COSTA MESA — JK Scott was heading into his senior season at the University of Alabama when he sat down with special teams coordinator Joe Pannunzio to discuss punting. Scott was already an excellent punter, having been named a finalist for the Ray Guy Award as a freshman.
But, as Scott would learn, there was more to simply punting the ball as far as he could. There were subtle aspects of punting that Pannunzio instilled during Scott’s final collegiate career. Scott took the advice and ran with it, becoming the Green Bay Packers’ fifth-round draft pick in 2018.
After three seasons with the Packers and one with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Scott signed with the Chargers as a free agent March 21. He joined forces with new Chargers special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken and the results have been winning since Week 1 in September.
Scott was named the AFC’s special teams player of the week after booting four punts inside the Arizona Cardinals’ 20-yard line during the Chargers’ 25-24 victory on Sunday. Overall, his 41.5-yard net average is the third-best in the AFC this season (minimum of 45 punts).
For a team that coveted consistency and competency in its special teams play after some rocky seasons, the Chargers can accurately call Scott a weapon. His ability to pin opponents deep has paid off on a weekly basis, but never more so than during the fourth quarter of their victory over the Cardinals.
The last of Scott’s six punts in the game traveled only 38 yards, but it pinned the Cardinals at their own 10-yard line with 2:19 remaining. The Chargers stuffed the Cardinals and forced them to punt out of their own end zone, setting up what proved to be the game-winning drive.
“From the beginning of the year, that’s been our goal,” Scott said of pinning the opposition deep in its own territory. “Really, I feel my strength is hitting the high ball, so we just play to our strengths. Hit high balls and give our guys a chance to get down there and let our coverage team take care of the rest.”
In many ways, it all goes back to Alabama, where he would play on national championship teams in 2015 and ’17, earn first-team all-Southeastern Conference honors in 2014, ’15 and ’17 and be named a finalist for the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top punter in 2014 and ’17.
“In my senior year of college, I made a transition,” Scott said. “I used to hit the ball a lot farther and drive it more. It was Joe Pannunzio, my old coach at Alabama, he was the one who encouraged me because I felt like I could hit a high ball really well. So, he had a big role in encouraging me to focus on that and run with it.
“I made that transition going into my senior year at Alabama and then that’s how I’ve been playing it since.”
No question, the Chargers have benefitted from Scott’s ability to hang the ball in the air long enough for his teammates to cover it and keep the opposition from gaining better field position. Chargers coach Brandon Staley doesn’t feel compelled to go for it on fourth-and-short as a first option, for one thing.
“I think he has just changed the way our special teams has operated just in terms of the confidence that you have in field position,” Staley said. “You understand the hidden yardage that is available to you when you can punt the football like we have and how that affects scoring.”
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DERWIN JAMES HONORED
Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. was named the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Month for November, after he had two sacks, forced two fumbles and had an interception. Overall, he leads all defensive backs in the NFL with 100 tackles going into Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
INJURY UPDATES
James (hip) and fellow safety Bryce Callahan (groin) were back on the field for the portion of practice open to reporters Thursday. Neither participated in practice Wednesday. … Center Corey Linsley (concussion) and right tackle Trey Pipkins III (knee) sat out Thursday’s practice. … Wide receiver Mike Williams (ankle) took part in the stretching portion of practice, then worked with an athletic trainer on the sideline rather than joining his teammates on the field.