Matt Dodge Effect: Why Don't Punters Always Kick Out of Bounds?

Matt Dodge won't be able to dodge criticism after his last-second punt was caught by DeSean Jackson, who muffed then juked his way to a game-winning score as time expired in the Giants' 38-31 loss to the Eagles on Sunday.

Tom Coughlin told the young punter to kick the ball out of bounds. What is so hard about following that simple instruction, and why is it not an order given to every punter every time he kicks the ball away?

Honestly.

When you think about it, kicking the ball to the other team's returner isn't just stupid—it's insane. 

Why give the opposing team's most agile and electric player a chance to make a huge play?

By keeping the ball in bounds you are creating the possibility of him gaining yardage and the last time I checked, kicking the ball out of bounds has yielded a 0.0 yards-per-return average every time.

Since when do coaches consciously gift-wrap the opposing team an advantage? By keeping the kick in bounds, that's exactly what their doing. 

NFL coaches are very good at calling plays, developing game plans and scheming to stop other team's superstars, but when it has come to the casual punt, they've been extremely mindless. 

I'm not just talking about Sunday's Eagles/Giants game, I'm talking throughout football history. 

How many games have you watched that have been broke open when a team's most dynamic player returned a punt for a touchdown?

How many times have you seen an improbable comeback either begin or finish with a return for a score? 

A ton. 

And really, one is too many. 

Matt Dodge will forever be the face of the "kick-it-out-of-bounds" movement that could come from his blunder, but this is something that should have been instituted years ago.

It's not that difficult.