With the punter retired, and cornerback Jimmy Smith unsigned, the only player from the Ravens’ 2012 Super Bowl champion team currently on the roster is Justin Tucker.
OWINGS MILLS — The punter for the Baltimore Ravens, Sam Kochannounced his retirement Thursday, ending the longest run in franchise history.
Koch39, will remain with the team as a special teams consultant and mentor to the rookie from Penn State, Jordan Stoutwho was recruited by Baltimore in the fourth round of 2022 NFL Draft19 days ago.
A veteran of 16 seasons, Koch set a franchise record with 256 games in Baltimore27 more than any other player in the Ravens. The only active player with the longest service time with his team is the quarterback Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packersaccording to data from the Elias Sports Bureau.
It was apparent that the time Koch with the Ravens had come to an end on April 30, when Stout he became the first punter chosen in this year’s draft. Stoutwho was the only punter they considered selecting the Ravensis the highest drafted player at his position in the past three years.
With the removal of Kochlos Ravens they freed up $2.1 million of much-needed cap space that could be used to add a wide receiver or quarterback pressure specialist. Baltimore goes from having a punter with the third-highest salary-cap hit in the NFL ($3.175 million) to No. 28 ($879,459), a big deal for a club that has about $7 million in total cap space.
Kochthe 203rd player selected in the 2006 NFL Draftis one of two active players that year, along with tight end Marcedes Lewis. His impact on the game goes beyond his single selection of Pro Bowlin 2015.
Considered an innovator among specialist circles, Koch he created a variety of kicks that caused problems for returners. He had a “hook” punt, which simulated an “S” shape when landing, and a “knuckle ball” punt that was even more difficult to catch. Koch sometimes he would break his body in a way that looked like he was going to clear to the right side of the field, when in fact he was aiming to the left. There are certain college punters who refer to certain trick kicks as “Koch hooks“.
As a punter for the Ravens throughout 16 of the club’s 26 years of existence, Koch He owns just about every franchise record: total punts (1,168), gross average (45.3) and punts inside the 20-yard line (450). The 11 longest punts in the history of the Ravens have come out of the right leg of Koch.
Los Ravens have often considered Koch as his secret weapon for the many ways he helped Baltimore to win. Koch has been referred to as “the greatest setter in American football history,” according to former U.S. special teams coordinator Ravens, Jerry Rosburg. Has held the ball for three place kickers Pro Bowl: Matt Stover, Billy Cundiff y Justin Tuckerwho is the most accurate field goal scorer in the history of the NFL.
The most unusual achievement of Koch is that he is the all-time leader in passer rating for Ravens. He has completed 7 of 8 fake punt passes for 82 yards and a rating of 109.4. Peers considered Koch as one of the best athletes on the team, and he showed his agility when he scored a 7-yard touchdown on a fake field goal in 2012 against the Raiders.
Perhaps the brightest moment in the career of Koch arrived in the Super Bowl XLVII, when he suffered one of the most important safetyties. With Baltimore holding a 34-29 lead with 12 seconds left, Koch took the ovoid in the diagonals and squeezed 8 seconds before leaving the field of play, giving the San Francisco 49ers just one play to try to win the match.
With the removal of Koch and the corner Jimmy Smith unsigned, the only player from that champion team Super Bowl del 2012 for the Ravens currently in the template is Tucker.