Bengals Special Teams Coach Faces Unique Challenge with Three Top Punters
In his 22nd season as the NFL’s longest-tenured kicking game coach, Bengals special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons is grappling with an unprecedented scenario: evaluating three top-tier punters in training camp.
On Sunday, punting drills at the Kettering Health Practice Fields turned into a showcase of elite talent. Incumbent punter Brad Robbins, the Bengals’ sixth-round pick from last year, was seen occasionally playing the role of personal protector while college free agents Austin McNamara and Ryan Rehkow demonstrated their skills. Both McNamara and Rehkow delivered impressive punts, with Rehkow launching a 60-yard missile towards the right sideline.
“This is a great problem to have,” Simmons said. “We have a couple of the top punters in the country from the last year all in one place. It’s a cool situation.”
This influx of punting talent is a first for Simmons, who notes that while he may have seen three punters in college spring camps, never has he encountered such a competitive field in an NFL training camp. Rehkow, who has drawn comparisons to Bengals legend Lee Johnson, and McNamara, known for his long-range capabilities from Texas Tech, were both high on the Bengals’ draft radar but ultimately signed after the draft.
Rehkow, who was previously projected as a Bengals’ seventh-round pick by The Athletic, joined the Bengals after the Chiefs released him last month. McNamara, noted for his impressive leg strength, was signed shortly after the draft.
Simmons is tasked with balancing the competition among these three talented punters. “I have to balance it out,” he said. “The two young guys will get a lot of punts this next week, and we’ll see where it goes from there.”
Rehkow’s ability to consistently deliver 60-yard punts was evident in his college career at BYU, where he achieved this feat in seven games last year. With Robbins returning to camp stronger and more consistent than his rookie season, Simmons faces the challenging yet exciting task of selecting the best punter for the Bengals.
