Prater nails 68 yarder in camp.

[Requiem / The Dagda]

From Bill Williamson's blog on ESPN. (http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afcwest/0-2-156/Elam-s-replacement-nails-68-yarder-at-camp.html)

Sure, it's camp -- but wow.

[SR]

Would have been good from 72-73 yards. Holy crap.

[claymore]

Would have been good from 72-73 yards. Holy crap.

Its the system SR. :D

[turftoad]

This is cool. Sounds like he's got a strong leg. Will be good for KO's and long attempts.

That said, I'm much more interested to see how accurate he is inside the 50.

[Jwalk - JayCutty6Goes - CasinoRoyal]

Yup been screaming about this kid for a while, He has really refined his technique since coming to Denver learning from Elam and out special teams coaches.

[Magnificent Seven]

Accuracy, Focus,and Control the pressure. He will be good to go for 70 yards.

[SR]

Based on some of the stuff I've read, he could be our next "it" think at the PK position.

[turftoad]

Accuracy, Focus,and Control the pressure. He will be good to go for 70 yards.

Kicking a 70 yarder in practice is a little different than a game sitch. There is no defense with thier arms up to block anything.

[Day1BroncoFan]

Oh heck yea! :dance:

[Magnificent Seven]

Kicking a 70 yarder in practice is a little different than a game sitch. There is no defense with thier arms up to block anything.

True.

[NameUsedBefore]

Many kickers have power; it's the accuracy that matters.

A 68-yarder in practice is not impressive to me. Something like being 10/10 on kicks, however, would definitely get me excited.

[Jwalk - JayCutty6Goes - CasinoRoyal]

Kicking a 70 yarder in practice is a little different than a game sitch. There is no defense with thier arms up to block anything.

I doubt he wil be kicking 7o yarders in games anyway. But it is nice to know that he is capable of hitting them that deep.

[Magnificent Seven]

Many kickers have power; it's the accuracy that matters.

A 68-yarder in practice is not impressive to me. Something like being 10/10 on kicks, however, would definitely get me excited.

I second that. However, I would like to see our new Bronco breaks Elam's record in Denver. Jason Elam is tied with Tom Dempsey for the longest field goal in NFL history at 63 yards. I want Prater to advances over them and become one in NFL’s record book.

[Jwalk - JayCutty6Goes - CasinoRoyal]

Many kickers have power; it's the accuracy that matters.

A 68-yarder in practice is not impressive to me. Something like being 10/10 on kicks, however, would definitely get me excited.

Okay it was in a 2 minute drill with time expiring, 11 on 11. He has only missed 7-8 kicks throughout camps and OTAs out of over 100. The man is not missing and has very deep range. If that does'nt excite you then :confused:. :lol:

[Timmy!]

He certainly sounds impressive. The knock on this kid is suppose to be his accuracy. Sure he's nailing them in camp, we'll see about live game situations as he's something like 1-3 in his career. I hope we get a chance to see him attempt something 55+ in preseason. Regardless, with such a strong leg it's going to be nice to not waste a roster spot on a KO specialist.

[Ziggy]

I've never been a Prater fan because he's always choked when it counted. I hope that changes, because he has a monster leg. I wouldn't be surprised to see us be #1 in kickoff coverage this year though.

[NameUsedBefore]

Okay it was in a 2 minute drill with time expiring, 11 on 11. He has only missed 7-8 kicks throughout camps and OTAs out of over 100. The man is not missing and has very deep range. If that does'nt excite you then :confused:. :lol:

I highlighted the important part.

[BeefStew25]

Well, kickoffs into the end zone should be standard.

[Jwalk - JayCutty6Goes - CasinoRoyal]

Well, kickoffs into the end zone should be standard.

Not for the Broncos the last few years. They been landing at about the 20 consistantly.

[LRtagger]

I highlighted the important part.

What do you want him to do? Call Goodell and have him arrange a regular season game right now?

Whether it is TC or not, him making everything is better than him missing everything.

[Lonestar]

I doubt he wil be kicking 7o yarders in games anyway. But it is nice to know that he is capable of hitting them that deep.


probably would have several times last year.. might have gotten us a couple more bogus wins..

[Lonestar]

Well, kickoffs into the end zone should be standard.


something he have sucked at for almost a decade..

If it is through end zone there an on run backs to the 30+ yard line..

[NameUsedBefore]

What do you want him to do? Call Goodell and have him arrange a regular season game right now?

Whether it is TC or not, him making everything is better than him missing everything.

Most running-backs who don't make it in this league simply never make it to the field. It is rare, IMO, for a running-back to excel in practice but fail on the field (not including injuries).

It is not rare, however, for kickers (and punters) to excel in practice but flop on the field. I see it alllllll the time league-over.

The dichotomy between a game-time kick and a practice kick is probably much more different than a real/practice situation for all other positions. You can accurately simulate many things for a running-back in practice; not so much with kickers.

Kickers have much more of a mental game going on than a physical one. Only with a kicker does the home-crowd try to simulate practice by being as quiet as possible, or to the contrary, try to do the exact opposite if the opposing team's kicker is on the field. Only with kickers do you get attempts at "icing". When's the last time you saw a coach try to ice a QB?

Sure, it's great that Praeter is doing good. I'm not being cynical, just wary. I've seen plenty of kickers kick 60+ yard field goals, including a Broncos kicker who kicked a 65-yarder in preseason a few years ago, and then be absolute crap in real-game situations. Being in Texas, I saw it happen to Dallas practically year after year for some time.

It's really just the nature of a position that banks on one's mental will.

[weazel]

Prater nailed a 68 year old in camp? thats gross

[Jwalk - JayCutty6Goes - CasinoRoyal]

Prater nailed a 68 year old in camp? thats gross

With room to spare, Could have beena 74 yarder. Go watch the day 9 highlights you will see the man is on his game. Oh on the website denverbroncos.com

[BroncoBuff]

There's a reason why he's the only K in camp.

[BroncoBuff]

Well, kickoffs into the end zone should be standard.
Should be maybe, but they're not.

[BroncoWave]

probably would have several times last year.. might have gotten us a couple more bogus wins..

You didn't really just type that. :rolleyes:

[BroncoWave]

Holy crap, I just watched the video and not only did he nail that kick, he made it look effortless. If Shanny trusts him enough to cut the guy competing with him weeks before camp, I trust him too. I think the kid could be special.

[BroncoJoe]

Amazing when one of our Broncos does something special, the nay-sayers come a callin'.

Broncos Fans? What's wrong with being excited?

[omac]

Prater nailed a 68 year old in camp? thats gross

:D Yeah, he should've waited till the season started.

[BroncoWave]

Amazing when one of our Broncos does something special, the nay-sayers come a callin'.

Broncos Fans? What's wrong with being excited?

Yeah, until this dude actually does something in a Broncos uniform that deserves criticism, I don't get the beef with all the naysayers either.

[ApaOps5]

I was there and I saw first hand. It would have been good from 74 yds. He has been booming them all camp. He hit either a player or coaches car with a kick the other day.

Have to wait and see a game situation but the guy definitely has a cannon for a leg.

[weazel]

sounds pretty cool, cant wait to see him in game action

[NameUsedBefore]

Yeah, until this dude actually does something in a Broncos uniform that deserves criticism, I don't get the beef with all the naysayers either.

Can't say anyone's "naysaying" but just holding out for real-game situations.

Personally, I've seen plenty of kickers/punters set 'em up and knock 'em down in practice and then bomb in-game. Shouldn't be any problem with pointing this out, IMO.

[Lonestar]

Can't say anyone's "naysaying" but just holding out for real-game situations.

Personally, I've seen plenty of kickers/punters set 'em up and knock 'em down in practice and then bomb in-game. Shouldn't be any problem with pointing this out, IMO.

many of them in a bronco uniform.. saw lots of them over the past few years knock them dead out of the end zones on Kick offs only to have them splibb it out of bounds game day.

Personally I will wait to see how he does in Arrow head in a heavy duty wind on a cold day.. before being glad that Jason is gone and crowning him king..

[DenBronx]

Would have been good from 72-73 yards. Holy crap.


sorry to correct you...:D

"That would have been good at 73 or 74 (yards) right there."

[sneakers]

I am surprised no team has ever tried to get a kicker/punter so that they could save a roster spot.

[LRtagger]

Can't say anyone's "naysaying" but just holding out for real-game situations.



Thats funny, because if he was missing everything in camp or only good from 50 yards max people would be calling for his head.

The biggest obstacle Prater has with Broncos fans is that his name is not Jason Elam. Personally, I am excited about having a guy that essentially does not have a limit to his range. Kind of like what we had in Elam years ago. He may struggle this year (I'm not going to argue that - Cutler has stuggled at times early in his career as well), but so far in camp he has shown he has the skills to be a great kicker for us. I think that is the point of this thread.

[Bronco9798]

A lot of people show promise in camp and pre-season. That's why pre-season is so over-rated sometimes. Once the regular season starts it's a whole new game with the speed, coverages, schemes. Adjusting in the regular season is the key with the young guys. Just about anybody, not all, can look good in the pre-season. It's the progression after pre season that dictates if a guy is going to adjust at the next level.

[Den21vsBal19]

I am surprised no team has ever tried to get a kicker/punter so that they could save a roster spot.
Considering some rugby & aussie rules players kick equally well from the hand, or with a dead ball, that's always puzzled me as well..............:confused:

[NameUsedBefore]

Thats funny, because if he was missing everything in camp or only good from 50 yards max people would be calling for his head.


Of course they would, but that's not an argument against being wary. Quite frankly, I've seen too many kickers/punters make the big kicks in practice and flop in-game to really ever get excited about them by their camps. The next position I've grown wary of would be wide-receiver.

[Coast Guard]

Hopefully there will be some good pre-season situations for him to take advantage of. Nothing like kicking during a game...even if it's pre-season.

A couple of weeks ago, I saw a fantasy ranking for kickers and they had Prater ranked as the 7th best fantasy kicker for 2008 (Elam was 30th). I scratched my head, but who knows maybe he's that good. I'm not quite ready to add him to my fantasy team.

[Dreadnought]

I am surprised no team has ever tried to get a kicker/punter so that they could save a roster spot.

That was pretty common in the 50's and 60's. Guys like Sam Baker of the Eagles and others would handle both duties. Either that or just as common you just had a position player handle one or both. Problem is that by today's standards they usually sucked, especially the FG's. 50% was considered quite acceptable. If we had a kicker go 13 for 26 today there would be an angry mob.

Maybe my favorite example was Bert Rechichar of the Colts. He was an All Pro strong safety. He also was the 2nd string TE, Punt returner, Kickoff returner, and FG kicker, and he was terrible at every one of those roles. Thats why we have specialization.

As for Prater, I am cautiously optimistic. Replacing Elam isn't quite as much pressure as replacing Elway....but it will be ugly early if he blows a couple of kicks.

[Nomad]

A lot of people show promise in camp and pre-season. That's why pre-season is so over-rated sometimes. Once the regular season starts it's a whole new game with the speed, coverages, schemes. Adjusting in the regular season is the key with the young guys. Just about anybody, not all, can look good in the pre-season. It's the progression after pre season that dictates if a guy is going to adjust at the next level.

This is very true! Real game situations is what counts, but this does give everyone hope. And hopefully we don't need Prater too much, other than extra points and kickoffs, because the BRONCOS will be scoring tds this year.

[BroncoWave]

A lot of people show promise in camp and pre-season. That's why pre-season is so over-rated sometimes. Once the regular season starts it's a whole new game with the speed, coverages, schemes. Adjusting in the regular season is the key with the young guys. Just about anybody, not all, can look good in the pre-season. It's the progression after pre season that dictates if a guy is going to adjust at the next level.

Yeah, Prater is gonna have a tough time adjusting to all those exotic schemes and coverages! :lol:

[Jwalk - JayCutty6Goes - CasinoRoyal]

Yeah, Prater is gonna have a tough time adjusting to all those exotic schemes and coverages! :lol:

:lol::lol::lol: Righhhhhhtttttt i was just about to say the same thing untill i seen this post.

[Jwalk - JayCutty6Goes - CasinoRoyal]

Thats funny, because if he was missing everything in camp or only good from 50 yards max people would be calling for his head.

The biggest obstacle Prater has with Broncos fans is that his name is not Jason Elam. Personally, I am excited about having a guy that essentially does not have a limit to his range. Kind of like what we had in Elam years ago. He may struggle this year (I'm not going to argue that - Cutler has stuggled at times early in his career as well), but so far in camp he has shown he has the skills to be a great kicker for us. I think that is the point of this thread.

This is so true. Its what i mean about the negativity from some fans here. Everytime somebody does something good on the team there saying " Well its meaningless, Well its just practice.

A bunch of bull. Its like some people want everybody to be miserable Broncos fans like them. Only time will tell if Prater is the man.

As for now he is in camp showing his ass off with the kicks and its exciting.

[Simple Jaded]

This is meaningless!

Everybody knows that Jason Elam is the only human being on the planet that can kick field goals.

The Broncos will rue the day they made Elam take the money and run to the worst team freakin team in the league......

[Lonestar]

I remember everyone saying that Scheffler was the greatest TE in history in the preseason of 2006 . Only to have him suck it up till late in the year..

When he admitted that Preseason was pure vanilla offenses ..

When they started changing it up in week one he was lost and it took him until about week 9-10 before he was up to speed and "got it". was able to run the correct routes and make decent blocking assignments..

Lets all temper our unbridled fanaticism till they play a semi real game.. against someone other than those they practice with everyday..

[Jwalk - JayCutty6Goes - CasinoRoyal]

You can expect most rookies to start a little slow, But Shefflers injury is what really held him back. Not so much the coverage.

[Lonestar]

You can expect most rookies to start a little slow, But Shefflers injury is what really held him back. Not so much the coverage.


I guess we will have to agree to disagree with our memories..

[BroncoJoe]

I remember everyone saying that Scheffler was the greatest TE in history in the preseason of 2006 . Only to have him suck it up till late in the year..

When he admitted that Preseason was pure vanilla offenses ..

When they started changing it up in week one he was lost and it took him until about week 9-10 before he was up to speed and "got it". was able to run the correct routes and make decent blocking assignments..

Lets all temper our unbridled fanaticism till they play a semi real game.. against someone other than those they practice with everyday..

Kicking a ball through the uprights is a bit different than learning a "skilled" position.

IMO.

[Jwalk - JayCutty6Goes - CasinoRoyal]

I guess we will have to agree to disagree with our memories..

Yeah just saying though he missed TC last year and that injury lingered for the first half of the season. Just facts. Any rookie that misses TC is definitly going to struggle though early.

Sheffler injury kept him out of the first 4 games last year from doing anything, At week 5 is where he started to show up. Not week 9.

[NameUsedBefore]

Kicking a ball through the uprights is a bit different than learning a "skilled" position.

IMO.

Yeah, like I said earlier, it's far more mental. That's why I see a dime-a-dozen amount of kickers look awesome in camps before crashing when they have 70,000 fans screaming at them while they attempt to put real points on the board.

You just can't simulate the game quite as well for kickers in camp as you can for most other positions. The biggest reason is that every kicker can kick the football. The question is can they do it when it matters, when the pressure is on, when millions of people are watching?

IMO ;)

[Jwalk - JayCutty6Goes - CasinoRoyal]

Yeah, like I said earlier, it's far more mental. That's why I see a dime-a-dozen amount of kickers look awesome in camps before crashing when they have 70,000 fans screaming at them while they attempt to put real points on the board.

You just can't simulate the game quite as well for kickers in camp as you can for most other positions. The biggest reason is that every kicker can kick the football. The question is can they do it when it matters, when the pressure is on, when millions of people are watching?

IMO ;)

Dont know about that one, Ive seen Kickers look horrible in camps. Did you happen to see Justin Medlock in the KC training camp on TV?

This guy missed about 5-6 times from 40 yards in practice.... I dont think hes on there team anymore. Not to mention he was drafted high for a Kicker.

Some Kickers just suck.

[Lonestar]

Kicking a ball through the uprights is a bit different than learning a "skilled" position.

IMO.

not in a windy stadium at 59 below with 70000+ rabid fans 150 feet from you.. someone that has not been in the game for 55 of the 60 minutes of the game..

may be different in some areas tougher in others.. as a kicker your not really on the team, most of the real players tolerate you.. and hope to God you can do you job..

[Jwalk - JayCutty6Goes - CasinoRoyal]

not in a windy stadium at 59 below with 70000+ rabid fans 150 feet from you.. someone that has not been in the game for 55 of the 60 minutes of the game..

may be different in some areas tougher in others.. as a kicker your not really on the team, most of the real players tolerate you.. and hope to God you can do you job..

Yeah but facing the fans is not a "skill". More like nerves.

However he has played in NFL games before so i dont think the fans is a problem. prater biggest problem was his horrible technique that led to horrible accuracy.

[BroncoJoe]

I'll just say I'm not one to pass judgement until there's reason to.

Prater is currently wearing a Broncos uniform and our only kicker.

I like him.

[Lonestar]

Yeah just saying though he missed TC last year and that injury lingered for the first half of the season. Just facts. Any rookie that misses TC is definitly going to struggle though early.

Sheffler injury kept him out of the first 4 games last year from doing anything, At week 5 is where he started to show up. Not week 9.

let me try this one slowly ..

He stated in an interview the he was not ready mentally to play until about I think he said game 9-10..

That he had a pretty good training camp and preseason but it was all paling vanilla play book stuff.

When the first regular game came along he was lost because they basically through out the plays each week and installed different ones each week to take advantage of what the defenses would allow them to take.. He said it was about week ten before it clicked.. He was not having to think each and every play.. It was then when he was able to go out and play.. It became automatic and not reacting.

I was not quoting stats just his comments.. As to why he started having better games at the end of the year and why he sucked early in the season..

HE stated while he had a good repoire with Jay during the preseason and he was back in after week 11 his biggest problem was understanding the game plan changes week to week.

[Jwalk - JayCutty6Goes - CasinoRoyal]

let me try this one slowly ..

He stated in an interview the he was not ready mentally to play until about I think he said game 9-10..

That he had a pretty good training camp and preseason but it was all paling vanilla play book stuff.

When the first regular game came along he was lost because they basically through out the plays each week and installed different ones each week to take advantage of what the defenses would allow them to take.. He said it was about week ten before it clicked.. He was not having to think each and every play.. It was then when he was able to go out and play.. It became automatic and not reacting.

I was not quoting stats just his comments.. As to why he started having better games at the end of the year and why he sucked early in the season..

HE stated while he had a good repoire with Jay during the preseason and he was back in after week 11 his biggest problem was understanding the game plan changes week to week.

Sheffler did nothing in the pre season :lol: I dont know where you got that from. Do you not remember him missing training camp and 2 pre season games due to injury? he had 2 catches in the pre season.:coffee: That is not pretty good.

Combine that with him missing basically the whole training camp and thats why he struggled. Sheffler was clearly running game in that interview. Just a week ago he said missing training camp last year is what set him back. That article is on denverbroncos.com if you want to go read it.

http://www.nfl.com/players/tonyscheffler/gamelogs?id=SCH095691

There go look at his good pre season^ and combine that with him missing the whole training camp. Just dont get where you got the impression that he had a good pre season and training camp with 2 catches.

[Lonestar]

Sheffler did nothing in the pre season :lol: I dont know where you got that from. Do you not remember him missing training camp and 2 pre season games due to injury? he had 2 catches in the pre season.:coffee: That is not pretty good.

Combine that with him missing basically the whole training camp and thats why he struggled. Sheffler was clearly running game in that interview. Just a week ago he said missing training camp last year is what set him back. That article is on denverbroncos.com if you want to go read it.

http://www.nfl.com/players/tonyscheffler/gamelogs?id=SCH095691

There go look at his good pre season^ and combine that with him missing the whole training camp. Just dont get where you got the impression that he had a good pre season and training camp with 2 catches.

since your so good at research look for the article in the DP or RMN..

I know what I read and he said it was him no one else....

[Jwalk - JayCutty6Goes - CasinoRoyal]

since your so good at research look for the article in the DP or RMN..

I know what I read and he said it was him no one else....

:lol: Does not change the fact that he missed the whole TC and had 2 catches in the pre season. On that note if he could not figure out the pre season then he damn sure was not going to figure out the regular season.

Im not going to bother looking up an article that probably does not exist or that he was lying in. When his foot got healthy he started to make plays.

Its almost that simple. Just take this one on the chin. :cool:

[Lonestar]

:lol: Does not change the fact that he missed the whole TC and had 2 catches in the pre season. On that note if he could not figure out the pre season then he damn sure was not going to figure out the regular season.

Im not going to bother looking up an article that probably does not exist or that he was lying in. When his foot got healthy he started to make plays.

Its almost that simple. Just take this one on the chin. :cool:

Yep he lied about what happend that year when he was asked.

I tend to think he has more creds.

Pardon me if I believe him..


If you do not want to do the research that is your issue..

Now lets get back to the issue here and that is Prater..

:focus:

[Reidman]

Wow! Defense or not, what leg strength. I imagine with some adrenaline flowing in a gametime situation he could still boot them as far but the question of accuracy in those situations still remains..

[Kaylore]

This is cool. Sounds like he's got a strong leg. Will be good for KO's and long attempts.

That said, I'm much more interested to see how accurate he is inside the 50.

He made every kick that day, including a game winning one as time expired.

[Jwalk - JayCutty6Goes - CasinoRoyal]

To answer the question on his accuracy. He has only missed 10 kicks out of over 150 attempts this off season. Somebody else can break down the percentage of that. But i know its a good one.

Probably somewhere in the 90s.

[BroncoWave]

To answer the question on his accuracy. He has only missed 10 kicks out of over 150 attempts this off season. Somebody else can break down the percentage of that. But i know its a good one.

Probably somewhere in the 90s.

A little over 93%.

[Lonestar]

A little over 93%.

93.4 to be precise I know that the new math was hard for casino thanks for doing it for him. :salute:

[BroncoWave]

93.4 to be precise I know that the new math was hard for casino thanks for doing it for him. :salute:

Well actually 93.333... to be totally precise but I'll let it slide! :D :salute:

[Den21vsBal19]

Damn!!! Just watched the video of the FG :eek:

Let's just hope his head stays as straight as his leg has in TC

[rcsodak]

It's just too bad that the kicks he's missing are inside the 40.....:tsk:

[rcsodak]

Hopefully there will be some good pre-season situations for him to take advantage of. Nothing like kicking during a game...even if it's pre-season.

A couple of weeks ago, I saw a fantasy ranking for kickers and they had Prater ranked as the 7th best fantasy kicker for 2008 (Elam was 30th). I scratched my head, but who knows maybe he's that good. I'm not quite ready to add him to my fantasy team.
maybe they think he'll have more opportunities than elam will in atlanta. :tsk:

[rcsodak]

93.4 to be precise I know that the new math was hard for casino thanks for doing it for him. :salute:

sure about that, jr? he said "out of over 150". Kinda vague..... ;)

[rcsodak]

Yeah, like I said earlier, it's far more mental. That's why I see a dime-a-dozen amount of kickers look awesome in camps before crashing when they have 70,000 fans screaming at them while they attempt to put real points on the board.

You just can't simulate the game quite as well for kickers in camp as you can for most other positions. The biggest reason is that every kicker can kick the football. The question is can they do it when it matters, when the pressure is on, when millions of people are watching?

IMO ;)

That's why most teams either pick up FA's, or wait to see them live and in competition in Vegas. I believe it's there that some guy puts on a clinic, and dozens of kickers show off their wares for the scouts.
No use wasting a draft pick when you can get one on the cheap.

Elams come around about as often as TD's.