Written by Paul Gutierrez at ESPN.com
Instincts, according to Marquette King, are what took over.
Well, that and knowledge of the game and situation along with his speed and athleticism. Yeah, and the element of surprise, too.
How else would you explain how the Oakland Raiders’ punter was able to turn near disaster into a near game-sealing 27-yard sprint?
“Shoot,” he said, “I’m still trying to process it right now.”
Let’s help him out.
The Raiders were holding a 10-point lead with 3:42 to play Sunday at theJacksonville Jaguars when they faced a 4th-and-24 from their own 38-yard line. With King back to punt, the snap from Jon Condo came in uncharacteristically low and bounced off the grass.
For an instant, it appeared as though the Jags, who were having some success offensively in the second half when they went hurry-up, would get the ball deep in Raiders territory and put the squeeze on Oakland.
King deftly handled the grounder and — as he went to punt it away — saw a Jaguars player closing in from his right. A blocked punt would just as surely get Jacksonville into scoring position if not result in a TD on its own.
But King saw the rush coming and tucked the ball.
“If they’re rushing, and I take off down the side, they can’t catch me,” King laughed. “So I just decided to turn them wheels on, mang.”
As slow-developing as the play was, it was just as stunning for the Jags … and the Raiders.
“I told him he’s still not faster than me,” quarterback Derek Carr said with a laugh. “I told him, at best, that’s a 4.8, or a 4.79 (time in the 40-yard dash), so those would both qualify as slower.
“I’m just kidding, he did a great job. That was a big play, man, and, you know it’s a team game and the biggest play of the day came from our punter. Usually, it’s him putting the ball inside the 5 (-yard line); this time it was on an explosive run.”
Twenty-seven yards later the Raiders had a first down.
To continue reading this article, click here.
