Brad Nortman Carolina Panthers Punter

Five Years of One on One Lessons Pay Dividends for

Rookie NFL Punter Brad Nortman

Brad Nortman (U. of Wisconsin) 6th Round NFL Selection by Carolina Panthers

Brad Nortman 2008 High School Senior at Brookfield Central H.S. (Wisconsin)

I first met Brad Nortman in 2008 when he was a graduating senior at Brookfield Central High School, which is located in a suburb just outside Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Being a native of Milwaukee myself, I still had many ties to high school and college coaches throughout the state, so I was very familiar with Brad's success in high school.

My younger brother David, who is an insurance agent with Robertson Ryan & Associates, works with Brad's uncle Bill Milkent.  One day, my brother overheard Bill talking about his nephew (Brad) contemplating on accepting scholarship offers from Michigan State or Minnesota.

Well, in our family, we were taught that brothers should always take care of brothers. 

My brother mentioned to Bill that I was a kicking coach and that he should check out my website, www.coachzauner.com. Bill and his older brother had also both attended the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, my old alma mater.  After checking out my website, Bill mentioned that he knew about me from my playing days back in college and had also followed my NFL coaching career.

To make a long story short, Brad was one of Chris Sailer's top ranked punters throughout his senior season and several big name schools were pursuing his punting services.  Wisconsin was only recruiting Brad as a preferred walk-on punter.  However, when they found out that Brad was offered a scholarship by Minnesota and Michigan State, they jumped back in and also offered Brad a scholarship.  Brad then made the right decision to attend U of Wisconsin.

Bill is an avid sports fan, and after checking out my website, he mentioned to Brad's mother and father that it may be a good investment for Brad to meet me and take a One on One Punting Lesson.

Brad Nortman First One on One Punting Lesson in June of 2008

During our first One on One Punting Lesson in 2008, I was very impressed with Brad's leg strength, but I noted he needed to work on a couple of basic fundamentals in order to become a more well-rounded punter.

Several of these big kicking camps around the country are great for high school specialists to get exposure to colleges, however my understanding from players and parents alike, they do not stress fundamentals. It's all about rankings.

I have my own opinion about rankings, but I don't have enough time in my day or space in this blog to elaborate on them.

Brad thoroughly enjoyed his One on One Punting Lesson back in 2008 and our relationship started to grow.  In 2009, Brad then attended my PRO Development Camp at Macalester College in Minnesota.  There, he continued working on some basic fundamentals and was also exposed to some very good punters from around the country.

Brad Nortman Spring Break Training in 2010 in Phoenix, AZ

In 2010, I then received a call from Brad wanting to come to Phoenix, Arizona for a One on One Lesson during his families spring break vacation.  Brad was improving overall, but he still had a slight tendency to crunch as you can see above.

Brad Nortman in Summer of 2011 Works on Technique in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

In the summer of 2011, Brad and I met up yet again for a One on One Punting Lesson in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to continue working on good fundamentals while stressing to stay upright.  It was then that Brad was starting to hit some big time punts and there was no doubt in my mind that he had NFL potential.

Brad had a great four year career at U of Wisconsin, but his true NFL potential was not exposed due to the his team's high powered offense. Brad did not get a lot of chances to punt in the open field and as a matter of fact, he did not even have enough punting attempts to be ranked nationally.

Again, Brad found himself at a crossroad in deciding what was best for his future.  Brad is smart enough that he could probably someday operate an NFL team, and his academics were opening up new opportunities to explore in the business world.

After the 2011 regular season, I began to push very hard for Brad to give playing in the NFL a shot. However, he was not very confident in his own abilities to play at the highest level of football and felt that business accounting was in his immediate future. As Brad and I continued to talk, I mentioned to him about coming to Phoenix to train in January and February for his Pro Day, but Brad had planned a business internship in Chicago and said that he wouldn't have time.

It was after Wisconsin's Rose Bowl Game that agents began to heavily pursue him.  Everyone, including his college coaches, teammates, agents, family and myself all knew that Brad did in fact have NFL potential. Brad just needed some guidance from above.

Drew Butler  (Georgia) Randy Bullock (Texas A & M) and Brad Nortman

Finally, Brad received an invitations from both the Senior Bowl Committee and the NFL Combine!  Brad now felt he personally needed to go to find out if there was any possibility of making an NFL roster. 

Coach Zauner's One on One Students at NFL Combine
Randy Bullock / Drew Butler / Coach / Kyle Martens / Carson Wiggs & Brad Nortman

In February of 2012, his agent Brooks Henderson sent him to Phoenix to get some more One on One Training to prepare for the NFL Combine.

Coach Zauner Works with Brad Nortman on His Drop

As Brad performed at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine, he was getting more and more positive feedback from NFL teams. His agent was also a very big help and he was getting excited about the possibility of actually being an NFL punter.

Brad Nortman Works on Nose Down Drop

During our One on One Training Sessions to prepare for the 2012 NFL Combine in February, we worked on his drop technique, staying more upright, and punting up and through the ball. After five years of One on One Punting Lessons and training, I could see that Brad had worked to refine his technique and developed as an athlete to take his game to the next level.

As I have stressed several times before, improvement is a process and its not an overnight one.

Brad Nortman Works on Punting Up and Through The Football

The NFL Combine and Brad's PRO Day came and went. Brad was also part of private workouts from NFL teams, where some were good and some not so good. Brad had a four year resume of playing at U of Wisconsin and had some great highlights. Apart from Brad's performances, it was also the intangibles that he possessed in which scouts, coaches and GMs look for in a player that raised interest in him.

Before he knew it, it was April 28, and the big day had finally come. The 2012 NFL Draft took place and Brad was selected in the 6th Round by the Carolina Panthers!

Brad then reported to mini camp where coaches could get a better feel for his ability to overcome the stresses and challenges of being a professional football player. After his mini camp, Brad returned to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for another One on One Punting Lesson. It was then I could see his confidence level finally caught up to his talent and he had become the 'total package'. He then returned to the Panthers training camp to compete with NFL veteran punter Nick Harris for the starting job.

Last week, Brad called me to tell me that he had made the final roster cuts and was named the starting punter!

As Brad and I talked, he mentioned to me that was very grateful for not only helping in coaching him, but also for my guidance and support. Brad is the best person to tell you how he was so successful though his own 'Specialist's Path to PRO Football'. Click below to listen to Brad and other 2012 Draft Class Testimonials about working One on One Lessons with Coach Zauner.

Brad's success story is a good one, but the one thing I always say is 'Coaches Coach and Players Play'.  Brad deserves all the credit for his hard work and accomplishments he has received.  I am looking forward to working with Brad as he moves forward with his punting career and transitions from a being an NFL rookie to a NFL veteran for many years to come.

It's success stories like this and players appreciation that keep me coaching!  Best of luck to Brad and his Carolina Panther teammates this upcoming season.

Brad Nortman (U. of Wisconsin) at 2012 Senior Bowl

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'A Specialist's Path to the NFL Combine'

Coach Zauner's One on One Lessons,  
College Senior and Free Agent Specialist's Combines
and PRO Development Camps are:


'A Specialist's Path To PRO Football'

These One on One Specialists Have Bought Into Coach Zauner's
Natural Style of Kicking and Punting For The Past Two to Five Years

It's no secret that all the kicking specialists and athletes invited to the NFL Combine have talent. The real question is, do they have the composure, personality and mental toughness that the NFL is looking for?

The interview process attempts to identify whether or not players possess the necessary qualities off the field that will make them successful at the next level. Through a variety of mental and physical tests, some players will surprise teams with impressive performances, raising their stock in the draft, while others will simply fall through the cracks. Similarly, several players will pass the 'Eye Ball' test while others won't. Every year there are players that pull off that once-in-a-lifetime performance where everything goes perfectly, punching their ticket to the NFL.

Every athlete at the combine is given a grade by scouts and scouting services that essentially rank their skills, abilities and potential. However, most scouts aren't as knowledgeable on some positions as they are others. In fact, a scout I spoke with said, "To be fair, I give ALL college specialists a Free Agent draft grade because of my lack of knowledge of those postitions." So, what does this mean? It gives those specialists not invited to the combine a reason to continue to work and fine tune their skills because there are a myriad of kickers and punters NOT invited to the combine that make their way into the NFL.

It is my experience after coaching 13 years in the NFL that most or all scouts are very conservative in grading all players and even more so with kicking specialists.

In my opinion, the best kicking specialists in the country are not always invited to the NFL Combine. At the same token, those receiving invitations have zero guarantee that they will be drafted or signed to an NFL contract. Every year, I watch athletes who didn't attend the combine make their way into the league. Some examples are Stephen Gostowski (Patriots) 4th Round Pick in 2006 NFL Draft.  Free Agent Specialists: Dan Carpenter (Dolphins), Garrett Hartley (Saints), Connor Barth (Tampa Bay), Brett Kern (Titans), Steve Hauschka (Seahawks) and many others through the years.  All are currently kicking in the NFL and were not invited to the NFL Combine.

I've been attending the NFL draft for over twenty years, and one thing I can say with 100% certainty is that the process is not an exact science. I've seen kicking specialists who I believe failed to impress scouts, get signed with teams and have long careers at the next level. I've also seen athletes who knocked it out of the park, fail to make it to the NFL or any professional team.

Becoming an elite specialist requires more than just a good skill set. It takes passion and determination to make the very most out of your talent and take the necessary steps to perfect your craft. Athletes that are dedicated to putting in the time and effort to give them that "edge" are those who will separate from the pack and realize their dreams of playing at the next level. Most great kickers are not born, they are made and  the even field of competing One on One in practice is where players win the starting job.

One on One Training in Phoenix, Arizona:

In the last couple of years, One on One Kicking and Punting Lessons have assisted Drew Butler (Georgia), Randy Bullock (Texas A & M), Kyle Martens (Rice University) and Brad Nortman (Wisconsin) in having success during their college careers.  Also, last week Carson Wiggs (Purdue University) came to Phoenix for One on One Kicking lessons to improve on his kickoff technique.

As I always say, 'coaches coach and players play'.  The NFL Combine is a huge event with all 32 NFL Teams in attendance including Owners, General Managers, Head Coaches, Directors of College and PRO Scouting, Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Coordinators, as well as various position coaches.

The players are evaluated not only on each individual test, but how they handle the entire four-day process prior to the physical competitions. Special Teams Coordinators and scouts constantly make mental notes on the little things-- how the athletes prepare, their attitudes, their demeanor as they stand and wait for hours. It is imperative that every player recognizes that from the second they arrive to the second they leave they are auditioning. It takes a lot of pressure and focus to remain collected and on your toes the days leading up to Friday afternoon, where you are asked to perform to the very best of your ability in an incredibly intense situation.

Sometimes human error plays a part in evaluating some of the specialists.  Like with kickers, it could be a bad snap, hold or combination of both, and one too many misses can make coaches wonder.  If an NFL coach likes a specialists from his pre-combine evaluation and his potential at the combine, he will do more research to decide if the team would like for their special teams coach to give him a private workout.

The most important factors to a special teams coach on the field is accuracy, hang time, consistency and how he handles pressure.

Coach Zauner with his Five One on One Students at 2012 NFL Combine

I tip my hat to all athletes attending this year's combine and wish all the specialists I've had the chance to work with the best of luck at the NFL Combine, their Pro Days and the NFL Draft. I hope that the One on One Training they received is their 'Specialist's Path to PRO Football'.

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Five Specialists Attend 2012 NFL Combine

Coach Zauner is Proud to Announce 

That Five of His One on One Students 

Will Be Attending The 2012 NFL Combine

Coach at 2012 Senior Bowl with Drew Butler, Randy Bullock & Brad Nortman

There is nothing more satisfying than to watch hard work pay off. I couldn’t be more thrilled to announce that five of my One-on-One Kicking Specialists will be participating in this week’s 2012 NFL combine.

Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis is the site of 2012 NFL Combine

Brad Nortman, Drew Butler, Randy Bullock, Kyle Martens and Carson Wiggs have all been invited to Indianapolis to showcase their skills and abilities in front of the best coaches, scouts and teams in the business. The combine provides an opportunity for second-to-none exposure that serves as a launching pad for flourishing careers in the NFL.

Brad Nortman (U. of Wisconsin) One on One Lesson in February 2012

Brad Nortman (University of Wisconsin) and I have been working together since his Senior year in high school. Brad has since gone on to the University of Wisconsin and currently holds the third best career punting average in school history, fourth best in total punting yards and fifth best in total punts. Among his list of accolades, Brad has received two Honorable Mention All Big Ten Awards and All-Academic honors each of his three varsity years. Brad’s dedication and belief in my 'Natural Style of Kicking' technique has propelled him to become not only good at what he does, but one of the best. I cannot wait to see what he has in store in Indianapolis this weekend.

Drew Butler (U. of Georgia) Training in Phoenix January and February of 2012

Drew Butler (University of Georgia) came to me four years ago through the suggestion of his father, former Chicago Bear, Kevin Butler. Drew was a red-shirt freshman at Georgia at the time and had aspirations of following in his dad’s footsteps and playing with the big boys in the NFL. Throughout his tenure with the Bulldogs, Drew received the 2009 Ray Guy Award, which is given out annually to the most outstanding Division I punter in the country. Drew also received multiple ALL-SEC honors, was selected as “2009 Punter of theYear” by  CollegeFootballPerformance.com and was recently named to UGA’s Team of the Decade. From day one, Drew has been dedicated to perfecting his craft and over the years he used the 'Specialists Path to PRO Football' to develop a fundamentally sound technique that will take him to the next level and beyond.

Randy Bullock (Texas A & M) One on One Lesson in February 2012

Randy Bullock (Texas A & M) came to my PRO Development Camp three years ago while he was a sophomore at Texas A & M. His record-setting 2011 senior season earned him the coveted Lou Groza Award which is given annually to the nation’s best placekicker. Randy was selected to four All-America teams and received multiple All Big-12 second team honors cementing his place among the top players in the country. He finished last season as the Aggie record holder for most career points as a placekicker. Randy is an outstanding individual whose attitude and perseverance should be admired.

Kyle Martens (Rice University) One on One Lessons in January and February 2012

Kyle Martens (Rice University) and I became acquainted when he attended one of my 2011 PRO Development Camp in Phoenix. Kyle spent four years as a punter at Rice University where he earned consecutive First Team All C-USA honors, was a Second Team 2010 Walter Camp All-American selection, and finished his career with a 43.0 career punting average and a single season mark of 45.98 average which are now currently school records. On February 4^th, Kyle competed in the Players All-Star Classic in Little, Rock Arkansas. I am incredibly proud of Kyle’s accomplishments and eagerly anticipate his performance at the upcoming NFL combine.

Carson Wiggs (Purdue University) One on One Lesson in February 2012

Carson Wiggs (Purdue University) was introduced to me a few weeks ago at the 2012 Senior Bowl. Carson is coming off an exceptional college career at Purdue University where he currently holds the record for field goal percentage and the four longest field goals in school history. Already receiving an invitation to the NFL combine, Carson was looking for that “edge” that would separate him from his competition, and his agent recommended him to me. Although we haven’t had years of One-on-One Training like some of my other specialists, I have already seen monumental improvements in Carson’s technique and look forward to seeing his talents on display in Indianapolis.

Drew Butler and Randy Bullock Receive Awards On and Off The Field

I am grateful to have the experience and tools to help guide these young men on a 'Specialists Path to PRO football.' Every year, prospective athletes from our PRO Development Camps,  Combines (College Senior & Free Agent Specialist's Combines) and One on One Lessons take the next step in their careers and come face to face with their dreams of playing football at a professional level. These athletes are successful not only because of their natural abilities but because they believed in the process and were committed to making the most of their talent. Watching Brad, Drew, Kyle, Randy and Carson this weekend will undoubtedly remind me why I do what I do and why I have the best, most fulfilling job on the planet.

Click below to listen to Drew Butler's, Kyle Martens, Brad Nortman's, Carson Wigg's and Randy Bullock's Testimonials about their One on One Lesson and Combine Training with Coach Zauner and their 'Path to PRO Football'.

Group Training Session in February 2012
Kyle Martens, Drew Butler, Coach, Randy Bullock and Chris Pousson

Drew Butler (U. of Georgia) and Brad Nortman (U. of Wisconsin) One on One Weekend

Note:  I wish all the kickers, punters and snappers attending the 2012 NFL Combine the Best of Luck at the combine and in this upcoming NFL Draft.

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