Reggie Hodges' New Competitor: Ken Parrish
Published: Sun, August 16, 2009 - 7:00pm ET
By Randy Lange
Lange is editor-in-chief of newyorkjets.com. He covered the Jets for 13 years for The Record of Hackensack, N.J.
File Under: Mike Westhoff, Wallace Wright, Rex Ryan, Reggie Hodges, T.J. Conley, Ken Parrish
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08/16 — The Jets’ punting game took a new twist at this afternoon’s special teams workout. No. 5 was on the Cortland Stadium turf loosening up, and that was still Reggie Hodges.
No. 9 was also running and stretching, but the man wearing the number was no longer T.J. Conley. It was Ken Parrish, the free agent punter who was signed by the Jets after passing his morning tryout with special teams coaches Mike Westhoff, Kevin O’Dea and Ben Kotwica.
Parrish, who was signed by the 49ers in 2007 and the Eagles this off-season but never made it to an NFL regular season, will get the chance to beat out Hodges and fill a very important position in head coach Rex Ryan’s scheme of things.
Today’s practice, in fact, was mostly a punting session, and both footmen took turns with fine boomers and a few so-so kicks.
Hodges’ punts were a little shorter but had some good hang times — Leon Washington fielded a 4.9-second hanger and slipped as he tried to take off upfield.
Parrish put up about five 50-plus-yarders in a row before finishing with a 37-yarder (off a high snap) and a 38-yarder.
Both kickers hit one punt each with the line of scrimmage in plus territory and both nailed inside-the-15 balls — Parrish’s kick was fair-caught at the 11, Hodges’ downed at the 5 by Wallace Wright.
Sorry, folks, we can’t give you a leader in the clubhouse, but the good news is that a new competition will continue. As Ryan declared, “We’re gonna find a punter.”
Fans Respond
Here's your chance to tell Randy what you think! Add a Comment | Hide All Show All (14)Jets Fan Tom Since '64 Said:
Sun, August 16, 2009 - 9:21pm ET"Randy, I know you can't speculate on this, but was there any explanation from anyone for letting Conley go? Was it just the 27-yard punt that did him in? (Like it might have been the fumbled punt that did Raymond in?) My friend has the leading college football website and says Conley's stats in college were deceiving because anyone can kick in Idaho's indoor stadium. Got insights on any of this?"
Randy Lange Said:
"Tom, I have no insight into T.J. Conley's release other than what Rex Ryan said today about wanting to see NFL punting, which I read as consistency in his punter. As for Conley's college stats, your friend may be right but a stat that amazed me was that Conley's gross was the best average in all NCAA divisions plus NAIA Division I over the past four seasons. Conley had more going for him than just the Kibbie Dome."
Jets22 Said:
Sun, August 16, 2009 - 9:24pm ET"I see Hodges sending this Kid home. He doesn't have any game experience really. Know Ryan wants a punter who can draw back the leg on Sundays. Hodges has shown he can do that. Now he will show Ryan he has the Consistanly to become an asset. I think."
MIKE Said:
Sun, August 16, 2009 - 10:16pm ET"Love seeing Sanchez playing so well in the opener, but I can't help but feel so frustrated by Gholston. He is not a scary edge rusher. Teams will not fear him. I not sure what his role will be on this team. If I were Rex I would sign Willie McGinest cause Vernon isn't doing anything out there accept getting in the way of guys like Marques Murrell and Brian Thomas. Biggest bust franchise history."
Gus Said:
Mon, August 17, 2009 - 4:15am ET"This is the one position in the NFL that should have 100s being able to do this job. Coming from a rugby/soccer/football background, there are tons of guys that can boom punts, surely some of the Pros in the other sports like gaelic football, rugby, yes Aussie rules would want to earn big bucks for something they can already do? Once the cadences have been learnt, it should be easy enough."
Ira Said:
Mon, August 17, 2009 - 7:02am ET"If Hodges or Parrish have a bad week they can always resign Conley. I don't think we have seen the last of Conley yet. With all that said i will go back to my original thoughts before camp. Kapinos and Brooks are fighting it out in GB. I can see either one being brought in for a workout. Maybe they just should've kept Graham."
Ira Said:
Mon, August 17, 2009 - 8:12am ET"With VG getting reps with the 1st unit yesterday in camp i expect to see more of him early on vs the Ravens. Lets see how that works and if he can make some plays. If not then they must give some reps to others."
Randy Lange Said:
"mike, Rex Ryan liked Slauson's work with the second offensive line in the preseason game vs. the Rams."
Ira Said:
Mon, August 17, 2009 - 8:59am ET"Gus, The art of punting is not just booming the ball as far as you can kick it. I am no coach but i look at punting like playing golf. Distance at times, direction and positioning are more important than kicking it as far as you can. And that is not even factoring in hangtime which most college kickers don't have right away. Seems easy to find a punter but they just don't fall out of trees."
Gus Said:
Mon, August 17, 2009 - 11:02am ET"(Ira, with the ltd amount of space to write in here, its hard to get over.) I've played semi-pro football and rugby and we had guys that could easily do what you just wrote, hangtime, distance and precision. With all the different sports disciplines that use this shaped ball, I can't believe that 32 teams scrape by to find this kind of talent. Watch the EPL and goal keepers ;)"
Ray Said:
Mon, August 17, 2009 - 12:27pm ET"Everybody looks at punting and thinks it is easy and so everyone should have a good punter. Gus you think they don't look in those places? Ira I think even Westhoff hated Graham so bring him back? Mike if you think VG was the biggest bust we've ever drafted you haven't been around long enough. Ellis out game 1, our D will be tested in Houston."
Larry Said:
Mon, August 17, 2009 - 12:47pm ET"Very glad to see Rex addressing this so passionately. We always talk about the QB's, Backs, & Receivers. Long time fans can remember how many times over the years sub-par kicking has put us in difficult positions, and many times lost us games. I could never understand why we could never acquire a real go to kicking squad for any amount of time."
Anthony Said:
Mon, August 17, 2009 - 12:50pm ET"I think Hodges is a pretty good punter. I liked how he punted for us down the stretch last year."
Row Said:
Mon, August 17, 2009 - 2:12pm ET"VG needs to start and play the whole game. It's time to see what he has, you get paid to play. Make him play until he does it right. Just lost Ellis game one, this D is starting to have a lot of holes. Can't let another big run happen vs McGahee, he's a stud along with Rice. Pass blocking needs to improve. Where was the safety play everyone was ranting about? Go Jets"
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Ira Said:
Sun, August 16, 2009 - 7:57pm ET"Randy, I couldn't agree with you more about the punting position. I felt that way since Rex was hired and thoguth that was one of the most important spots that needed to be filled. One of the worst moves ever made by a Jets HC was Coslet cutting Hentrich an 8th rd pick out of Notre Dame. He is still punting with the Titans after 4 yrs with the Packers. The Jets have had 14 or more punters since 93"
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