Plackemeier punt against Chargers longest ever for Seahawks at home

Ryan Plackemeier’s 72-yard punt against the San Diego Chargers during the Seattle Seahawks’ December 24 game at Qwest Field was the longest punt ever by a Seahawks player at home.

The 2002 Fallbrook High School graduate’s second-quarter kick was the second-longest Seahawks punt ever. In 1995 Rick Tuten executed a 73-yard punt against the Buffalo Bills in Buffalo.

“It’s one of those punts that just all of the conditions were right,” Plackemeier said.

The line of scrimmage was inside the Seahawks’ 20-yard-line and Plackemeier was punting with the wind. The ball also went over the head of the Chargers’ receiver. “The returner was playing up,” Plackemeier said.

“I got a good roll as well,” Plackemeier said. “To get a 70-plus you’ve got to have all the conditions working for you.”

Plackemeier’s longest collegiate punt went 82 yards, and he had two additional punts of at least 70 yards while at Wake Forest.

Actually, one condition was working against Plackemeier for that and the rest of his nine punts against the Chargers, specifically a wet ball. “They were all in the rain,” he said.

Plackemeier’s punts against San Diego also included kicks of 60, 56, 53, and 52 yards. His nine punts totaled 446 yards for a 49.6 yard average.

Although three of his punts went for 36, 38, and 33 yards, the Seahawks’ field position limited possible distance and Plackemeier’s desire to avoid returns or touchbacks led to the statistically unimpressive but well-placed punts. Five of Plackemeier’s punts gave the Chargers starting field position inside the 20.

Although the Seahawks lost on a Chargers touchdown with 30 seconds left to play, Plackemeier felt that it was his best game all year. On the Wednesday before the game Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren told Plackemeier that the Seahawks needed his best performance if the team was to have any chance of beating the Chargers.

“I was hoping to go do my best, and it worked out,” Plackemeier said.