Pat McAfee and Vontae Davis Named in PFF’s Top 101
Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee and cornerback Vontae Davis were also named in PFF’s Top 101 along with starting quarterback Andrew Luck at #101 and #93 respectively:
"101. Pat McAfee, P, ColtsTo quote Rich Eisen, “Punters are people too,” and while my well-meaning but draconian colleagues may never allow one to make the seasonal PFF Top 101 list, there is no doubt that Pat McAfee deserves his place on this list of the 101 best players in the league. He has been either first or second in our punter grading over the last two seasons, which takes into account ball location, hang time, distance and where on the field the punts are taking place, and when you add in the fact that he may also be the league’s best kick-off specialist, it really is a no brainer. Specialists don’t get the opportunity to affect as many plays as almost all other positions, but they can’t be dismissed as inconsequential, and McAfee is an impact player for the Colts in terms of consistently changing the field-position battle and tilting things in favor of his team when he gets the opportunity. He may not put points on the board, but he makes life easier for those who do.93. Vontae Davis, CB, ColtsBefore the 2015 season, Vontae Davis had seen his career only moving in one direction. He had improved year on year, culminating in a 2014 season that was among the best we have ever seen for a cornerback since we began grading games in 2007. This past season was something of a letdown by comparison, and while he was still good, he jut wasn’t near that same dominant force. He allowed seven touchdowns this season alone, having not allowed any the year before, and looked like a far more fragile defender than he had in the past. The question for this list is which Vontae Davis are we going to get in 2016 and beyond, and I suspect it’s likely to be closer to the 2015 version than the 2014 one."
While punters are often overlooked, it’s hard to underestimate McAfee’s impact for the Colts.
The 29 year old punter has been a 2x 1st-Team All-Pro with the Colts, and despite being snubbed from the Pro Bowl last season, remains one of the best punters in the league.
In a league where each yard is significant, McAfee can be a true difference-maker in the battle for starting field position.
McAfee averaged 47.7 yards per punt last season which ranked 2nd best in the NFL. Not to mention, his net average of 41.7 yards per punt was the 5th best respectively.
He was also 3rd in the NFL with 67 touchbacks last season. Specifically, he averaged a touchback on 87% of his kickoffs, which was the highest percentage in the NFL.
It’s worth noting that McAfee also has holding duties for legendary kicker Adam Vinatieri, so he’s truly a jack-of-all-trades as it relates to the Colts special teams success.
Simply put, he’s an invaluable member of the team–punter or not.
Meanwhile, Davis endured a disappointing season for his high expectations coming off such a breakout campaign just a season prior. One in which he was a lockdown cornerback for the Colts.
Still, the 28 year old cornerback suffered through a number of injuries in 2015 including one that required offseason foot surgery. He may have been more banged up than both he and the Colts really let on.
However, he’s still among one of the better cornerbacks in the league, having made all 16 starts for the Colts this past season and earning a consecutive Pro Bowl appearance.
That being said, the Colts will be hoping that a fully healthy Davis can regain his prior form and not just be a good cornerback for their defense, but a great one again.