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RYAN DONAHUE
6-2/193
Iowa Senior
PROS:
Has a good strength leg that is able to fairly consistently get good hang time. Does a nice job preventing returns. Shows the leg strength to kick his team out of danger. Works the short field well and can pin teams deep in their territory.
CONS:
Needs to be more consistent with his directional kicking and when working the short field. Will get a bit too many touchbacks in that area. Tends to line drive punts when he's trying to kick for distance, and doesn't always kick his team out of danger.
OVERVIEW:
He can play right away and be a capable rookie. He's not spectacular, but fairly consistent, although he needs some more polish. Had his best season as a senior, with a career high average of 44.6 yards per punt. Over 40% of his punts the past two seasons were placed inside the 20-yard line.
NFL FORECAST:
Donahue is a guy that can stick right away in the NFL, and while it's going to take him a few years before he can become a top punter, I do think he is likely to become that. He's probably not a guy that is going to average over 45 yards per punt on a consistent basis in the pros, but he's a guy that can get you 42-43 yards per punt and be able to pin teams deep and force a lot of fair catches.
ATL FORECAST:
Donahue would probably be a very good directional punter in time in Atlanta. As a rookie, he wouldn't be an upgrade over Koenen, but if the Falcons were to let him go this off-season, he would be an adequate replacement. His issue in Atlanta is that he has no collegiate experience as a kickoff guy, and probably would result in the team having to make a move to get a kickoff specialist or a change at the kicker spot since that has never been a strength of Matt Bryant.
VALUE:
Donahue is worth a late round pick for a team looking for a solid, all-around punter. But he would probably be a reach anywhere before the late sixth round since there is nothing special about him.
SKILLS:
1-poor, 2-weak, 3-above average, 4-very good, 5-elite
Leg Strength: 3.5
Directional Kicking: 3.0
Placement: 3.5
Kick-offs: N/A
Clutch Kicking: 3.5
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"Vincere scis, Hannibal, victoria uti nescis" -- Maharbal, 216 B.C.E.
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