Reggie Hodges' New Competitor: Ken Parrish

Jets Calendario en SNY
090709_radar_randy
Randy's Radar

Reggie Hodges' New Competitor: Ken Parrish

Published: Sun, August 16, 2009 - 7:00pm ET
Randy Lange

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

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.”

  2.46/5 : Rate this Post
24 ratings submitted

Fans Respond

Here's your chance to tell Randy what you think! Add a Comment | Show All (14)

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."

Offensive Comment?

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."

Offensive Comment?

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"

Offensive Comment?