Broncos' kicking options slim
Still, Prater told he can expect to have competition
By Lee Rasizer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Friday, March 28, 2008
Doug Benc / Getty Images
Matt Prater is 1-for-4 on field-goal attempts in his career, but the Broncos think highly of him. Still, the team plans to bring in another kicker to compete for the job.
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The other shoe has to drop at some point.
But with Jason Elam gone, Olindo Mare out of the picture and the prospect of adding another veteran kicker potentially on hold for awhile, Matt Prater is enjoying life as a solo act with the Broncos - even if he knows it won't last.
"I'm fine with anything," Prater, who was told by special- teams coach Scott O'Brien to expect competition "no matter what," whether it's a veteran or a fresh-faced college graduate, said Friday. "Honestly, it doesn't matter to me who we bring in. My competition's myself. If I'm kicking my best - and there's always going to be someone better than you, no matter what you do - and they're better, it wasn't meant to be."
Almost all the free-agent kickers have been snapped up, with Mare on Thursday bypassing Denver for the Seattle Seahawks.
The Broncos had discussions this week with the representative for free-agent kicker John Carney, but nothing appears imminent. Carney will turn 44 in April but is coming off a productive 2007 season in which he made 12-of-14 attempts with Jacksonville and Kansas City.
But the Chiefs also have interest in retaining Carney. And New Orleans also has a vacancy.
So a good bet is that Denver might wait until after the draft - this year's crop of kicking prospects isn't wowing NFL personnel types - then reassess the position. The Broncos also could wait and see if a veteran is cut loose in training camp if the situation isn't working out.
Prater is only 1-for-4 on career field-goal attempts, having made one from 45 and missing from 44, 43 and 26 yards during the first two games with Atlanta last season. Nevertheless, he's well thought of at Dove Valley and has gotten a strong endorsement from Elam on his way out the door, both in public and during a recent phone conversation.
"That's really flattering, coming from a Hall of Fame kicker and someone I watched growing up," said Prater, who handled kickoffs for Denver the final two games of 2007.
MAJOR MOTIVATION: Late last season, defensive end Tim Crowder promised to refine his pass-rushing moves during offseason workouts.
He already has made it a point of emphasis, even before returning to Dove Valley for the team's strength program this week.
"That's one of the first things I've been doing, making sure my techniques stay polished and getting more polished on my techniques and getting my conditioning so I can go all four quarters," he said. "I feel like I got a little sluggish at the end. I'm not here to make excuses. The rookie wall hit me and hit me hard. And now I'm re-energized, ready to go."
In film study the past few months, Crowder noticed teams sliding protection schemes and sending a running back to double-team Elvis Dumervil on the other side, believing they could handle Crowder with a single blocker.
Crowder realizes it's imperative next season he's more of a threat from the other side.
"I take it as an insult," he said.
FIGHTING FOR SCRAPS: Bringing in a couple of free agents intent on grabbing Hamza Abdullah's starting job at safety is a piece of cake, at least compared with trying to secure a piece of cake in his family.
"I have 11 brothers and sisters," Abdullah said. "I used to fight for dinner on a nightly basis. Competition is what drives me."
Newcomers Marquand Manuel and Marlon McCree will join Abdullah, John Lynch and Steve Cargile in the fray this summer.
Heck, if things don't work out, Abdullah always can pen another sequel to Cheaper by the Dozen. But his philosophy at the dinner table likely won't translate to the practice field.
"Get the little guy," Abdullah said. "He can't protect himself as much. Always jump the little guy."
Comments
Posted by aragornzxl on March 28, 2008 at 11:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Always get the little guy...
Why dont we get vanderjagt? Hes gotta be better at Carney. I can only hope a kicker is gonna get released in Training Camp, I hate to trust a last second FG on a 25 percent guy.
Posted by paratyper on March 28, 2008 at 11:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Two words: Mason Crosby.
Elam should have been traded for value last season and Crosby added for 12-15 years of record-setting leg at altitude. That guy would have been epic here. That's probably not an original thought in BroncoLand ...
Posted by surfshop420 on March 29, 2008 at 2:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
im from denver but live up in corvallis,or one kicker i think would help out the broncos if they are gonna draft one or sign one as a free agent from college would be alex serna hes's got a strong leg and can preform under pressure.
Posted by MrBigShout on March 29, 2008 at 5:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's called the "reverse draft". Broncos will take whatever placekicker is leftover after all the other NFL teams have signed their man. Brilliant!
Posted by LaszloPanaflex on March 29, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
you'd think they woulda had someone waiting in the wings before they dumped Elam. as mentioned above, they could've had Mason Crosby slamming 60 yarders for the next ten+ years. instead they'll go with whoever they can scare up. yeah, Shanahan is a freakin' genius.
Posted by jonny1 on March 29, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Give it a rest on the Mason Crosby bit.
Broncoland would have gone nuts if Shanahan had drafted a kicker while Jason Elam was STILL under contract.
Posted by DeimosJB on March 29, 2008 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Jonny, Broncoland would not have gone nuts if Shanahan drafted a kicker while Elam was still with the team. Shanahan could have called Crosby the Broncos' “kick off specialist”, since we've been using a roster spot for that role the last few years anyway. Even if people questioned the decision initially, Shanahan could have pointed out that the whole field position thing was working pretty well for Chicago and Devon Hester. As Crosby began kicking touchbacks and actually giving our defense an advantage with field position, Shanahan would have started looking pretty smart. By the end of the year, Shanahan would have looked brilliant, and when we lost Elam, and had Crosby waiting in the wings with a year of tutelage from Elam under his belt, Shanahan would have looked like...well, like a mastermind.
Posted by UncleBuck on March 29, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm with you jonny1, it would have made absolutely no sense to draft a kicker last since Elam was under contract. You can see how many negative comments came out just because the team did not overpay the guy to stay but did offer him a more than legitimate contract, just imagine if they would have not only cut him while he is under contract taking a hit on the salary cap, but also draft a kicker in hopes that he will work out. Crosby has had a good year but there was another kicker drafter last year that actually represented the NFC in the pro bowl. How come nobody is talking about him? I know why.
Posted by UncleBuck on March 29, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am also assuming that the team was also not sure what Elam's plans were after last year and they did offer him a more than fair contract. He just wanted gauranteed money since he said he only wants to play two more years and Denver only offered him one year gauranteed money. He wants to get paid for work he knows he ain't going to do. His annual salary would have been more had he stayed and played.
Again, drafting a kicker last year would have made no sense. However, I am sure you can look back on any draft for any team and point out the could've, should'ves but Crosby has only kicked one year and have many crying around like he has actually been to the pro bowl already. That's the other kicker.
Posted by broncoman on March 29, 2008 at 1:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This kicker is available!
Charlie Hebert
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATNTRk...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtZVHd...
Posted by Musicnut on March 29, 2008 at 6:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Enough of the Mason Crosby comments already! If you want to complain about who the Broncos COULD have drafted in the past, why don't you scout the record books and pick a proven kicker such as Lou Groza (1950). Why didn't the Broncos draft him??? My point is... it's HISTORY. Get over it and move on.
Posted by horsepuckey on March 29, 2008 at 6:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
UncleBuck said: '"Im with you jonny1, it would have made absolutely no sense to draft a kicker last since Elam was under contract."
ermm... I seem to recall drafting a qb while we still had one (Plummer) under contract... how's that working out?
It would've been the smartest move we could have made to lock up Mason Crosby as Elam's protege/eventual successor. Heck, Elam's been a Bronco for 15 years and he hasn't been able to kick off for at least five years, really since he broke his back.
Drafting Crosby couldn't have turned out any worse than waffling around with Sauerbrun or Ernster, could it have?
Posted by foreveraBroncofan on March 29, 2008 at 7:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder how Cutler and Williams got along at college and if he's hoping the Broncos draft him. If so, I don't really consider it a reach if they to pick him over Clady(if available) if it also makes Jay more comfortable in the pocket. Anybody know?
Posted by Broncosapian87 on March 29, 2008 at 9:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The solution to our kicking problems are pretty easy...just draft Brandon Coutu in the later rounds...strong leg...consistent...let him and prater battle it out...its that easy
Posted by broncoman on March 30, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i saw this kicker kick at a combine and his leg is ridiculous!
Charlie Hebert Punter / Kicker
Height: 6-1 Weight: 210 Birthdate: 2-21-1978
Hometown: Lafayette, Louisiana
College: McNeese State
Pro Experience: CFL Calgary, AAFL Arkansas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtZVHd...
Posted by DonfromCS on March 31, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah Jason was great, but Im still a little confused that Denver is being given such grief, he was offered a deal, but wouldnt even talk about it, he even passed on try outs at KC and Seattle, so its pretty obvious he wanted to go home to Atlanta. No matter how long he plays there,I hope he still enters the hall as a Bronco. As far as the future, Give Prater a chance, Those of us around for a while as Bronco fan(41 years) Elam wasnt that great in his first years and Prater hasnt realy been tried . I mean 4kicks! who can be judged on that. wait till competition starts then we'll see how good or bad he realy is.
Posted by broncoman on April 7, 2008 at 4:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Charlie Hebert was 100% at the Pelfrey Kicking Combine. Many teams talked to him there and he could get pivked up. Broncos should sign him before other leauque rivals do!
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