month."WhitePatriots News Opinion and Analysis Contribute! FanPostsFanShotsAbout the Site List of Patriots Twitter AccountsWrite For Pats Pulpit!New User Welcome and Commenting GuideCommunity GuidelinesMastheadTopics Patriots Off-Season CoveragePatriots Opinion/AnalysisPatriots NewsPatriots Draft CoverageSportfolio ManagementNFL DraftPatriots Opinion/AnalysisPatriots 2019 NFL Draft CoveragePatriots rookie punter Jake Bailey ‘would love to be able’ to keep working on kickoffsNew Womens Joejuan Williams Jersey ,8commentsRelated: 4 reasons why the Patriots drafted Stanford P Jake BaileyEDTShareTweetShareSharePatriots rookie punter Jake Bailey ‘would love to be able’ to keep working on kickoffsStan Szeto-USA TODAY SportsWhen the New England Patriots traded up in the fifth round of last month’s draft to select Jake Bailey 163rd overall, they didn’t just add another punter to their team — they added a versatile player capable of helping out on more than just one special teams unit. After all, Bailey also served as a kickoff specialist at Stanford. Whether or not he will get a chance to do the same in the NFL remains to be seen, but the rookie certainly seems to be open for it.“I would love to be able to do that,” he told reporters shortly after he heard his name called on the third day of the draft. “It’s been a part of my game ever since I’ve been at Stanford. It’s something I would like to continue. A lot of NFL teams really value a punter that can also kickoff because it kind of helps out the kicker if he’s getting old or something or doesn’t have a strong kickoff leg, so whatever happens, I’ll be super happy with it.”Bailey hits the nail on the head in his answer: having someone else — someone like himself — work on kickoffs could lift some pressure off a place kicker. In the Patriots’ case, this is Stephen Gostkowski, who might very well benefit from seeing his responsibilities scaled back a bit. While Gostkowski is still a solid kicker, the recently re-signed veteran has had his fair shares of ups and downs over the last few seasons.In 2018, for example Authentic Joejuan Williams Jersey , Gostkowski made 98.3% of his extra points but ‘only’ 84.2% of all his field goal attempts. Could having another man do kickoffs help improve those numbers, particularly the latter? There’s no risk in trying, especially considering that Bailey has considerable experience kicking off: in his four collegiate seasons, the neo-Patriot did it a combined 291 times; 173 of his kickoffs ended in touchbacks, with 12 others going out of bounds.Bailey improved each year in his dual role as punter and kickoff specialist, which led to him being drafted by the Patriots. In New England, however, the 21-year-old will not be guaranteed a roster spot despite the team moving up the board to grab him. Instead, the former Cardinal will have to go up against incumbent Ryan Allen, who was re-signed to a one-year deal in free agency after a tremendous performance during the Patriots’ 13-3 victory in Super Bowl 53.“I know he’s an awesome punter. I don’t know much about him, but I have a lot of respect for any NFL punter there is. I’m just excited to get to learn from him and get out there and compete Joejuan Williams Jersey Boys ,” said Bailey about his new teammate and rival. The competition mentioned could become a rather interesting one: Allen, the multi-year veteran and three-time world champion, going against a rookie challenger whose biggest attribute is the aforementioned versatility.His versatile skill set did not develop by accident. “I actually got started as a placekicker,” said Bailey when asked about his background and experience in the kicking game — and the versatility he brings to the Patriots’ table. “I didn’t kick or punt at all my freshman year of high school. Starting my sophomore year, there was an opening at the JV spot, so I started being a kicker there because I used to play soccer a lot when I was a kid.”“I ended up having a little bit of talent for it [...] and then senior year of high school I began punting. I really learned the ropes of punting — the in’s and out’s — from my Stanford special teams coordinator, coach Pete Alamar. I credit a lot, all of my development as a punter, to him,” continued the rookie, who is now looking at taking the next step in this journey over the course of the summer: making an NFL roster.When it comes to Bailey Youth Irving Fryar Jerseys , this situation was in the making for quite some time now. “I’ve wanted to be an NFL punter for a really long time,” he said. “This has been what I’ve been working for for the past four years in college and a few years before that in high school, too. This has been my eventual goal for the last ten years, I guess, of my life. I’m really excited to kind of get into the building and figure out what the Patriots are all about.” Rookie Jake Bailey has had some very impressive punts in training camp." NFL training campPatriots AnalysisPatriots Training Camp CoverageThe competition for punter is heating up in FoxboroNew,9commentsRookie Jake Bailey has had some very impressive punts in training camp.EDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:The competition for punter is heating up in FoxboroTwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailPhoto by Scott Cunningham/Getty ImagesI know it’s not the sexiest position, but there is a competition brewing at the punter spot in camp this week. Ryan Allen had a legitimate case for Super Bowl MVP in Super Bowl 53. Allen punted five times, averaging 43 yards per punt, pinned the Rams inside the 10-yard line three times, allowed a total of 12 punt return yards in the game. The biggest thing you can say about Allen is that he has been incredibly consistent since taking Zoltan Mesko’s job as punter in 2013. His contract, however Irving Fryar Jerseys Stitched , runs out at the end of the season, and the Patriots drafted Jake Bailey out of Stanford in the fifth round for a reason. That reason has been on display the first three days of camp. Bailey has routinely had punts with 5+ seconds of hang time, and had also had some over 6 seconds. The problem is that he has also had some punts that didn’t look very good. Bailey’s biggest issue in college was his consistency, and that is something the Patriots never have to worry about with Allen. There’s also the ability to pin their opponents deep in their end. In college, Bailey’s punts made the opponent start inside the 20 just over 35% of the time, while Allen has done it at just over 34% since coming into the league. The biggest issue is ball placement, almost 16% of Bailey’s punts ended in a touchback, while just under 6% of Allen’s punts the last four seasons have ended in a touchback. Ultimately, I think it’s going to be hard to replace Allen, but it doesn’t hurt to have someone in camp to push him, and possibly replace him if he wants too much money next season. Remember Infant Yodny Cajuste Jersey , the Patriots brought in Corey Bojorquez last year, wouldn’t even let him kick, because they didn’t want anyone to see what he could do. They tried to cut him and sneak him onto the practice squad, but he was picked up off waivers by the Bills, so I doubt the Patriots can get Bailey to the practice squad.Don’t be surprised if Bailey hurts his leg right after the fourth preseason and has to spend the season on IR. That way, the Patriots can make this decision next season. Pat is a host of The Patriot Nation Podcast Interact with him on Twitter @plane_pats