Jamie Gillan, also known as ‘The Scottish Hammer’ has nailed down his first honor as the rookie punter for the Cleveland Browns.
Gillan takes home the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. That is quite an honor for a guy with only two games of regular season NFL game experience under his belt.
“I think he is doing a good job,” head coach Freddie Kitchens said. “He had five balls inside the 20 the other day, which is a great starting point for our defense but what it also does is if we go out and make a stop, it gives us great starting position offensively. Special teams understands how important they are to our success, and Jamie certainly understands that. He has been doing a great job.”
It is the five punts that were downed inside the 20-yard line that wrapped up the honor for Gillan. The undrafted rookie out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff beat out a former Pro Bowl punter in Britton Colquitt to win the job. So far Gillan is making Kitchens, general manager John Dorsey and special teams coach Mike Preifer look like geniuses for going with him.
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“It is an honor to get that accolade” Gillan said. “It was not just me. We are a punting unit. (LS) Charley (Hughlett) had a fantastic day snapping. I did not have to turn the laces once on field goals. That was awesome. Austin kicked great, as well. Our gunners went down the field and caused some fair catches, as well. So they are getting open and doing their job. The protection is great because they are not coming through and blocking the punts. It was all a team effort, and it was really awesome to go out there.”
This is the Browns’ first Special Teams Player of the Week Award since Denzel Ward won for Week five in 2018. Gillan is the first Browns’ punter to win the award since Spencer Lanning won for Week three in 2013.
Scott Piker is the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Indians Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage.com. So follow him on twitter @ScottPikerSport