Ryan gets kick out of playing at home with Riders
Longtime NFL hoofer leaving solid impression on teammates
Alexandre Gagne’s appreciation for Jon Ryan extends beyond Ryan’s role as the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ punter.
As a long snapper, Gagne has seen Ryan’s contributions on place kicks and on coverage teams.
“He’s really good and it’s not even just as a punter, but it’s as a holder too,” Gagne said in advance of Saturday’s CFL rematch at BC Place against the B.C. Lions. “You can see that he has been a pro for so long, through his technique. Everything he does, he does well.”
Gagne has also noticed that the Regina-born Ryan is among the team’s most popular players.
“Normally punters and kickers don’t get that much love,” Gagne said.
“Kickers might get more, but punters definitely don’t get as much love as Jon does. He fully deserves it after all of his years in the NFL and the CFL.”
Ryan starred for the Sheldon-williams Collegiate Spartans and University of Regina Rams before being selected in the third round (24th overall) of the 2004 CFL draft by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
He spent two seasons with Winnipeg — setting a still-standing CFL record for punting average (50.6) in 2005 — before heading to the NFL.
He punted in the NFL for 12 seasons — two with the Green Bay Packers and 10 with the Seattle Seahawks.
Ryan, who was released by the Seahawks on Aug. 20 and subsequently by the Buffalo Bills, found himself out of football last year for the first time since he was a youngster.
He eventually signed with Saskatchewan in the off-season.
Training camps open across the NFL this weekend, but Ryan’s thoughts will be on playing the Lions rather than being at an NFL camp.
“I’m happy as heck here,” the 37-year-old Ryan said. “The only thing that is a little weird is it’s the first time in 14 years that I haven’t been in an NFL camp. I’m happier here. I’m glad to be home and glad to be a Rider.”
The Riders are glad to have him, especially when it comes to covering downfield after one of Ryan’s booming punts.
“It’s a change between (Ryan’s punts) and the other punters we’ve had,” Gagne said. “It’s good because we can just run, get into our lanes and get ready for tackles. We don’t necessarily have to wait and get our blocks on us and give them the time to come back and block us.”
Ryan’s punting and net-punting averages have improved since opening the 2019 season with a gross average of 45.6 yards per punt and a net of 32.8 yards in a 23-17 loss to the host Hamilton Tiger-cats on June 13.
In Saturday’s 38-25 win over the visiting Lions, Ryan averaged 58.6 yards on five punts and had a net average of 44.6. Both averages were season highs.
Heading into Week 7, Ryan was second in the league in punting average (49.4 yards) and sixth in net (36.1 yards).
“I’m hitting the ball as well if not better than I ever did down south,” said Ryan, who averaged 44.7 yards on punts and had a net average of 38.7 yards in the NFL. “I’m pretty pumped and excited for these last 13 games.”
Ryan also showed off his throwing arm in Saturday’s second quarter, when the Riders attempted a fake field goal. Ryan, who was the holder, connected with Kienan Lafrance on a nine-yard pass that would have been a first down. However, the play was wiped out by a penalty when Lafrance was deemed an ineligible receiver.
“It worked out well, but there are some funny rules that we didn’t follow, apparently,” said Ryan, who as a Seahawk completed a touchdown pass on a fake field goal in the 2014 NFC championship game against Green Bay.
“It was a little disappointing because we executed it to a T and we’ve been practising it for a while.
“Whenever you get a chance as a punter to contribute like that, it’s something that you look forward to. I’m a little disappointed that it didn’t stick. Still, (the game) worked out pretty well for us.”
The only thing that is a little weird is it’s the first time in 14 years that I haven’t been in an NFL camp. I’m happier here. I’m glad to be home and glad to be a Rider.