Bill Belichick addressed the media Wednesday with an opening statement that involved praise for a talented Rams player.

You might think he would hype up someone on the team's defensive front, perhaps Pro Bowl defensive tackle Aaron Donald, but you'd be wrong. Instead, he spent a lot of time talking about the Rams' punter, Johnny Hekker.

Hekker was a Pro Bowl punter last season, and has been a huge asset for the Rams. In addition to his punting skills, he's been known to drop back and deliver an accurate pass. The trick plays are saved for special occasions, but they're effective — he has completed 6-of-10 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown in his NFL career.

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Not only does he have a strong leg for punting, but the way he punts the ball is what impresses Belichick.

"We’ve seen multiple guys — he kicks it so far and he makes the returner move for it and they run over there and then they mishandle it or it hits the ground and rolls for another 20 yards," he said. "It’s a tough ball to catch because you’re not just shagging flies out there. He’s making you run and he’s kicking it over your head. The ball handling is tough for the returners, too.

While the coach knows Hekker is a great player, he knows that seeing him out there a lot means his defense is doing something right.

"I hope he gets a good workout," Belichick joked.