The 2009 K Thread (1 Viewer)

[Mike Herman]

DENVER

Those who squirmed through the second half of the Broncos' 2008 season may have noticed one of the few positions the new administration hasn't touched is place-kicker. New coach Josh McDaniels and special-teams coordinator Mike Priefer are aware of how Matt Prater was sensational early and maddening late. And while they will eventually bring in a younger kicker to compete with Prater, they aren't about to give up on him. "He's a young player with a lot of ability," McDaniels said. "He went through a wall, if you will, where he didn't play quite as well in the second half of the year. You always hope there's significant growth between your first year and second year and again your second year and third year. I think he probably learned a lot going through a long season like that." A touchback machine through seven games when he made 13-of-14 field goals, Prater, 24, began leaking after the Week 8 bye week. He made only 12-of-20 field-goal attempts in the final nine games, and his kickoffs struggled to penetrate the 5-yard line. "People talk about dealing with adversity, but sometimes dealing with success is just as much a challenge," McDaniels said. "The first half of the season, I'm not sure there was anybody better. That shows me we've got a guy who can do it. Our challenge is to get him to do it consistently for 16, 18 games, 20 counting the preseason."

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I was loving life at PK in the first half last year, having taken your advice to draft Prater (in practically all my leagues). What is your impression of his chances to do well for an entire season, Mike? Even? 60-40%? ballpark it for me, plz.

MW

My gut K feelings at this time:- I see Prater being average all year... i.e more consistent, but not among the more accurate kickers in the league

- I see a decline in kicker scoring opportunities in Denver this year

 

[Mark Wimer]

DENVER

Those who squirmed through the second half of the Broncos' 2008 season may have noticed one of the few positions the new administration hasn't touched is place-kicker. New coach Josh McDaniels and special-teams coordinator Mike Priefer are aware of how Matt Prater was sensational early and maddening late. And while they will eventually bring in a younger kicker to compete with Prater, they aren't about to give up on him. "He's a young player with a lot of ability," McDaniels said. "He went through a wall, if you will, where he didn't play quite as well in the second half of the year. You always hope there's significant growth between your first year and second year and again your second year and third year. I think he probably learned a lot going through a long season like that." A touchback machine through seven games when he made 13-of-14 field goals, Prater, 24, began leaking after the Week 8 bye week. He made only 12-of-20 field-goal attempts in the final nine games, and his kickoffs struggled to penetrate the 5-yard line. "People talk about dealing with adversity, but sometimes dealing with success is just as much a challenge," McDaniels said. "The first half of the season, I'm not sure there was anybody better. That shows me we've got a guy who can do it. Our challenge is to get him to do it consistently for 16, 18 games, 20 counting the preseason."

link

I was loving life at PK in the first half last year, having taken your advice to draft Prater (in practically all my leagues). What is your impression of his chances to do well for an entire season, Mike? Even? 60-40%? ballpark it for me, plz.

MW

My gut K feelings at this time:- I see Prater being average all year... i.e more consistent, but not among the more accurate kickers in the league

- I see a decline in kicker scoring opportunities in Denver this year

K thanks, I am working on my first cut projections this week (pre-draft) and was wondering where to go with Prater in particular.

 

[Mike Herman]

DETROIT

Players have been assigned parking spaces as part of changes new coach Jim Schwartz is making to instill discipline, work ethic and unity. It’s no joke. At one of the team’s first meetings for its off-season conditioning program, coaches spoke about parking for 25 minutes. Said safety Gerald Alexander: “Little things like parking and something as little as that could and hopefully will transform our play on the field as far as just being a disciplined team and not making mistakes out on the field, like making a mistake in the wrong parking spot.” It’s not known how spaces were assigned, but kicker Jason Hanson, entering his 18th season, has one of the prime spots. Hanson was one of the few players who used to have a spot, which was designated with sign for his 1997 and ’99 Pro Bowl years. “It used to look cool,” Hanson said of the sign. “It didn’t look cool anymore. Guys were coming in like, ‘Is that a coach?'"

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[Mike Herman]

TAMPA BAY

Raheem Morris' new tough attitude was on display today by the treatment of his kickers. Most kickers do not participate in team activities and are on a separate field, but Morris had Matt Bryant and Mike Nugent catch passes with receivers during warmups. Both were small targets, but neither dropped any passes.

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[Mike Herman]

BALTIMORE

As for the kicking position, the Ravens are high on young kicker Steve Hauschka. However, they haven't ruled out bringing back all-time leading scorer Matt Stover. "We have Hauschka here and we got him for a reason," said Newsome, who didn't rule out drafting a kicker. "We have not removed Stover from our mind. If the situation doesn't work itself out where he ends up on another team and we get into training camp or something like that and we have no one else, we know what Matt can do and that marriage can continue."

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[Mike Herman]

USC Pro Day

One story that went unnoticed today was that of kicker David Buehler. Buehler displayed terrific leg strength and unlike the combine, was accurate kicking field goals. Scouts feel Buehler could now be drafted as early as the fourth round based on the versatility to kick off, kick field goals and make the tackle if necessary in coverage.

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[Mike Herman]

A couple excerpts from the Kickology interview with Jeff Reed:

FBG: Are there any particular stadiums that are more challenging to kick in than others?

Reed: I think that ours is the worst – not because I play here and that is an excuse for me - but because of how I can go from happy to play to ‘oh, it’s going to be one of these days.’ Other kickers compliment me (about having such success at Heinz Field), but I am not looking for compliments. They say ‘you can have this job’ and stuff like that. Miami and Oakland have the baseball dirt – that is brutal. I have seen (Sebastian) Janikowski and Olindo Mare kick fine on it, while I have only kicked on it once. I didn’t know how to play it but I made my only kick from the dirt, but I really didn’t know how to play that. In our division, Cleveland is just as tricky as our field because of the lake (Lake Erie). There can be hurricanes and tornadoes in Miami so just because it is (usually) 90 degrees doesn’t mean that it is always ideal conditions for a kicker to kick in.

FBG: Name one thing about being a kicker that most people probably don’t realize.

Reed: You hear the comment ‘you are just a kicker’ and that gets frustrating. I wouldn’t say anything to the person who said that to me because I have heard it a million times in my life. I work out just as hard as the (other) guys and I train just as much as the guys. I don’t train for speed, I train for leg speed. I am not going to beat Ike Taylor in a 40-yard dash, I’m not going to out-lift James Harrison and I am not going to out-throw Ben (Roethlisberger), but I work out just as hard as those guys because I realize it is hard to get to the NFL, and it is hard to stay here. I think people have a misperception that kickers are outcasts and are the nerd football players. I am a football player who happens to be a kicker. If I wasn’t a kicker in this sport, I would be playing soccer. People (teammates) love it when you make a big (kick) – when you miss one, somebody isn’t around here giving me crap because I am a fool and a jokester. Deep down inside they know how I want to make every kick and be perfect. I was voted a captain, which shocked me, and that was because my teammates see my work ethic as a fellow player.

 

[Mike Herman]

DETROIT

The sting of the NFL's first 0-16 season has faded for kicker Jason Hanson. When he and punter Nick Harris arrived for the Lions' off-season conditioning program, they laughed at how much had changed already. "We were like, 'Who's that? Who's that? Who's that?' " Hanson said. "So it's all different again." Hanson has seen a lot of coaches and players come and go. He is the Lions' longest-tenured player, a 17-year veteran. He knows to keep things in perspective at this stage -- not making bold pronouncements about improvement, while staying positive. "This is only part of the equation," Hanson said. "But you've got to get it right to even have a chance, and guys are working hard."

Hanson is participating in the off-season program for the first time in seven or eight years. He used to go home to Washington state in the off-season. But now his family wants more stability, and though he's coming off an excellent season, he turns 39 in June. "As I get older, I knew that I needed to be with the guys and push myself," Hanson said. "I'm running with Calvin Johnson right now. How much more can you get pushed than that?" Is he keeping up with him? "Absolutely not," Hanson said. "He's not breathing when he's done. I'm snorting and I'm on my knees. It's pretty comical, really."

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[Mike Herman]

INDIANAPOLIS

Hunter Smith has been the Colts punter and holder since he joined the team as a seventh-round draft choice out of Notre Dame in 1999. But after 10 years with the franchise, Smith's contract has not been renewed and he is not expected to be back in Indianapolis for the 2009 season. While that scenario could still change, the chances appear to be pretty good that punter will be one major area of change for the Colts.... While Smith had been an effective punter over the years, Indianapolis officials have apparently opted to look elsewhere in an attempt to fortify the special teams unit heading into this fall. The Colts' 44.2-yard average on punts ranked them 12th in the NFL last season. But just as important as his punting has been for Indianapolis, it was in Smith's role as the team's holder for kickers Mike Vanderjagt and Adam Vinatieri that caught the eye of many league insiders. And that may be in that spot where his absence will be felt the most. "Depending on what happens (with Smith), there's a pretty good chance that we'll be looking for a punter who can also hold," first-year Colts special teams coach Ray Rycheleski said in February.

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[Mike Herman]

CAROLINA

Green Bay traded long snapper J.J. Jansen to Carolina for a conditional 2011 seventh-round draft pick. The trade could signal the end of veteran Jason Kyle’s eight-year run in that position with the Panthers, who don’t have the salary cap space to re-sign Kyle because of the stalemate with defensive end Julius Peppers.

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[Mike Herman]

KANSAS CITY

Some might call it cutthroat. Columbus Lions kicker Carlos Martinez sees his competitive attitude as job security. “Wes Wilson, any time, any place,” was how Martinez described his direct approach to competing for the Lions’ starting job with the team’s former kicker. The NFL practice-squad and preseason-team veteran has the same mentality heading into his second workout with the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday, when he believes he has his best chance yet to make an NFL team. “I’ve been doing this long enough that I know what they’re looking for, and I know I have ability to compete for a starting job in the NFL,” Martinez said. “They just want to see me go in there and make contact every time and make some solid kicks. It’s all about not having bad days. You just can’t have an off day in that league, and I think I’m that consistent.” Martinez earned a second trip to Kansas City, Mo., after putting in a strong workout and making all 13 field-goal attempts. This time, he’ll compete with the Chiefs’ Connor Barth and free agent Mark Meyers, who kicked for Florida Atlantic and did a stint with the New York Jets last year. “I’m not officially signed or anything yet, but they asked me back to this veterans mini-camp,” Martinez said. “Hopefully, I’ll get signed after this. I know I can kick at this level; I just have to prove it again.” Martinez has spent time with the Atlanta Falcons, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys between his indoor football travels but never has played in a regular-season NFL game.

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[Mike Herman]

SAN FRANCISCO

Big news just came down. The 49ers have signed OLB Parys Haralson and K Joe Nedney to contract extensions. Haralson signed a 4-year extension through 2013 and Nedney signed a 2-year extension through 2011. No word on dollar figures yet.

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[Mike Herman]

Where are they now?... TORONTO

The Argonauts’ camp for free agents earlier this month in Florida has borne some fruit. The Argos on Thursday announced the signing of kicker Justin Medlock, who impressed the team’s brass during the camp. Drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2007, Medlock played one game for the Chiefs before he was released. The 25-year-old, who is second on UCLA’s career scoring list, was signed by the St. Louis Rams in February of last year but was a final cut in training camp. How this upsets the Argos’ kicking apple cart, if at all, remains to be seen. Mike Vanderjagt is under contract for the 2009 season but did not wow anyone after returning to the Argos in 2008 following a mostly prolific stint in the NFL. Having someone in camp to put some pressure on him might be what Vanderjagt needs.

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Last season, Argonauts kicker Mike Vanderjagt missed 12 of 51 field goal attempts, including eight of 20 tries from outside the 40-yard line.

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[Mike Herman]

David Buehler, USC

The College Football Performance Awards will present David Buehler with the 2008 Kickoff Specialist Trophy on April 24, 2009. The event will take place at 2 p.m. in the Varsity Lounge of Heritage Hall at the University of Southern California. The historic event marks the first national trophy presentation to a college football kickoff specialist. Buehler finished the 2008 season with the highest kickoff rating (19.5) in Division I FBS college football. Buehler outperformed other top kickoff specialists including: Utah's Ben Vroman (19.3), Kansas State's Brooks Rossman (19.0), and South Carolina's Ryan Succop (18.5).

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[JAA]

Mike, is this you?

http://cookies.sportsline.com/nfl/draft/players/565728

 

[Mike Herman]

Mike, is this you?

http://cookies.sportsline.com/nfl/draft/players/565728

Nope, although I do get that question a lot. I've never been anywhere close to weighing 228 lbs (which helps explain why I stick to FF and writing). I also have never been to WVU, nor have I ever done any pig wrestling.

 

[QuizGuy66]

Any handy list of what teams might be considering drafting a kicker or punter?

I know the Bengals might be looking at spending one of their 11 picks on the Punter from UC.

Great work as always Mike

-QG

 

[Mike Herman]

Any handy list of what teams might be considering drafting a kicker or punter?I know the Bengals might be looking at spending one of their 11 picks on the Punter from UC.Great work as always Mike -QG

Regarding kickers:The Ravens are looking for someone to compete with Steven Hauschka, whether it is via the draft or an undrafted free agent.The Broncos are looking for someone to challenge Matt Prater.Connor Barth did well for the Chiefs the latter part of last year, however that was under a different coaching regime. New special teams coordinator Steve Hoffman has made his name (primarily with Dallas for many years) by finding relatively unknown kickers and making them viable NFL kickers. If he is looking to do the same in KC, that would suggest an undrafted FA or even someone who has been off the radar for a few years. Maybe Zac Derr will resurface?Shaun Suisham had a subpar 2008 for Washington, although some of that has been attributed to the since released punter/holder, but the team is giving him another shot. Plus they already brought in Dave Rayner to compete.I'm not as tuned into the punter situations... besides they're not real football players. They just stand around on the sidelines most of the game and never get their uniforms dirty.

 

[JAA]

Mike, is this you?

http://cookies.sportsline.com/nfl/draft/players/565728

Nope, although I do get that question a lot. I've never been anywhere close to weighing 228 lbs (which helps explain why I stick to FF and writing). I also have never been to WVU, nor have I ever done any pig wrestling.

lol ... j/k, Im assuming you knew I was talking about the writeup. Excellent work was done there, dont know if all the K's on cbs get that level of detail

 

[Mike Herman]

Mike, is this you?

http://cookies.sportsline.com/nfl/draft/players/565728

Nope, although I do get that question a lot. I've never been anywhere close to weighing 228 lbs (which helps explain why I stick to FF and writing). I also have never been to WVU, nor have I ever done any pig wrestling.

lol ... j/k, Im assuming you knew I was talking about the writeup. Excellent work was done there, dont know if all the K's on cbs get that level of detail

I think what you're seeing here is part of a developing trend. As more and more people become bored with the same old chatter about the flashy offensive players, the hard hitting defenders, and the brutes in the trenches, they are at the same time discovering the addictive intrigue of the key special teams players.

 

[stevegamer]

Any handy list of what teams might be considering drafting a kicker or punter?

I know the Bengals might be looking at spending one of their 11 picks on the Punter from UC.

Great work as always Mike

-QG

Regarding kickers:The Ravens are looking for someone to compete with Steven Hauschka, whether it is via the draft or an undrafted free agent.

The Broncos are looking for someone to challenge Matt Prater.

Connor Barth did well for the Chiefs the latter part of last year, however that was under a different coaching regime. New special teams coordinator Steve Hoffman has made his name (primarily with Dallas for many years) by finding relatively unknown kickers and making them viable NFL kickers. If he is looking to do the same in KC, that would suggest an undrafted FA or even someone who has been off the radar for a few years. Maybe Zac Derr will resurface?

Shaun Suisham had a subpar 2008 for Washington, although some of that has been attributed to the since released punter/holder, but the team is giving him another shot. Plus they already brought in Dave Rayner to compete.

I'm not as tuned into the punter situations... besides they're not real football players. They just stand around on the sidelines most of the game and never get their uniforms dirty.

Darren Bennett & Sav Rocca might be entertained by that comment. Aussie Rules vets get IMMEDIATELY certified as a "REAL" football player.

 

[QuizGuy66]

Any handy list of what teams might be considering drafting a kicker or punter?

I know the Bengals might be looking at spending one of their 11 picks on the Punter from UC.

Great work as always Mike

-QG

Regarding kickers:The Ravens are looking for someone to compete with Steven Hauschka, whether it is via the draft or an undrafted free agent.

The Broncos are looking for someone to challenge Matt Prater.

Connor Barth did well for the Chiefs the latter part of last year, however that was under a different coaching regime. New special teams coordinator Steve Hoffman has made his name (primarily with Dallas for many years) by finding relatively unknown kickers and making them viable NFL kickers. If he is looking to do the same in KC, that would suggest an undrafted FA or even someone who has been off the radar for a few years. Maybe Zac Derr will resurface?

Shaun Suisham had a subpar 2008 for Washington, although some of that has been attributed to the since released punter/holder, but the team is giving him another shot. Plus they already brought in Dave Rayner to compete.

I'm not as tuned into the punter situations... besides they're not real football players. They just stand around on the sidelines most of the game and never get their uniforms dirty.

Darren Bennett & Sav Rocca might be entertained by that comment. Aussie Rules vets get IMMEDIATELY certified as a "REAL" football player.

I sure hope Todd Sauerbrun doesn't read this! There's no telling what the Round Mound of 4th Down would do!-QG

 

[Mike Herman]

I sure hope Todd Sauerbrun doesn't read this! There's no telling what the Round Mound of 4th Down would do!

-QG

FWIW, I'm currently reading (actually listening to) Stefan Fatsis' A Few Seconds of Panic. Some good stuff on Sauerbrun from the season he was suspended the first four games of the season. Also some good stuff on Elam, among others.

 

[JAA]

Mike, is this you?

http://cookies.sportsline.com/nfl/draft/players/565728

Nope, although I do get that question a lot. I've never been anywhere close to weighing 228 lbs (which helps explain why I stick to FF and writing). I also have never been to WVU, nor have I ever done any pig wrestling.

lol ... j/k, Im assuming you knew I was talking about the writeup. Excellent work was done there, dont know if all the K's on cbs get that level of detail

I think what you're seeing here is part of a developing trend. As more and more people become bored with the same old chatter about the flashy offensive players, the hard hitting defenders, and the brutes in the trenches, they are at the same time discovering the addictive intrigue of the key special teams players.

i sense some schtick in your comments. However, as a geek like most of us it is interesting to read about PK/P's and their respective .5 second difference in hang time

 

[JAA]

I sure hope Todd Sauerbrun doesn't read this! There's no telling what the Round Mound of 4th Down would do!

-QG

FWIW, I'm currently reading (actually listening to) Stefan Fatsis' A Few Seconds of Panic. Some good stuff on Sauerbrun from the season he was suspended the first four games of the season. Also some good stuff on Elam, among others.

Funny. Please share. Dont know if yall are aware, but Todd is a WVU alum ...

 

[Mike Herman]

BALTIMORE

It might take until the late rounds, but there is a chance the Ravens could make team history in this weekend's NFL draft. Though the Ravens have given a vote of confidence to Steve Hauschka as Matt Stover's successor, the club has contemplated drafting a kicker. The Ravens have never selected a place-kicker in 13 previous drafts, a total of 106 selections. So, what are the chances the Ravens end that streak this year? "Never say never," said Eric DeCosta, the Ravens' director of player personnel. "People looked at us like we were crazy when we drafted [punter Dave] Zastudil in the fourth round and [punter] Sam Koch in the sixth. And both of those picks worked out extremely well."

But drafting a kicker has been as hit-or-miss as selecting a quarterback. In the past five years, just six of the 12 kickers drafted (the San Diego Chargers' Nate Kaeding, Jacksonville Jaguars' Josh Scobee, New England Patriots' Stephen Gostkowski, Green Bay Packers' Mason Crosby, Dallas Cowboys' Nick Folk and Seattle Seahawks' Brandon Coutu) remain with their original team. Three of those kickers are with other teams, and three are out of the league. "It's a difficult position to stick," said Joe Hortiz, the Ravens' director of college scouting. "You definitely don't come out of each fall saying there are 12 kickers that are going to go to the NFL."

There is no consensus on the best kicker in this year's draft. Some scouts say it's Southern California's David Buehler, whose strength is kicking off more than kicking field goals. Others point to Wake Forest's Sam Swank, who has been clutch during his career, or South Carolina's Ryan Succop, who has had some great workouts recently. There are also Florida State's Graham Gano, Utah's Louis Sakoda, Texas-El Paso's Jose Martinez, West Virginia's Pat McAfee and Arizona's Jason Bondzio. But the Ravens acknowledged they could take a kicker who hasn't gained a lot of attention. "Part of the problem is people don't know how to scout kickers," DeCosta said. "The list of combine kickers doesn't necessarily mean those are the best kickers. It just means those were the guys that were invited to the combine. That's why we do our due diligence in looking at all of the other kickers out there, too." The Ravens' scouts began looking at kickers in the fall and formed their list of the top ones. Then, the coaches hone in on them after the season, dissecting their mechanics, leg strength and mental makeup. DeCosta said the Ravens have scouted 35 to 40 kickers. Some were at the NFL combine, and others worked out in front of special teams coach Jerry Rosburg and assistant coach Marwan Maalouf.

The Ravens, though, stressed there is no urgency to draft a kicker because they have Hauschka. An undrafted rookie out of North Carolina State, Hauschka was 1-for-2 on field goals last season (converting a 54-yarder and missing a 53-yarder). He also had three touchbacks on kickoffs. "We have Hauschka here, and we got him for a reason," general manager Ozzie Newsome said. Newsome has reiterated the Ravens haven't cut all ties with Stover - he could come back after training camp if the younger kickers flop - but it's unusual to not have the luxury of the proven 41-year-old kicker on the roster.

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[Mike Herman]

I sure hope Todd Sauerbrun doesn't read this! There's no telling what the Round Mound of 4th Down would do!

-QG

FWIW, I'm currently reading (actually listening to) Stefan Fatsis' A Few Seconds of Panic. Some good stuff on Sauerbrun from the season he was suspended the first four games of the season. Also some good stuff on Elam, among others.

Funny. Please share. Dont know if yall are aware, but Todd is a WVU alum ...

Here's a link to an excerpt. This segment is primarily about Shanahan, although the last few paragraphs discuss Sauerbrun.

 

[Mike Herman]

The following article on Grass vs. Artificial Turf was recently posted. It takes a look at some general information along with how they impact the kicking game, both from a numbers standpoint and from the viewpoint of some of your favorite NFL kickers.

"Not having to worry about your foot sticking in the ground is a big advantage." - Ryan Longwell

"I have had some crummy games dealing with that." - Jeff Reed

"I wish that Kansas City would go to it." - Connor Barth

 

[Mike Herman]

WASHINGTON

the Redskins are expected to sign punter Hunter Smith tomorrow, a league source said Thursday, and Smith will join the team for minicamp May 1-3. He has agreed to terms on a one-year deal. The Redskins hope that Smith, a 10-year veteran with the Indianapolis Colts, will help them address their poor performance on special teams last season, and the team has not been settled at the punter spot since the 2004 season. The team signed veteran Dirk Johnson to compete for punting duties in training camp, but he is likely to be released to make room for Smith on the active roster, while the Redskins still have young punter Zac Atterberry under contract. Smith, who has never missed a game in his career, had a 38.8-yard net average last season. He also also an accomplished holder on field goals - another area of concern - and serves as an emergency quarterback for the Colts, who drafted him in the 7th round in 1999.

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[Mike Herman]

DALLAS

With the 36th pick (compensatory) in the 5th Round, the Cowboys drafted USC kicker David Buehler. Apparently they decided Nick Folk's kickoffs are not adequate, despite the fact they didn't let him him tee off last year due to the poor coverage unit.

 

[Mike Herman]

NEW ENGLAND

The Patriots drafted Hawaii longsnapper Jake Ingram in the sixth round.

A former defensive end switched to long snapper during the 2005 season, head coach June Jones believed Ingram was too valuable to be a reserve on defense. NFL scouts are likely to agree with Jones' assessment of Ingram as a long-snapper. Ingram is clearly the top prospect in the country at the vital, if underappreciated, position. He's not a big bruiser who could play center in a pinch but his accuracy and velocity will be valued by teams looking for a reliable snapper. Had an arm span of 31 3/4 inches and a hand span of 9 inches at the combine.

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[Mike Herman]

KANSAS CITY

The Chiefs drafted Ryan Succop with the final pick of the draft. The South Carolina kicker will compete against Connor Barth from North Carolina.

 

[Mike Herman]

DALLAS

The Cowboys already have an outstanding kicker in Nick Folk, so why take fifth-rounder David Buehler, who was a workout wonder at the scouting combine? Maybe they have something bigger in mind for him -- Safety? Linebacker? Coach? -- and Buehler hinted at that while talking to Dallas reporters by phone Sunday. "I believe I'm a kickoff/special teams player, but I'm not positive," Buehler said, according to the Dallas Morning News. "I'm going in there with my eyes wide open."

linkKANSAS CITY

About three minutes before time for the last guy to be picked — they call him Mr. Irrelevant — Ryan Succop's phone rang. He was hanging out in Columbia, S.C., with teammates, friends and his family (dad David, mom Kathy, older sister Kelsey and little sister Ali had all made the trip from Hickory). The call was from the Chiefs, letting Succop know he was about to become Mr. I. "I was ecstatic," Succop said by phone several hours after becoming semi-famous. "I was really excited. We knew about it (the award) and we knew Kansas City had the pick and there was a chance to be taken last." When he was, the phone just kept ringing and ringing and ringing. At some point, he spoke with Paul Salata, who thought up the Mr. Irrelevant award and started giving it out in 1976. By 10 p.m. Sunday, Succop estimated he'd been able to return maybe 15 of 50 phone calls he'd received.

"I've really haven't thought a lot about it (being Mr. Irrelevant)," said Succop. Succop is the 34th name to go on Salata's list. It's not as high-profile as being picked No. 1, but it has its perks. In June, Succop heads out to Newport Beach, Calif., for a week-long series of events that Salata, a former college football player, has developed. The Mr. Irrelevant celebration includes a golf tournament, a regatta and a sports banquet at which the guy with the booming foot who wore No. 64 for the Red Tornadoes gets The Lowsman Trophy. The trophy is a parody of The Heisman Trophy and looks exactly like it except the player is fumbling the ball.

"The best part of it (being drafted) is having an opportunity to play in the NFL," Succop told The Associated Press. "Whether it's middle pick or the last pick, I'm just happy to have the opportunity." He earned it. While battling a sports hernia injury last season, Succop hit 20 of 30 field goals, including a long of 54 yards, in the Gamecocks' 7-6 season. As sophomore and junior, Succop made 29 of 37 field goals. He did not punt last year for South Carolina, but in the two years he did he averaged 42 yards per punt. And there are those booming kickoffs. At Hickory High, they rocketed into the end zone with regularity and brought with them poor field position for opponents. At camp, Succop will have to battle former North Carolina kicker Connor Barth (from Wilmington) for a spot on the roster.

linkNEW ORLEANS

New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton - Post-Draft Press Conference - Sunday, April 26, 2009

Do you feel a lot more comfortable at kicker than you did at punter?

"I was really, really encouraged when the season ended. We went through that period of time where at both kicker and punter we made some changes. We felt like in Garrett (Hartley)'s evaluation - obviously he went 13-for-13 and we saw the leg-strength and the get-off. There was a clutch kick that he needed to make in Tampa Bay - down three in the rain, 43 yards left hash, and he hit it. Aside from just the 13 field goals that we saw, we saw a ton of post-practice, ‘make this kick and no one runs or miss the kick and everyone's running'. He's a guy that I'm excited that we have. That's a credit to the pro scouting department, because it's not a science. We didn't draft him. We drafted the kid from Wisconsin. I'm just glad that when the season ended we ended up with him. We went in a roundabout way to get him but I do feel that he's going to kick in this league and he's going to kick for this team for a long time. I'd like to find someone to give him run. I don't like the numbers forcing you to roll into camp and there's one guy at a position. We never had to do that in the past. There has always been enough numbers. Now teams are having to go to training camp where technically there's one guy who has a spot already."

Will you look at Morstead as a kickoff guy as well?

"We'll take a peek and evaluate him. We know he has the leg, although I would say that we think Garrett has real good ability in that area. He has good leg strength."

Will you bring in a kicker to compete with Garrett Hartley?

"That's a good question. The challenge here when we finish today is that four years ago your 80 (signed players on roster) plus your (NFL) Europe exemptions. Now you have your 80 and what amounts to who you draft. What typically happens is that the guys we sign after the draft become contracted players. The guys that we drafted haven't signed a contract yet, so if our draft number is four in regards to the number of players that we drafted, we've got to get to that number of 84. If our draft number was nine, we could get to 89. As you sign a player in June or in July, at some point before that pick goes to training camp, then you have to bring that number down and then ultimately when you report to camp, you're at 80, so what that forces you to do take a long look at if we're going to bring three quarterbacks to camp or are we going to bring a fourth. Are we going to bring a backup long snapper to challenge for that position or are we just bringing one. Are we bringing a backup kicker to challenge, because when you start doing that, all of a sudden you're light at corner or you're light at receiver. To answer your question, we're kind of in the midst of kind of moving these magnets....

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[Mike Herman]

UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT SIGNINGS

BAL - Graham Gano (FSU)

BUF - Danny Urrego (Portland State)

CHI - Jeff Wolfert (Missouri) - invited to minicamp

DET - Swayze Waters (UAB)

IND - Tim Masthay (Kentucky)

PHI - Sam Swank (Wake Forest)

SD - Louie Sakoda (Utah) - invited to minicamp

STL - Brooks Rossman (Kansas State)

 

[Mike Herman]

BALTIMORE

Sunday afternoon wasn't easy on Florida State kicker Graham Gano. By nightfall, the end result couldn't have been better. Though Gano, a 2005 Tate High graduate, was not selected during the seven rounds of the NFL Draft this weekend, he was picked up by the Baltimore Ravens as a rookie free agent after the conclusion of the draft. "I'm really excited," said Gano, who watched the draft at his home in Tallahassee. "I couldn't be any happier knowing that I'm with an NFL team. I'm ready to get up there and compete. I'm just speechless." Gano enjoyed a banner season with the Seminoles in 2008, making 24 of 26 field goals on the way to the 2008 Lou Groza Award, an honor given to the nation's top placekicker. He was also FSU's starting punter for three seasons, and several NFL teams were looking at Gano as a punter.

Seconds after the draft was complete Sunday, Gano got a call from Jerry Rosburg, the special teams coordinator for the Ravens. He offered Gano a chance to come in and compete for the placekicking and kickoff jobs. Gano will compete with Steven Hauschka, who served as the team's kickoff and long range field goal specialist. After his first season with the Ravens in 2008, Hauschka was signed for another year March 17. Gano will report to a rookie minicamp May 8. "(Baltimore) is a really good spot," Gano said. "Just to be able to compete for a job is great." Before the draft ended, Gano received a call from the Chicago Bears, who expressed interest in taking him late in the seventh round (with No. 251 overall pick) but the team opted for Derek Kinder, a wide receiver from Pittsburgh.

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[Mike Herman]

DALLAS

As a field goal kicker, few in the NFL are better than Nick Folk. As a kickoff guy, Folk knew before the Cowboys drafted David Buehler in the fifth round Sunday that he would have to improve. Folk did not have a touchback last year. He had a league-high five kickoffs sail out of bounds. Part of his struggles was the philosophy of former special teams coach Bruce Read. He wanted Folk to kick directionally, putting the ball in a precise area outside the numbers to help a coverage team that needed help. I spoke with Folk last week for another story and slipped in a few kicking questions. "For me, I think it was more mechanical," Folk said. "I don't want to say I didn't trust myself but I sort of didn't trust myself too well. I wanted to get it over there and not hit it too hard and have it go down the middle of the field or go right or out of bounds if I was going left. I kind of took it a little bit slower and not as tough as a swing." Folk said new coach Joe DeCamillis wants some direction but he is more of a power guy. Last year, Jacksonville, Decamillis' former team, had the best coverage team allowing an average starting position of the 24.5 yard line. The Cowboys were 29th at the 29.3. "He doesn't care if I show which way I'm starting off [as he approaches the ball]," Folk said. With Buehler, the Cowboys are committed to keeping two kickers. It's a risk given the value of gameday roster spots. And it's a risk knowing they are keeping a third quarterback all season too. There will have to be at least one spot the Cowboys go lighter this year.

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[Mike Herman]

CHICAGO

Add Missouri kicker Jeff Wolfert to the list of Tigers coming in for a tryout at the rookie minicamp. The Bears are already bringing in quarterback Chase Patton on a tryout basis. Special teams coordinator Dave Toub worked at the school for more than 10 years, and spoke at the coaches' clinic there during this offseason. It was reported in Columbia, Mo., that Toub saw Wolfert work out then. The Bears are unlikely to bring a second kicker with them to training camp. After roster limits were lowered last season and the NFL Europe exemptions went bye-bye along with the developmental league itself, it became tougher for teams to carry backup specialists into camps. Because veteran punter Brad Maynard has been bothered in recent years with hamstring and back issues, the Bears are more likely to go with a second punter in training camp. That is what they did last summer with Zac Atterberry. In a perfect situation, Toub finds a punter who can also kick for training camp.

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University of Kentucky senior Tim Masthay received interest from Philadelphia, Cleveland and Chicago but decided on the Colts, who lost longtime punter Hunter Smith to Washington in the off-season. Masthay will have to beat out West Virginia punter Pat McAfee, who was drafted in the seventh round, but his ability to kick off should be an asset. "I'm actually friends with Pat," Masthay said. "We were roommates at a kicking camp last year, and he's a great guy. He's sort of their guy coming in, but they still expressed to me that they wanted me to come there. There would have been competition wherever I went. I just felt Indianapolis was the best situation for me."

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[Mike Herman]

NY JETS

Tuesday morning was another typical morning for Gary Cismesia. He found himself at Buffalo Creek Park kicking a football. Seventy-two times. “He told me to save some leg,” Cismesia said. “But I want to be ready.” “He” is Mike Westhoff, the New York Jets special teams coach who called Cismesia on Monday and invited the former Lakewood Ranch High and Florida State kicker to this weekend’s rookie mini-camp in Florham Park, N.J. “They’re going to give me an opportunity,” Cismesia said. “I’m pretty excited.”

Cismesia, who completed his career at Florida State in 2007, was not picked in the 2008 NFL Draft or offered a free agent contract afterward. He tried out for five Arena Football League teams and thought he had a spot with the Cleveland Gladiators until the AFL cancelled the 2009 season. Cismesia was informed by the organizers of the United National Gridiron League that he was drafted by the Louisiana team, then later informed by e-mail the league will not start as planned. Cismesia did spend a week in March with the Florida Firecats of the arenafootball2 league, but decided kicking indoors would adversely affect the way he kicked outdoors. And Cismesia wants to kick outdoors. In the NFL.

Meanwhile, Cismesia’s father, J.C., flooded the NFL with a highlight tape and a bio of his son, comparing Cismesia favorably with former Florida State kicker Sebastian Janikowski, who was a first-round pick with the Oakland Raiders in 2000. “I sent tapes to all 32 (NFL) teams,” J.C. Cismesia said. “We never stopped. Some teams got two tapes. Some teams got three.” J.C. even made a call to each NFL team, asking for their special teams coach. “It’s impossible to get through,” J.C. said. But Westhoff, who has a home in Fort Myers, was impressed with the package he received on Cismesia. Westhoff invited Cismesia to Fort Myers three weeks before the NFL Draft for an hour-long workout at South Fort Myers High School. “He worked me out pretty hard,” Cismesia said. “I did some kicking.” Westhoff told Cismesia to expect a call if the Jets didn’t draft a kicker last weekend. The Jets passed on a kicker, and the call came Monday.

A good showing this weekend and Cismesia said he will be invited to training camp where he will compete with nine-year veteran Jay Feely. Even if he doesn’t make the final roster, Cismesia feels kicking in a preseason game will advance his career. “I’m getting my foot in the door,” Cismesia said. “I’ll get some film, so even if I don’t make it, I’ll have something to show other NFL teams.”

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[Mike Herman]

INDIANAPOLIS

Both guys are loud. Both are boisterous. Both like to draw attention to themselves. But, if you listen to new Colts 6th round selection Pat McAfee, he very much wants you to know that he is not an "idiot" like Mike Vanderjagt: "Ah, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this. Mike Vanderjagt. What you need to know is he is not a good representation of kickers from West Virginia. I need you to understand that. I need you to understand that. Please." Folks, all you have to do is listen to Pat McAfee talk for 5 minutes, and instantly you are going to like him. Pat McAfee is colorful, affable, funny, and very much aware of what he is all about.

The Colts and Bill Polian have made it clear: Pat McAfee is the new punter for the Indianapolis Colts. Though he kicked FGs, handled kickoffs, and punted at West Virginia, the Colts drafted McAfee to succeed Hunter Smith, who departed via free agency and signed with the Washington Redskins. Most of McAfee's scouting reports focus more on his FG kicking than his punting. In college, they use a little bit different style of punting formation, more akin to rugby. So, it isn't really all that clear how well McAfee will punt in the pros. What we do know is the Colts traded a 2010 6th round pick to move up in the sixth round and get McAfee. So, if Bill Polian did that, the Colts must feel as though this kid can get the job done. Aside from punting and kicking, the other thing McAfee can do is run and tackle. Yes, that's right. At 5'11, 228 pounds, McAfee isn't some skinny ##### out there whiffing on tackles if a returner gets past the first line of defense. McAfee is the kind of punter that will chase the returner down, wrap him up, and bury him into the turf. Another interesting factoid about McAfee that seems to distinguish him from his predecessor is while Hunter Smith had a Christian rock band on the side, McAfee has dabbled in professional wrestling on the side. Hunter Smith's band name was Connorsville. Pat McAfee's wrestling opponent was named War Pig!

Again, he has been with the team all of three days, and already I REALLY like Pat McAfee. You'll like him as well when you listen to him on 1070 the Fan call Mike Vanderjagt an "idiot" and say that he is very excited to play with his personal hero, Adam Vinatieri. So, while we can't say for sure just what kind of punter McAfee will be, what we do know is he will certainly be a colorful character. And while he may say or do some silly things, this kid seems very much aware of the wonderful opportunity he is stepping into. He is working with his idol (Vinatieri) and has a good coach in Ray Rychleski (who comes from the college ranks) to teach him how to punt in the pros. McAfee is no stranger to kicking and punting in pressure situations. Football is life at West Virginia, and when McAfee would miss FGs, he would get death threats. No kidding. So, this kid knows how to deal with pressure, and he knows how to work hard. He's going to fit in well here.

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[Mike Herman]

CINCINNATI

Bengals kicker Shayne Graham signed his $2.5 million one-year franchise tender Thursday, indicating he'll be joining the team for offseason workouts. Graham issued a press release when the Bengals designated him their franchise free agent instead of doing interviews back in February and didn't participate in the first month of offseason conditioning. But now that he's signed, the contract, which is the average of the top five paid kickers in the NFL, is guaranteed. The club has until July 15 to reach a long-term deal with him that can count in the '09 salary cap. “We’re happy Shayne is signed in advance of our offseason camps,” said head coach Marvin Lewis in a press release, “and this does not preclude our continuing to talk to Shayne and his representatives about reaching a longer-term agreement.”

Graham, fourth all-time in the NFL for field goal accuracy at 85.6 percent, has set several club records during his six seasons in Cincinnati. In addition to being the accuracy leader, he holds the most points in a season (131), field goals in a season (31), field goals in a game (seven) and consecutive field goals made (21). In his February statement, Graham said he would have "preferred a long-term deal here or elsewhere... I will be committed to helping the Bengals win football games in the 2009 season. I truly appreciate the support of my teammates and the great fans of Cincinnati," he said. And he has done a lot for the fans. His “Kicks for Kids” program assists at-risk children in Greater Cincinnati, and he has been a board member of the Cincinnati FreeStore/FoodBank. Last season he helped organize the nation’s most successful “Taste of the NFL” event, raising more than $170,000 for meals for the hungry.

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[doowain]

CINCINNATI

Bengals kicker Shayne Graham signed his $2.5 million one-year franchise tender Thursday, indicating he'll be joining the team for offseason workouts. Graham issued a press release when the Bengals designated him their franchise free agent instead of doing interviews back in February and didn't participate in the first month of offseason conditioning. But now that he's signed, the contract, which is the average of the top five paid kickers in the NFL, is guaranteed. The club has until July 15 to reach a long-term deal with him that can count in the '09 salary cap. “We’re happy Shayne is signed in advance of our offseason camps,” said head coach Marvin Lewis in a press release, “and this does not preclude our continuing to talk to Shayne and his representatives about reaching a longer-term agreement.”

Graham, fourth all-time in the NFL for field goal accuracy at 85.6 percent, has set several club records during his six seasons in Cincinnati. In addition to being the accuracy leader, he holds the most points in a season (131), field goals in a season (31), field goals in a game (seven) and consecutive field goals made (21). In his February statement, Graham said he would have "preferred a long-term deal here or elsewhere... I will be committed to helping the Bengals win football games in the 2009 season. I truly appreciate the support of my teammates and the great fans of Cincinnati," he said. And he has done a lot for the fans. His “Kicks for Kids” program assists at-risk children in Greater Cincinnati, and he has been a board member of the Cincinnati FreeStore/FoodBank. Last season he helped organize the nation’s most successful “Taste of the NFL” event, raising more than $170,000 for meals for the hungry.

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While you hear about our convicts, very few take a look at the guys like Graham on our roster. Graham is awesome, both on the field and off. I'm excited to have him back. Now, I just hope they do the right thing and lock him up long term.

 

[Mike Herman]

INDIANAPOLIS

The West Virginia football program has delivered another versatile punter/kicker to the Indianapolis Colts roster. Pat McAfee, the latest Mountaineer and a seventh-round draft pick, hopes he measures up to Mike Vanderjagt, another ex-Mountaineer. "It's going to be a tough act to follow," McAfee said Friday after going through the first of three rookie minicamp sessions at the team's West 56th Street complex. "If I have half the career that Mike Vanderjagt had, I think I'll be pretty happy." Vanderjagt set a franchise record with 995 points in his eight seasons but irritated management with his outspokenness. "I don't know if I have the flair of Mike Vanderjagt," McAfee said with a smile. "(But) I think I can be pretty entertaining." A few months ago, McAfee was asked by friends who ran a lower-level professional wrestling league in southern West Virginia to make an appearance to help boost attendance. When he showed up, they convinced him to wrestle. "They promised I wouldn't get hurt," McAfee said. "I got in the ring, ran around a little bit" and defeated War Pig. "I am undefeated . . . and will remain that way for a long time," McAfee said.

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The 49ers added kicker Alex Romero to the roster. Romero spent last season with the New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena League.

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[QuizGuy66]

I sure hope Todd Sauerbrun doesn't read this! There's no telling what the Round Mound of 4th Down would do!

-QG

FWIW, I'm currently reading (actually listening to) Stefan Fatsis' A Few Seconds of Panic. Some good stuff on Sauerbrun from the season he was suspended the first four games of the season. Also some good stuff on Elam, among others.

Funny. Please share. Dont know if yall are aware, but Todd is a WVU alum ...

Here's a link to an excerpt. This segment is primarily about Shanahan, although the last few paragraphs discuss Sauerbrun.

And Just Like That, The Round Mound of 4th Down is back in the news.-QG

 

[Mike Herman]

DALLAS

Cowboys special teams coach Joe DeCamillis broke his back and 11 more were injured when winds just shy of tornado strength ripped through the roof of the team's indoor practice facility during a rookie minicamp Saturday. Former coach Dan Reeves, DeCamillis' father-in-law, said the first-year Dallas coach has a couple of broken vertebrae in his lower back. "They say he's lucky not to be paralyzed," said Reeves, adding that DeCamillis probably will have surgery. The coach was seen being removed on a stretcher wearing a neck brace.

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David Buehler, the kicker/special teams player the Cowboys drafted in the fifth round, was standing on the sideline when the team's indoor facility began to collapse. He bolted out a side door and was sprinting across a practice field when a pole crashed down on him. Buehler, dazed by a blow to his head, wriggled out from under the pole and crawled approximately 15 yards through pools of water before turning around and looking at the wreckage. "My initial thought was, how many people are dead in this?" Buehler said tonight. "I thought I was the lucky one." Buehler thinks he actually suffered the worst injuries among the players, although he wasn't severely hurt. He needed three stitches to close a gash on his right knee. He also has a concussion, sore neck, skin ripped off his ear and a cut on his forehead. Yet he feels very fortunate, a feeling he said was shared by his teammates. "Guys were in shock," Buehler said, "and very thankful."

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The first thing to know about rookie kicker David Buehler is that his last name is pronounced BEE-ler, not Buehler, as in Ferris. The second thing is that the Southern California ex is not an ordinary kicker. At 6-foot-2, 227 pounds, he could be confused with any of the five linebackers participating in Cowboys rookie mini-camp this weekend. "I like to break the mold as the athletic kicker," Buehler said. Basically unknown outside of USC, Buehler’s performance at the NFL combine thrust him into the limelight. His 25 repetitions bench pressing 225 pounds topped three elite linemen and suddenly Buehler must have thought that he was Ferris. "I was confident going in there [to the combine] and about putting up good numbers," Buehler said. "But, I didn’t realize that Jim Rome would talk about me, that I’d be on ESPN First Take and ESPN Radio. It was crazy." Don’t look for Buehler, whom the Cowboys have discussed more extensive roles on special teams to utilize his strength, such as being the up-back on punts — the middle man in the punt formation — to get a big head. Buehler knows Dallas drafted him primarily to boom kickoffs and not necessarily to compete with dead-eye field-goal kicker Nick Folk, who Buehler’s known since he was in high school. "I met him at the Chris Sailor Kicking Camp. He was actually an instructor while I was trying to get my name established and trying to get into a Division I college," Buehler said. "[The Cowboys] brought me in to help out with kickoffs and help out with field position and I’m going to do that job."

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[Mike Herman]

SAN DIEGO

The Chargers gave him jersey No. 1. It could stand for Louie Sakoda's one chance in, say, a half-million of beating out Nate Kaeding and/or Mike Scifres. By no means is that a slam at Sakoda, a rare talent indeed, a special-teams guy who was a consensus first-team All-American as both a placekicker (2008) and punter ('07) at Utah. Of all the teams he might've chosen for a tryout, though, about the last place you'd figure to find him in an NFL minicamp is San Diego. To put it mildly, simply and obviously, see, both jobs are taken. Quite taken. Have been for quite some time now, with no opening imminent. Kaeding and Scifres are two of the Chargers' best, steadiest and most dependable performers. “In my mind, just the ultimate spot would be to make the practice squad and, hopefully, be there for some team somewhere, if someone gets hurt,” Sakoda said. “I plan to show I'm somewhat of a commodity here and, hopefully, after this weekend I can sign a free-agent deal. This is just the best opportunity for me. I'm getting insight on kicking and punting from two of the best in the league, just by watching and learning from them. I've already picked up a few things from Scifres.” Sakoda has a little Kaeding in him, too, in that his game relies more on accuracy than power. He was not among the three punters and two placekickers drafted, none higher than the fifth round. “Teams are looking for those booming legs, and there were a lot of those coming out of this year's class,” said Sakoda, whose holder his sophomore year was Chargers safety Eric Weddle. “David Buehler from USC (Dallas Cowboys). Pat McAfee from West Virginia (Indianapolis Colts). Put those guys in front of the coaches and they get a whole different sound to their ball. It's just the way of the league.”

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[Mike Herman]

CHICAGO & GREEN BAY

FBG interviews with Robbie Gould and Mason Crosby.

Both kickers discuss some of your favorite topics.

 

[Mike Herman]

PHILADELPHIA

Heading into his senior season at Wake Forest last August, Sam Swank appeared well on his way to adding fortune to the fame that comes with setting school records for points scored and field goals made over the first three years of a four-year career. He was productive enough to have made more field-goal attempts (60) than any other active kicker in college football. He was dependable enough to have been named the team's most-valuable player as a sophomore, when he kicked three field goals longer than 50 yards to help beat N.C. State 25-23. Plus he punted, well enough to be named honorable mention All-ACC as a sophomore. Since the ACC started in 1953, Wake Forest had produced three punters (Chuck Ramsey, Harry Newsome and Ryan Plackemeier) who were drafted by NFL teams, but never a kicker. Swank was on target to be the first. Then he got injured. Swank could have bemoaned the pulled quadriceps muscle that cost him six games of his senior season, turned his swan song into a dirge and probably had as much as anything to do with the decision of 32 NFL teams to pass on Swank on draft weekend. But those who know Swank know that's not him. He signed with the Eagles the day the draft ended, attended an offseason camp last weekend and is primed and ready to do whatever it takes to land a spot on the roster when training camp starts in earnest on July 26.

Swank said he had free-agent offers from three teams, the Eagles, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers. His decision to sign with Philadelphia was largely geographical -- he had lived in nearby Allentown, Pa., for seven years before his family moved to Jacksonville Beach, Fla., when he was 10, and Philadelphia is on the East Coast and thus only a two-hour flight from his family. "San Francisco is way out there, and Cleveland is Cleveland," Swank said. "Since I had the hometown ties to the Eagles, I thought it would be a lot of fun to give them a try." The Eagles, like most NFL teams, have an established kicker and an established punter. Kicker David Akers is an 11-year veteran who last season made 33 of 40 field-goal attempts. Punter Sav Rocca has averaged 42.7 yards a punt in his two seasons with the Eagles. Akers, who signed as a free agent himself, missed a 47-yard field-goal attempt and an extra-point kick in his last game, a playoff loss to Arizona. Two seasons ago, he lost his range and was only 1 for 6 from between 40 and 49 yards. Rocca's net gain on punts last season was 37.9 yards, which ranked 14th in the NFL. Perhaps more important, Akers is 34, and Rocca is 35.

Swank spent three days in Philadelphia going through two workouts Friday, two Saturday and one Sunday. He said he wasn't asked to kick any field goals, but he did punt and kick off. The most encouraging part of the weekend was that Swank punted and kicked pain free. He said he had healed by the time he returned to kick for Wake Forest against Navy in the EagleBank Bowl, and hasn't felt any effects from the pulled quadriceps since. "The ol' quad is great," Swank said. "It's not giving me any kind of problems. It's holding up quite well. I've been healthy since the bowl. "I feel like I have a very strong leg, and when it's 100 percent I can kick it as far as anyone. Knowing that, it's just really just technique. To be able to just concentrate on technique and knowing that the leg strength is there, it's great to have that sense that it's all there and it's all going to work."

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[Mike Herman]

BALTIMORE

How do you determine whether Steve Hauschka or Graham Gano is your kicker?

HC John Harbaugh: It's like any position, you really don't know until you see them in a meaningful regular-season game situation. With a kicker, you really don't know until you see them in the most meaningful kick situation -- a game winner. Matt Stover won't make them all, but they've seen him make enough that they have enough confidence in him. Well, you're never going to have confidence in any young kicker until he's does it a few times. As coaches, we're like a fan in the sense that we don't know either. And you know what the truth is, the two kickers don't even know.

We know we're out on the limb. We know it's a risk. But it's a no-choice situation for us. Everybody is a little anxious about it, but we have to find out at some point if we can have one kicker on our 53-man roster who can do both [kickoff and field goals] and who is a younger guy. The fact that Matt's contract is up, this year made it the time. It's kind of out of our control. The good thing is Matt has held the option open [to come back]. He understands totally, and he knows there is a chance that he can be the kicker next year.

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[Mike Herman]

DALLAS

Cowboys kicker Nick Folk had surgery on his right hip Tuesday to repair a labral tear and is expected to need eight weeks to resume light kicking, which could allow him to return in time for training camp. "They said the worst that could happen is that I'd be 100 percent by the beginning of training camp, so training camp might be just me getting my legs under me," Folk said. "It just kind of sucks that it has to happen now, but we've got time to get it ready." Folk said the hip bothered him for the last five weeks of the season but thought it would improve with rest in the off-season. Dr. Marc Phillipon, one of the top hip specialists in the country, performed the operation in Colorado and Folk said he would likely remain there for extra treatment through next week. On April 26, the Cowboys drafted Southern Cal kicker David Buehler in the fifth round of the NFL Draft, largely to be a kickoff specialist. Buehler suffered minor injuries in the collapse of the Cowboys' practice facilty last Saturday and need stitches for a cut on his right knee. Folk, who is entering his third season, has made 46 of 53 field goal attempts in his first two years and all 95 point-after attempts. He connected on 20-of-22 tries last season and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2007 as a rookie. Buehler, who is also expected to see extra special teams' duty, made 26 of 33 tries at USC for his career and had 69 touchbacks.

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[Mike Herman]

BALTIMORE

Baltimore Beatdown was able to catch up with Graham Gano before this weekend's initial Rookie Camp. Here is my interview with him:

Rexx: You were signed to compete with current Ravens kicker, Steve Hauschka, to replace the veteran Matt Stover. How will it feel to try to replace one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history?

Graham: Matt Stover has made a great name for himself in the NFL and he was somebody that I have looked up to since I began to kick footballs as a ninth grader in high school. He has one of the best field goal percentages of all time and his consistency has set the bar high for kickers all over the nation. To come in and have the opportunity to fill his void will definitely be a challenge, but an honor as well.

Rexx: What do you expect to be the biggest challenges and differences between the college and pro games?

Graham: I think that the biggest challenge will be having a longer season in the NFL. I feel that kicking field goals, kicking off, and punting this past season helped prepare me. I feel so honored and blessed to be given this opportunity. My work ethic is something I take pride in, and I plan on making that a mainstay in my career. My conditioning and preparation is something I continue to do and will work very hard at to make sure I am the absolute best I can be.

Rexx: You won the Lou Groza Award, given to college football's top placekicker and was considered to be the best kicking prospect entering the 2009 NFL Draft. What pressure does that bring with it?

Graham: I am very grateful for that award and with it I feel comes a responsibility to live up to that honor by preparing myself to be at my best. I also realize that you are only as good as your NEXT field goal, or extra point or kick off. I am humbled by the task in front of me and honestly, it's important to me to keep my focus on the kicks in front of me rather than the ones in the rear view mirror.

Rexx: What goes through your mind when you line up for a key field goal and how does it feel to see a game winning kick go through the uprights?

Graham: I visualize the ball going through the uprights before I even step on the field. When I am out there everything around me is a blur and I am only focused on the snap, hold, and kick. I train in practice as if it were a game so that when the opportunity arises, I have been there before.

Rexx: Ravens fans might not know that you also handled the punting chores for FSU and were actually named the best punter in the ACC by the Sporting News. Although the Ravens have one of the league's top punters in Sam Koch, do you feel that you could handle both the placekicking and punting in the NFL?

Graham: In Baltimore my focus will be on kicking field goals and kicking off. If there was any reason that I would need to step in to punt, I feel confident that I would be able to help out. All in all I will do whatever is best for the team whether it is kicking or punting.

Rexx: Do you have a nickname that you can share with us?

Graham: I have a ton of nicknames but the one that sticks out to me the most would have to be Graham Cracker.

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