Seahawks Position preview: punters
Depth chart
| No. Name | Ht. | Wt. | NFL |
| 16 Tom Rouen | 6-3 | 225 | 12th year |
| “ Fourth in the NFL in net punting avg. (37.1) | |||
| 9 Donnie Jones | 6-2 | 222 | rookie |
| “ Seventh-round pick out of LSU | |||
Lowdown
Tom Rouen’s 41.2-yard punting average was one of the lowest of his lengthy NFL career, but his 2003 season was still considered a success. Why? Rouen had a career-high 29 punts inside the 20-yard line and only three touchbacks. Only New Orleans’ Mitch Berger, at 38.2, was better in net average than Rouen in the NFC. Donnie Jones, a seventh-round draft pick, has plenty of power but has lacked consistency at times. He had a 70-yard boot in a scrimmage in Portland and a school-record 86-yarder in college. He averaged 36.3 yards against Green Bay and 39 against Denver. Still, the left-footer from LSU faces a difficult chore in trying to beat out the veteran Rouen.
Fast Fact
Rouen has a 37.9-yard punting average in 13 post-season games.
Quote
“There’s good competition and they’re pushing each other hard. Our (Green Bay) game was kind of blasé I guess. We had some opportunities where we could have been better.” Mark Michaels, special teams coach.
Coming Wednesday: Return specialists