By Ross Jackson
Two years in a row now, the New Orleans Saints have surprised and turned punting responsibilities over to rookie.
Per NewOrleans.Football’s Mike Triplett, the team has waived second-year punter Lou Hedley.
Hedley took over as the team’s punter last year after they surprised and moved on from then-incumbent leg Blake Gillikin. Hedley’s punting style brought much criticism and concern from the outside, but inside the facility the Saints were steadfast in their support of the Australian punter.
In 2023, Hedley’s punts yielded the ninth-lowest total in return yards around the league and he was top 10 in percentage of punts fielded within the opposing 20 yard line. However, his net punt yard average, which takes into account both punt yards and return yards, of 39.7 ranked No. 30 in the league last year.
That factor alone could have been what led to Hedley’s time coming to an end in the Big Easy. There were certainly some inconsistencies in his game with some punts going off the side of his foot, one of which was on full display Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
Now enters rookie punter Matthew Hayball. A fellow Aussie, the Vanderbilt product showed off impressive hang time and distance with a big, booming leg all camp. His 36.4 net yard per punt average just barely beat Hedley’s 35.3. But Hayball’s 50.3 yard per punt average trumped Hedley’s 43.6.
Haball’s preseason punt average would have put him just outside the top five in the NFL last year. Another year and another rookie claiming a crown in the specialists room.
