Houston Texans: Is Shane Lechler A Hall Of Famer?

As the Houston Texans meander into their bye week for Week 9, there are a lot of things to reflect on as far as how the season has gone.

It may not have been perfect but considering the challenges that this team has gone through over the past eight games, the fact that this team is 5-3 is nothing short of amazing.

With a slew of injuries — including the season-ending one to J.J. Watt — along with a stagnant offense and miffs of special teams at times, it’s remarkable that this team still has risen above the murkiness of the AFC South picture.

But as each game passes, this team learns something and they get better and better.

They’re not there in terms of being able to beat the elite talents but the object is use those losses as learning experiences for the future.

Brock Osweiler hasn’t played particularly all that well but after his performance against the Detroit Lions, it has become apparent that he’s on the up-and-up.

I’ll certainly raise my hand and declare myself guilty for already getting the pitchfork out him and start to pine for third-season backup quarterback Tom Savage to get the start.

More from House of Houston

In a league that expects quick results and has the mantra of “what have you done for lately,” he hasn’t done much to impress as of late.

But I think that over time, he has that ability and his ability to start trending upward may have begun.

He should have field day next Sunday on the road against the floundering Jacksonville Jaguars so we’ll definitely have to see.

But enough about the offense.

Let’s talk about one of our most shining stars on this team and he has continued to illuminate year-after-year.

Who am I talking about?

Shane Lechler.

The man has been a stud for all of his career; and quite frankly, it’s definitely a luxury to have him on board donning Deep Steel Blue.

Lechler was just recognized as the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in light of his outstanding performance against the Lions.

Lecher averaged 50.8 yards per punt, including his longest punt of 59 yards.

Out of all of his punts, three of them where inside the 20-yard line which is certainly something you want to see out of a gifted punter in Lechler.

Through eight games, he has 38 punts for 1,840 yards with a 48.4-yard per punt average.

His longest on the season has been 62 yards.

That 48.4-yard per punt average is good enough for 7th in the league trailing new generation standouts in Pat McAfee (50.3 — 2nd) and Sam Martin (49.3 — 4th).

At age 40, those are some damn good numbers to boast of.

So is Lechler, who has been in the league for 17 years — including four with Houston Texans — a Hall of Famer?

In essence, absolutely.

In my opinion, he’ll be the next punter to be inducted after his predecessor, Ray Guy.

It may not be first-ballot but this guy is going to get in there eventually.

So let’s compare the numbers.

Next: Is A.J. Bouye The Best Cornerback In The NFL?

In Guy’s 13-year career with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, he has had 1,049 punts for 44,493 yards with a 42.4-yard per punt average.

His longest punt was 77 yards.

As far as Lechler, he currently has 1,318 punts for 62,586 yards for a 47.5-yard per punt average.

His longest punt has been an 80-yarder so far.

His body of work has been compelling and he still continues to produce incredible results despite his age.

He has a strong case to get a gold jacket and it’ll be interesting to see if he does get to the point once he decides to hang up his jersey for the last time.

It’d be a excellent culmination to a dedicated and storied career.

We’ll have to see but he’s already got my vote.

Go Houston Texans.

Home/Houston Texans