Bears Punter Tory Taylor is a Bad Dude

Bears punter Tory Taylor is a bad dude. Does anybody still believe GM Ryan Poles should have selected an offensive lineman in the 4th round instead of choosing the Australian punter with the booming right leg? The former Iowa Hawkeye was a huge asset in Sunday’s win against the Rams. He punted five times for an average of 55.4 yards per punt and finished with four punts of 50-plus yards and three of 60-plus yards. Taylor also pinned three inside the 10-yard line at Soldier Field. Another was fielded at the 9-yard line. The rookie effectively won the field position battle for the Bears.

The organization is both proud of Taylor and excited for him, as evidenced by the hype video they recently dropped.

Did we make a punter hype video?

Absolutely ? pic.twitter.com/ivHx9nOHAT

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 1, 2024

The Bears selected Taylor specifically for his unique ability to consistently flip the field. Los Angeles was frustrated all game by the play of Chicago’s special teams. The Rams started – on average – at their own 13-yard line after Taylor’s punts.

“I didn’t expect him to get much further,” Poles said on draft day. “Definitely didn’t think I’d be able to pick him up when we got into the 5th round. And, really, the thought process there is to make anyone we’re playing really uncomfortable. I didn’t play much in the NFL. But I know running onto the field and having the ball spotted inside the 10-yard line is a very uncomfortable feeling. It’s disheartening at times. I love taking advantage of field position. And, really, that should help us with points, as well.”

No general manager should ever be questioned for getting a guaranteed starter that late in the draft, let alone a veritable weapon. Poles was so high on Taylor that incumbent punter Trenton Gill was cut almost immediately after. No tryout needed, I suppose. And that’s after Tayor was given an International Player Pathway roster exemption as a foreign-born player. Gill is playing for the Buccaneers this season.

• Taylor’s longest punt of the afternoon came in the 4th quarter when he sailed a 66-yard kick from the Bears’ 26-yard line to the Rams’ 8-yard line.
• The rookie followed that up with a beautifully pinned punt that landed inside the 10-yard line, which helped seal the win for Chicago. It didn’t have the distance of his other kicks but it lengthened the field and improved the Bears’s chances of winning from 75.7% to 82.7%.
• Taylor was averaging 60.5 yards per punt before that kick, which would have broken a Bears record dating to at least 1960.
• Taylor also hit two other punts of 60+ yards. His second punt sailed 64 yards to the Los Angeles 9-yard line, though Chicago gave back 17 yards on the return. His third count of the afternoon traveled 61 yards, resulting in a touchback.
• In all, Taylor placed three punts inside the 20-yard line with one touchback. Chicago’s special teams and defense proved to be the difference between winning and losing. Taylor will earn recognition as a potential Defensive Player of the Year if he continues to be a difference-maker.

Tory Taylor is hyped after his incredible 66-yard punt! ?

?: #LARvsCHI on FOX
?: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/atY1V2zCpr

— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2024

Taylor and kicker Cairo Santos use Trackman technology to measure their punts and kicks during practice at Halas Hall. You’re probably familiar with the software if you’ve previously played simulated golf. The data collected is invaluable. Taylor uses Trackman to measure ball speed off his foot and then the launch angle of his punts. With ball speed, Taylor said he’s searching for a consistent number.

“For example, I might have a ball speed, let’s say 65 (mph), which is good,” Taylor told Adam L. Johns of The Athletic ($). “And then my next punt is like a ball speed of like 73. You’d think there’s more power and velocity into the ball. But I might be striking the ball too early, so therefore, the launch angle might be low, you know what I mean?

“It’s just trying to kind of match up the two and have them in a similar range, so it’s more consistent. Because at the end of the day, it’s not really about how good your good ball is. It’s like how good is your bad ball?”

Taylor is, in fact, the weapon Poles envisioned when he drafted him. Good on ya, kid!