers after Green Bay beat Denver in Week 3. "He wouldn't say hell, but he's been punting the ball great."
Punting is easy to overlook because, let's face it, it's just punting. However, Scott has forced opposing teams to start inside its own 20-yard line 12 times. That ranks him tied for third in the league. He is also second in the league in total yards accrued with 1,104.
Remember when Scott was chosen in the fifth round of the 2018 Draft? What was your first reaction? I know plenty of people that weren't amused with taking a punter in the fifth round, even though B.J. Sander (2004, third round) and Josh Bidwell (1999, fourth round) went higher.
The problem is, people don't think punters can be a true weapon. Scott has done an excellent job of flipping the field and setting up the defense in a perfect way. There was that 63-yard bomb in the season-opener that forced the Bears to start their final drive on their own 14 with 1:33 left. Then there was the 66-yard moonshot that forced that the Broncos to start from their own 3.
Just imagine, the Packers hired an offensive mastermind to kickstart things, but the one aspect that has been a highlight is oftentimes considered boring.
Scott deserves every ounce of praise that he has been absorbing. He has gotten stronger in the offseason and the stats have proven it. His average net punting yardage increased five yards and he's on pace to tally 48 punts inside the 20-yard line, which would be 18 better than last year.
The Smith Bros. are doing amazing things on defense, but I don't think the Packers are 3-1 without Scott's powerful right leg. You can overlook him if you want, but Green Bay is going to need him if it has any aspirations of winning the NFC North.
And that's exactly what an MVP is.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (19)
NickPerry
October 01, 2019 at 06:58 am
When Scott was drafted in the 5th round a lot of folks here didn't care for the pick. When he struggled at times last season as a rookie, many started bagging on Gute for "Wasting" a 5th round pick on a punter. To make matters even worse the Packers also used a pick on a Long Snapper...I mean What the hell is going on around here?
Personally, I was happy the Packers drafted both a punter and LS. Even if they dipped a bit in 2018 from the previous 2017 with a different, DECENT punter, Gute was again trying to make this team better EVERYWHERE. Gute isn't without mistakes but drafting Scott wasn't one of them. When I look at the Packers roster from 2017 when Ted left as GM, Gute has been trying to rebuild a roster without a lot of cap space all BEFORE Rodgers is too old to do it. I know I'm as guilty as any when I don't really think about ST being a huge factor in the outcome of games when nothing could be further from the truth.
Get the skill positions figured out next year Gute and GB is READY, REALLY READY to compete and win a SB... And Scott will be a big reason why.
jannesbjornson
October 01, 2019 at 10:33 pm
It's call FOOT ball for a reason.
Daren726
October 01, 2019 at 07:09 am
I’ve been on Scott’s band wagon the whole time. Even last year when he was struggling he had flashes of what was to come. Now he’s finally coming into his own. I am praying he stays healthy and has a long career. Speaking of praying, when the Eagles player was hurt he was on the field praying and it went viral. Looks like he’s awesome at that also. He gets my vote.
TheVOR
October 01, 2019 at 06:54 pm
I didn't like the pick initially, but changed my mind quickly last year, and love the player this season.
That said, if your punter is your MVP, your team is destined for a bad season. Love the player, just not the concept of him being our MVP..
Really like the player though..
Roadrunner23
October 01, 2019 at 07:15 am
Scott’s a good kid and a good punter And in time could be a great one. But if he is our MVP the packers are in trouble basically meaning that the offense isn’t holding up their end of the bargain. Let’s hope we don’t see JK punt much the rest of the year.
Spock
October 01, 2019 at 09:20 am
I've got to agree that if your PUNTER is the MVP that's a problem. That said, I'm a huge fan of the kid (Gosh, he still looks like he should be in high school , lol) and was fine with drafting a really good punter as I can still remember all the kicking problems when GB has let go good kickers over peanuts in the past. Scott's an amazing punter who seems to be getting better every game. Love what he does, just wish he wasn't needed as much as he has been!
egbertsouse
October 01, 2019 at 07:54 am
It speaks volumes about this team that the punter is the early season MVP.
Leatherhead
October 01, 2019 at 10:02 am
Yeah, that's exactly what I thought, egbertsouse.
He's a real good punter. I remember Ray Guy, and how he gave the Raiders a big advantage if it came down to trading punts, so I was fine with the draft pick....as long as he could do the job. And he has.
We all kind of got slapped across the face against the Eagles, and so it's easy to forget that we've had some guys who've had a good early season. On offense, Adams and Rodgers for sure, on you could look at ZSmith or Clark or Amos on defense.
Let's see how we do over these next four games. 3-1 or 4-0 clearly establishes us as a top team. 2-2 has us at 5-3 at the halfway point. Hell, 1-3 leaves us at 4-4 and you're damn still in the playoff hunt at the point.
So I'm pretty confident that we're going to still be in the playoff hunt at Thanksgiving unless we have a TFC (Total F******** Collapse). From that point on, if Rodgers is healthy, and he has some healthy players around him, then we should have a chance.
Leatherhead
October 01, 2019 at 10:03 am
*&^(*&*O!
JakeDickerson
October 02, 2019 at 12:35 pm
A 3-1 team
RCPackerFan
October 01, 2019 at 08:59 am
I was in the minority that liked the Pick of Scott. When he was drafted my thought was he could be a weapon as a punter. We have went through punter after Punter and now finally have one we can count on.
So far this year Scott has definitely been one of the best players. He has flipped Field position more then a few times. And he has had a couple of crucial big time kicks to help preserve the win.
When talking about 2nd year jumps Scott hasn't been mentioned a lot but he deserves to be. He has been outstanding!
Tundraboy
October 01, 2019 at 09:11 am
I don't know if I would label in the MVP but he certainly has been critical to our success. I loved the pick last year, we needed a punter.
Doug_In_Sandpoint
October 01, 2019 at 09:49 am
If he can tackle, I agree. More often than not we need at least one TD-saving play from our punter or kicker. Haven’t seen his pad level yet.
Slim11
October 01, 2019 at 10:21 am
Agreed. This is one of the reasons I liked Mason Crosby as a kicker...his ability to tackle. He's not afraid to tackle and has, at least once, forced a turnover. JK Scott needs to show he can tackle. That would improve his value even more.
Lare
October 01, 2019 at 10:21 am
Offense & defense are the glamor positions, but winning the field position battle is an often overlooked element in winning games.
Interesting that Scott said the only thing he's doing differently this season is being more relaxed. As in many sports, the less you try to kill it the farther it goes.
TarynsEyes
October 01, 2019 at 10:41 am
His excellent punting may be the answer to the Packers not making the playoffs or not winning 9+ games.
Let's see how many don't get my point.
Slim11
October 01, 2019 at 11:45 am
Agreed. The more he punts, the worse off the Packers are.
I was a punter in HS and college (one year in college) and a good season was as few punts as possible. Only had one of those seasons...
Since'61
October 01, 2019 at 03:55 pm
JK Scott has done an excellent job so far this season. If he can maintain this level of performance he could have a Ray Guy type of career.
However, if we need to have Scott punt as often as he has over the first 4 games this season it will mean that our offense has not been very effective. I’d rather have first downs and points before punts any day. Thanks, Since ‘61
PatrickGB
October 01, 2019 at 08:28 pm
I have bitched about special teams for years. This year looks better and I like that. I lamented that even a minor improvement did not seem possible. So, I am quite pleased that ,at least, the punter looks better.