PHILADELPHIA — Technically paid for the past three NFL seasons to propel a football far away from where he was standing, new Eagles punter Braden Mann knows the truer depth of his work duties.
At times – and in particular for Nick Sirianni’s team – his greatest task will be to hold onto that ball as firmly and diligently as possible.
“I take holding just as seriously as I take punting,” Mann said. “It’s extremely important.”
No secret that the Eagles had been shopping for a better punter after Arryn Siposs flopped in the Super Bowl, Mann became their choice this week when he was signed to the practice squad. By Monday night, when the Eagles visit Tampa Bay for a 7:15 match, he will be active and expected to do what he had done well enough to be a consensus All-American at Texas A&M and later in three professional seasons with the New York Jets: Punt.
But on a team that has come to expect only precision from its field goal and PAT forces, he will be charged to flawlessly accept Rick Lovato’s long snaps, spin the ball to the preferred angle of Jake Elliott depending on the weather and other factors, hold on tight and help that way to win games.
“At the end of the day that’s what leads to points,” he said. “Holding leads to field goals that lead to points. And that’s how you win games.”
It’s one way, at least. And it is why Mann was in Tennessee last summer with a flock of NFL punters, kickers, holders and long-snappers, all helping each other in skill development. Among his workout partners was Elliott, with every report revealing that the two had an immediate comfort level.
“I take a lot of pride in my holding and in trying to be as precise and as good as I can be at it,” Mann said. “So I am always trying to over-communicate with Jake. I want to know what he wants for me and I try to get that all done.
“Guys like the holding done certain ways. But at the end of the day, there’s not a whole lot of adjustments that have to be made for each guy.”
Mann won the Ray Guy Award as the top punter in college football, then averaged 45.4 yards per punt in his time with the Jets. Punters rarely enjoying job security, he eventually was pushed back into auditioning. The Steelers took a look but went elsewhere. But the Eagles selected him to replace Siposs, who was averaging 43.4 yards through two games, even though he was known as a vital roster piece for his holding alone.
“With Braden, obviously he’s done it before,” said Eagles special teams coordinator Michael Clay. “It’s pretty cool that in the offseason Jake has worked with Braden at times, or they just worked out together. So he’s very familiar with him.
“But outside of just the holder, it’s always nice knowing that Rick and Jake will be able to do it. It all starts with Rick. If Rick is throwing a pearl back there every time, it makes the holder’s and kicker’s job a lot easier. He is the catalyst for the operation. So as long as Rick stays who Rick is and be on point, it should be pretty seamless.”
Lovato does not anticipate a problem.
“Braden has been great, on and off the field, and as a person too,” the long-snapper said after practice Friday. “It has been great to get to know him and I have all the trust in him in the world. Now it’s up to us to get the job done to help Jake.”
As accustomed the Eagles have become to field-goal and PAT precision, that is close to mandatory.
“In the offseason, when the kickers and punters get together, I have held for Jake a few times,” Mann said. “He’s always been nails. So it has been pretty easy to hold for him. He doesn’t do anything super difficult. So it has been good fun to hold for him.”
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Offensive coordinator Brian Johnson let it slip earlier in the week that opposing defenses are challenging Jalen Hurts with new looks that had yet to show on tape. As Hurts sees it, that will benefit the Eagles later.
“We are all sponges,” Hurts said. “I am definitely a sponge, soaking up everything I see. If you get me once, the plan is that you won’t get me again.”
Hurts is prepared for more of the same treatment – but only for a while.
“You just let it come to you,” he said. “And you have to communicate what they are trying to do. But there will come a point where there are no more new looks.”
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Though limited in practice Friday, Boston Scott has recovered from a concussion and plans to play Monday. “I’m doing good,” he said. “I was just glad to be back out there with the team again. To be back out there with the running backs is a blessing.”
Also limited Friday were Zach Cunningham (ribs), Jordan Davis (ankle), DeVonta Smith (hamstring, thigh), Jack Stoll (ankle) and Josh Sweat (toe). Terrell Edmunds (illness) and Quez Watkins did not practice.
Source: Berkshire mont