Based on recommendations from former PB punter Chris Kluwe PFF adjusted their ratings system for punters. Part of that change includes breaking punts into two categories, open field punts and coffin punts. Open field punts are punts kicked between your own 1 line and your own 40 yard line. The goal of these punts is to flip the field by kicking it far and deep. Coffin punts are kicked from your own 41 yard line and beyond with the objective of pinning the opponent inside their own 20. This requires the punt not go into the end zone, preferably going out of bounds as close to the 1 yard line as possible to prevent the chance of a big return. This first analysis of punts from 2013 was for open field punts, and as I stated earlier Nortman came out #1.

Brad Nortman 52.6

Shane Lechler 51.6

Thomas Morstead 50.3

Andy Lee 50.3

Sam Martin 50.0

NFL AVG 48.1

I assume at some point in the near future PFF will publish their 'coffin' punt analysis and I expect Nortman to rank pretty high on that one too. He was actually drafted more for his ability to directional punt than punt for distance but that part of his game has really taken off. I look forward to the next part of the analysis.

So might this be the year Brad Nortman garners national attention for his punting prowess? If he has another year in 2014 like he did in 2013 he might find himself in the Pro Bowl.