Welcome your new kickers, Cleveland!

So can we say it’s a Browns thing to have a huge lead where you remove your starters then watch as your special team kickers and backup QB go down?

How many fans prayed for a Phil Dawson return? Kicking has always been a staple for our history! Can this finally derail our season?

Well, whatever we feel or think or pray for, Browns fans, meet your new kickers!

 

Riley Patterson – Place Kicker

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

The 2021 undrafted kicker from Memphis has seen time with Detroit (twice) and Jacksonville. Patterson is the 29th ranked kicker according to PFF.com. This season for the Lions, he was good on 35 of 37 extra points and 15 of 17 for 3 pointers! 

 

In his career he is 87 out of 90 on PATs and 58 on 66 attempts for FGs for an 88% success rate. His longest field goal was 53 yards set with Jacksonville last year.

 

In the playoffs for Jacksonville last year, he was perfect on his field goals and extra points.

 

I miss Riley Patterson. #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/EKpB0pL2xF

— Cheyanne (@zayjoneslover7) September 29, 2023

The concern for Riley is his ability to hit the longer field goals and the lack of kick offs being touchbacks. His senior year at Memphis started with promise as his junior year showed he was one of the elite college kickers, hitting 5 of 6 from beyond 50 yards. But he struggled his last year, going 15 for 22 and missing his five attempts from beyond the fifty mark.

 

Patterson’s NFL Start

 

Signed as an undrafted FA by Minnesota, he languished on their practice squad and was picked up by Detroit. The Lions had their share of kicker injuries and woes in 2021, finally signing Patterson to kick in the final seven games of their 3-13 year.

 

Jacksonville signed the 24 year old kicker in August before the 2022 season when cut by Detroit. Scoring 126 points for the Jaguars on the year, he was perfect in the postseason under cold days (36 degrees) and slight wind. He was traded back to the Lions in May of 2023.

 

Patterson’s inability to hit two extra points over his last three games with the Lions created the opportunity with the Browns after he was cut by Detroit last week.

 

Matt Haack – Punter

 

Just yesterday the Browns signed Matt Haack (pronounced “HAWK” not “HACK”) to take over the punting duties with an injured Corey Bojorquez out.

The 29 year old hasn’t played a down in the NFL since 2022 with the Colts. As Bubba’s punter that season, it makes sense to go with someone you are familiar with. Haack might not crank out punts the distance of Bojorquez, but his career yards per punt is 44.5 (46.8 for CB) and his net yards per punt is 39.6 (40.4).

 

His specialty is punts inside the 20 yard line with little chance for touchbacks. His average for punts inside the 20 is 37.3% (39.6%) but his touchback percent is a solid 5.8% (10.6%).

 

PFF in their 2022 rankings placed him 27th (11th) in gross yard average and 9th (15th) inside the 30. His overall grade was 62.2 (71.9).

 

CONGRATULATIONS to NFL vet, Matt Haack on signing with the @Browns! Way to go, Matt! Go do your thing! pic.twitter.com/5srInXFovY

— Paul Sheehy (@ProStarSports) December 26, 2023

 

It’s a longshot to take a punter who has not seen live action from any game this 2023 season. But why not? Everything about this season for this team has been an unpredictable longshot!

 

Haack Background

Matt Haack attended Arizona State University and was their punter all four years, sharing time with others on the roster. After a senior season that saw him finish fourth in the PAC-12 in punting, he signed a one year, free agent contract with Miami shortly after the NFL Draft.

 

Four outstanding seasons with the Dolphins landed him a three year contract with the Buffalo Bills. After his 2022 season with the cold weather NFL peer to the Browns, he lost his job in preseason and signed on with Indy.

 

Here are Haack’s career numbers with Miami, Buffalo and Indianapolis. He does have playoff experience with the Bills in 2021. (Screenshot courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com)

I’ve said this on podcasts and will continue to die on this hill: We need a season full of adversity and craziness to help bury the curse of Modell! And why not this year? 2016 saw the Cavs overcome an impossible 3-1 finals beginning to end the curse. This year has the exact same vibe!

 

So welcome, Riley and Matt. We in Cleveland LOVE our kickers! From Groza, to Cockroft, to Bahr, to Stover, to Dawson!

 

So no pressure, gentlemen. Just a Superbowl win would be nice for a playoff-starved fanbase! And in case you didn’t know, we haven’t been to one! Ever!