Rocca versus NY Jets, Ben Graham
Saverio Rocca threw his first official pass in NFL football. Not something that a punter, or for this play he was the holder for the kicker, is expected to do. Rocca and Dirk Johnson continued their contest to see who would win the punting job with the Eagles. The winner will be announced soon.
Rocca landed a couple of punts inside 20 yards, so that shows he didn't have a lot of the field to kick to. Ben Graham sent off 7 punts and 4 of them had the Eagles starting their drive with poor field position. Along with distance and hang-time, NFL teams also want their punter to be able to pin a team deep in their own half.
From the Eagles site:
Rocca landed a couple of punts inside 20 yards, so that shows he didn't have a lot of the field to kick to. Ben Graham sent off 7 punts and 4 of them had the Eagles starting their drive with poor field position. Along with distance and hang-time, NFL teams also want their punter to be able to pin a team deep in their own half.
4th and 9 at NYJ 28 (9:51) (Field Goal formation) S.Rocca Aborted. J.Dorenbos FUMBLES at NYJ 36, recovered by PHI-S.Rocca at NYJ 36. S.Rocca pass incomplete short right.
4th and 8 at NYJ 28 (9:59) D.Akers 46 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-J.Dorenbos, Holder-S.Rocca.
4th and 4 at NYJ 25 (1:54) D.Akers 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-J.Dorenbos, Holder-S.Rocca.
4th and 11 at NYJ 45 (10:56) S.Rocca punts 38 yards to NYJ 7, Center-J.Dorenbos, fair catch by C.Stuckey.
4th and 8 at NYJ 47 (8:08) S.Rocca punts 33 yards to NYJ 14, Center-J.Dorenbos, fair catch by C.Stuckey.
4th and 4 at PHI 27 (13:01) S.Rocca punts 44 yards to NYJ 29, Center-J.Dorenbos. C.Stuckey pushed ob at NYJ 41 for 12 yards (D.Fox).
4th and 8 at NYJ 28 (9:59) D.Akers 46 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-J.Dorenbos, Holder-S.Rocca.
4th and 4 at NYJ 25 (1:54) D.Akers 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-J.Dorenbos, Holder-S.Rocca.
4th and 11 at NYJ 45 (10:56) S.Rocca punts 38 yards to NYJ 7, Center-J.Dorenbos, fair catch by C.Stuckey.
4th and 8 at NYJ 47 (8:08) S.Rocca punts 33 yards to NYJ 14, Center-J.Dorenbos, fair catch by C.Stuckey.
4th and 4 at PHI 27 (13:01) S.Rocca punts 44 yards to NYJ 29, Center-J.Dorenbos. C.Stuckey pushed ob at NYJ 41 for 12 yards (D.Fox).
Philadelphia Passing
C/ATT YDS AVG TD INT
K. Kolb 22/33 220 6.7 1 0
A. Feeley 6/9 79 8.8 0 0
S. Rocca 0/1 0 0.0 0 0
Team 28/43 261 6.1 1 0
Philadelphia Punting
TOT YDS AVG TB -20 LG
S. Rocca 3 115 38.3 0 2 44
D. Johnson 2 99 49.5 0 0 57
Team 5 214 42.8 0 2 57
C/ATT YDS AVG TD INT
K. Kolb 22/33 220 6.7 1 0
A. Feeley 6/9 79 8.8 0 0
S. Rocca 0/1 0 0.0 0 0
Team 28/43 261 6.1 1 0
Philadelphia Punting
TOT YDS AVG TB -20 LG
S. Rocca 3 115 38.3 0 2 44
Team 5 214 42.8 0 2 57
New York Punting
TOT YDS AVG TB -20 LG
B. Graham 7 319 45.6 0 4 61
Team 7 319 45.6 0 4 61
TOT YDS AVG TB -20 LG
B. Graham 7 319 45.6 0 4 61
Team 7 319 45.6 0 4 61
From the Eagles site:
Sav Rocca botched a snap that resulted in a David Akers missed field goal on Thursday. Earlier, he failed to handle a Jon Dorenbos snap -- the second low snap from Dorenbos this preseason -- and while Rocca punted OK, not great -- he had two kicks inside the 20-yard line and averaged 38.3 yards gross -- you wonder how the decision is going to fall. Dirk Johnson averaged 49.5 yards per punt on Thursday, but only 27 yards in the net punting department. Tough call here. Rocca or Johnson? Upside vs. knowing what you have?
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It was also a battle, although they were never on the field at the same time, of a former AFL full forward and full back. Rocca used to kick goals, Ben Graham used to try to stop him when their Australian Football League teams played.