NFL Draft Class: 2007 (1rst Specialist)
Position: Punter
Height 5-11
Weight 200
Birthdate 1/1/1984
Hometown Rochester, NY
High School: Pittsford Sutherland HS
College: Maryland
Signs a 10 million dollar 5 year contract with Chicago in 2011.
ADDITIONAL RELATED STORIES:
Podlesh is an Un-Typical NFL Draft Prospect - "In fact, Podlesh, a soccer player in middle school, says he began
playing football better at placekicking than punting because of the
similar kicking motion to soccer. He credits his development as a punter
to the two summers he spent in high school working with renowned coach
Paul Assad in Modesto, Calif. Assad coaches both kickers and punters,
and his previous clients include Sebastian Janikowski of the Oakland
Raiders."
Pittsford's Podlesh eagerly awaits draft day
....my punting technique was self-taught," Podlesh says. "I tried to pick up what I could by watching guys on television. Coach Assad taught me some really useful techniques that helped me both with distance and accuracy. From that point on, I began to feel that punting, not placekicking, was going to be what I would do at the next level."
Adam Podlesh, the only Jewish football player on the Maryland squad, takes pride in defying the odds for Jewish athletes.
General Area Workouts for Pro Teams: N/A
Scouting (Staff):
Paul Assad, Pro College Football Player Development and Scouting comments: Very strong player. Able to do both kick and punt. Accredits Paul Assad for teaching him to punt when he was in high school. Technique is slightly different 3 steps but first step is with his right foot backward then walks to forward and only covers 2 yards approximately. Was best player in NFL Combine Punting propelled himself ahead of Daniel Sepulveda in Draft taken as the first Specialist overall.
Career:
GAMES PLAYED/STARTED: 2007 (16/0, 2/0), 2008 (11/0)
NFL TOTALS: 27 games, 0 starts
POSTSEASON TOTALS: 2 games, 0 starts
TRANSACTIONS: Originally drafted in the fourth round (101st overall) of the 2007 draft.
Second-year punter returns from knee injury that sidelined him for final five games of the 2008 season … Possesses strong leg with solid directional kicking abilities … Has played in 27 games and has punted 100 times for 4,238 yards with 42.4-yard average (36.7 net) … Totaled 26 punts inside the 20 … Also serves as holder on placekicks … Finished rookie season ranked seventh in the AFC with a 36.9-yard net average with 14 punts downed inside the 20 and only two TBs … Played in all 16 games and both postseason games … Was first punter taken in the 2007 draft and highest drafted punter in Jaguars history … Four-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference performer who finished with 43.1 career average … First Maryland player drafted by the Jaguars ...
2008
Played in 11 games before suffering a knee injury on 11/23 vs. MIN that forced him to miss final five games … Recorded 46 punts for a 43.2-yard gross average and a 36.6-yard net average … Had 12 punts downed inside the 20 and five TBs … Added four special teams tackles … 9/7 at TEN: Had six punts for 37.0-yard average (31.2 net) with a long of 50. Had a career-high four punts inside the 20 with one touchback … 9/14 vs. BUF: Punted four times for a 50.5-yard average (36.0 net) with a long of 52 … 9/21 at IND: Had one punt for 60 yards that was downed inside the 20 … 9/28 vs. HOU: Punted two times for 46.5-yard average (35.0 net) with a long of 56. Lined up at TE on a fake punt formation that resulted in a TD … 10/5 vs. PIT: Had five punts with a 46.6-yard average (39.6 net) with a long of 55 … 10/26 vs. CLE: Had three punts for a 46.7-yard average (38.3 net) with a long of 59 … 11/2 at CIN: Finished with six punts for a 45.0-yard average (41.3 net) with two punts inside the 20. Did not convert on an onsides kick attempt in the fourth quarter … 11/16 vs. TEN: Set a franchise-record with 10 punts for 409 yards with a 40.9-yard average (39.5 net) with a long of 51 … 11/23 vs. MIN: Suffered a knee injury but did not leave the game. Was placed on injured reserve two days later ...
2007
Played in all 16 games and both postseason games at Pittsburgh and at New England … Recorded 54 punts for a 41.6-yard gross average and a 36.9-yard net average with 14 punts inside the 20 and two TBs … Had a long punt of 76 yards and did not have a punt blocked … Had five punts for a 41.6-yard net average in the postseason … 9/9 vs. TEN: In first career game punted five times for a 42.2-yard average (36.8 net) with a long of 49. Filled in on kickoff duties after pre-game injury to Josh Scobee ... 10/7 at KC: Recorded solid game with four punts for a 45.0-yard average (45.0 net) and a long of 56. Had three punts inside the 20. Had punts downed at the 3, 8, and 5-yard line. All four punts came in the second half to help preserve the lead. … 10/28 at TB: Punted eight times for a 45.5-yard average (37.3 net) with a career-long 76 yarder, the second-longest in team history and the second-longest punt of the season in the NFL … 11/11 at TEN: Punted five times for a 43.0-yard average (34.2 net) with a long of 49. Had one inside the 20 and one TB. Rushed two times for minus-two yards. Ran a fake field goal in the third quarter for no gain … 12/16 at PIT: Punted five times for a 29.0-yard average (26.6 net) with a long of 44. Had three inside the 20 ... 12/23 vs. OAK: Punted four times for a 50.3-yard average (49.8 net) with a long of 57. Had two inside the 20. … 1/5 at PIT: In the AFC Wild Card Playoff Game, punted four times for 200 yards with a 50.0-yard average (43.0 net) with a long of 54. Had one inside the 20 and one TB. 1/12 at NE: In AFC Divisional Playoff Game, punted once for 50 yards with a 36.0-yard net average.
